Island Redemption

by Suzanne Cass

  Hurriedly tying off the back end of the ketch, Cilla stepped onto the boat and rushed to embrace Brad.

  ‘I don’t know how you did it, but thank you.’ Her throat felt thick and it was hard to get the words out.

  Brad chuckled as he replied, ‘Aww, it was nothing really. Those stupid men from the bank didn’t have a clue what she was worth. So when I heard they were flogging her off down in Brisbane for next to nothing, well I just stepped right in and gave them an offer they couldn’t refuse.’ He tried to extricate himself from Cilla’s embrace, but she wasn’t willing to let him go just yet.

  ‘I’m going to pay you back every cent.’ Unbelievably, she was almost sobbing.

  ‘Well let’s just see about that shall we.’ This time he managed to loosen Cilla’s arms from around his waist and guide her to a seat in the cockpit.

  ‘No, no, I mean it, Brad.’ She was so adamant that she jumped back up again.

  ‘Okay, we’ll talk about it later,’ he soothed. ‘Now come on, sit down and tell me what you’ve been up to.’ Cilla was still trying to compose herself, sniffing and dashing away the tears that threatened to overwhelm her. ‘Is there anywhere I can get a beer in this town? It’s been quite a while since I had a quenching ale.’

  ‘Yes, yes of course you can,’ she said. ‘There’s a great little English pub just down the street. Come on, I’ll buy you dinner. It’s the least I can do.’

  ‘Sounds good to me.’

  Resuming their conversation once they’d ordered a large dinner and Brad was sipping on a delicious cold beer, Cilla asked, ‘You didn’t sail my boat all the way over here, did you?’

  ‘Don’t be silly, that would’ve taken me way too long. And scared the bejesus out of me. All those huge waves and deep ocean currents. I put it on a cargo ship silly.’

  ‘Of course you did,’ Cilla replied softly.

  ‘Of course I did, and it’s only a half hour sail up The Bay from that big old port. Mind you, I’d have been here two days ago, but they took their sweet time getting your boat off that ginormous cargo ship and into the water.’

  ‘I still can’t find the words to thank you enough, Brad.’ He was a great friend indeed and she counted herself as one of the luckiest girls in Miami at this particular moment. She gave him a fond glance, taking in the dishevelled clothes draped over those broad shoulders and the weeks’ worth of stubble on his face from his time spent on the cramped cargo ship and felt the urge to walk around the table and embrace him once more.

  As if he read her mind, he said, ‘Now don’t go getting all mushy on me again. Don’t worry about it for one more minute. I needed a couple weeks off and I’m glad I could put right at least part of that travesty of your dad selling everything you own out from underneath you.’

  ‘I did mean what I said before, though. I do want to pay you back.’

  ‘If that’s what you want, Cilla, that’s fine by me.’ Just then their meals arrived and there was a drawn out silence as they both tucked into their food.

  ‘You know the other reason I’m here, don’t you?’ Brad said through a mouthful of food a few minutes later.

  ‘No. Why?’ Too busy chasing a baked potato around her plate, she didn’t look up.

  ‘I have to find out how it ends.’

  Uh oh, alarm bells started ringing in her head.

  ‘How what ends?’

  ‘Your love story. Everyone back at home in the Whitsundays made me promise to find out. We’re all intrigued by the romance.’ Suddenly her food tasted like ash in her mouth and she laid her fork down on the table, her appetite gone.

  ‘There’s no romance, Brad. Sorry to burst your bubble.’ She wouldn’t meet his gaze, staring out the window at the people hurrying by on the street. Brad put down his fork as well and she could see from the corner of her eye he was staring at her.

  ‘Really? It sure looked that way on the show.’

  A piece of food felt like it was wedged in her throat. So it’d been obvious to everyone who watched the show. Something had blossomed between herself and Tam, and it seemed she was the only one dumb enough not to have seen it.

  ‘Didn’t you see how it ended, Brad? I voted him off, he hates me.’

  ‘Yeah, but they always make it seem worse than it is on the show, to keep the ratings up. That’s not how it really ended. Is it?’ Forcing herself to look at him, she nearly flinched when she saw the open curiosity and hope in his eyes.

  ‘Yes, it is how it ended. I haven’t seen or heard from Tam since we left the island.’ Her grandmother was the only other person who knew the whole truth, and being here, saying these words to Brad made it seem very final indeed.

  ‘I’m sorry, Cilla.’ But for some reason he didn’t sound as contrite as he should and she watched him with suspicion while he tucked back into his steak with gusto.

  ‘Anyway, I’m off to the finale tomorrow,’ she said.

  ‘Well aint that lucky, I got here just in time. I’d love to come with you.’

  ‘What? You can’t.’

  ‘Why not?’

  ‘Because …’

  ‘Thought so,’ he said with a smug grin and continued eating his meal.

  Great, one more person to be a witness to her humiliation tomorrow night.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  Studio lights blazed down from every angle and Tam was jostled by warm bodies as people rushed past like scurrying mice. Loud voices barked out commands and someone tried to stop him and put makeup on his face. Confusion reigned. Pacing back and forth, aimless and apprehensive, he looked to the front of the stage where a sea of faces were scrutinising him. Ducking his head he tried to disappear back into the throng of humanity. It was daunting being watched by that many people. And he was about to be the absolute centre of attention. The idea sent shivers of anxiety down his spine. Why had it never been this obvious his face was being beamed into millions of homes all around the world when he’d been on the island?

  He wasn’t sure what he’d been expecting of the Sea-Quest television studio, but this wasn’t it. They were on a very large outdoor set, open to the night sky. The TV crew tried their best to make the area look like an authentic beach scene straight from Ko Mae Ko Island. Tam was standing on a slightly raised wooden platform, where some of the large cast iron pots had been transported from the original conclave platform and now glowed with fires burning deep in their bellies. Even some of the brightly coloured rugs, wooden treasure chests and Jolly Roger flags that’d been scattered around the platform on the island were now sitting in pride of place around the stage. There was also a large fire-pit right in front of a set of bleachers for all the contestants to sit around. And if his eyes didn’t deceive him, there were real trees growing in the surrounding piles of sand at the back. Coconut palms and even a small tropical almond, the same as the one they’d built their shelter beneath.

  But this facade wasn’t even close to the real thing.

  Gone was the hum of cicadas singing in the background, replaced by the jabbering of an excited studio audience sitting in neat rows of folding chairs down upon the sand. Gone too, was the bright winking blanket of tropical stars overhead. Now the starkness of the spotlights hid all but the very brightest stars from view. Tam had a sudden nostalgic wish to be transported back to the island, just for one more night. So he could listen to the sound of the waves dashing against the beach, the wind sighing through the leaves and feel the warm humid air envelope him.

  A technician carrying an enormous microphone bumped into him and the fantasy was shattered.

  Snap out of it. There was something he needed to do before the show started and he was running out of time. Using his height to full advantage, he craned his neck so he could see above the scuttling crowd.

  ‘Hey, Tam, how’s it going?’ A hand clasped his. Hayden, gave Tam one of his winning smiles turned up to full wattage as he pumped his hand up and down.

  ‘Hi, Hayden, great to see you. Hey you haven’t seen Cilla have yo
u?’ Hayden chuckled and pointed over towards the back of a low set of bleachers. The seats were set up for all eighteen castaways to sit on as JJ interviewed them in front of the live audience.

  ‘Yeah, I saw her over there, talking to Marg a couple of minutes ago.’

  ‘Thanks. We should catch up after the show for a drink,’ Tam replied, his focus already shifting.

  She was here.

  ‘Sure, sure. I’ll see you at the after-party,’ called Hayden, moving on towards the next group of people.

  Tam’s palms started to sweat.

  There was no way he was going to back out now. He hoped like hell she didn’t just turn her back on him and walk away. But if she rejected him, then so be it. He had to find out. Squaring his shoulders he strode across the stage.

  There she was. God, she looked good. Wearing a dark brown tank top, the earthy colour accenting her golden tan, and a pair of denim shorts with high heels, it was difficult to take his eyes off her. The heels made her legs look impossibly long, showing off tight, firm thighs and a pert backside. At the sight of her a hot surge of desire swept through him and he realised he’d stopped dead in his tracks.

  Switching his gaze over to Marg, he steadied himself. He didn’t want to have to explain away a raging bulge in his pants when he greeted Cilla for the first time in two months.

  Marg looked good too. She was wearing a tight singlet top and a short black mini-skirt, all the better to show off her pumped-up muscles. And they were impressive. Good for her, she obviously worked hard to keep her body looking great. Even if that kind of physique on a woman wasn’t for him. Cilla’s willowy curves on the other hand …

  ‘Hello, Cilla.’ Emerald eyes fixed on him as he spoke.

  ‘Hi, Tam.’ The emerald eyes didn’t flick away from his face as he’d feared they might, instead fixing him with a steady gaze, a slight inquiring tilt to her left eyebrow. Then she smiled and the whole room lit up.

  ‘How have you been?’ Dumb ass. He could’ve kicked himself for the lame question. It didn’t even start to encompass what he really wanted to say.

  ‘You know. Surviving.’ The cheeky smile he’d grown to love played around her lips. ‘No pun intended, of course.’

  He grinned back, the muscles in his neck relaxing.

  ‘Do I get a hello as well, or am I just the invisible woman here?’ Marg sounded more amused than angry.

  ‘Great to see you too, Marg. Fully recovered from the stonefish sting, I see.’

  ‘Yep, I’m awesome now.’ She fluffed her short blond hair so it stood out in a halo around her head.

  ‘Great.’

  There was an awkward pause. Into the silence a voice boomed over a loudspeaker, ‘Going live in five, places please everyone.’

  Quick, he had to say something now, before it was too late.

  ‘Cilla, I need to ask you something.’

  ‘Righto, I know when I’m not wanted.’ Marg gave an exaggerated wink to Tam. ‘I’ll leave you two and go and find my seat.’ She gave them both a last excited hug before skipping off. Tam wished he had half her enthusiasm. He was about to find out if he’d won one million dollars and all he could think about was whether Cilla would talk to him or not. Cilla’s gaze followed Marg as she headed towards the bleachers.

  ‘We should go find our seats too.’ Tiny frown lines appeared on her forehead. He noticed the scar was looking much better; no longer red and angry. Given time it’d fade into the hairline and become a distant memory.

  ‘Ahh, Cilla …’ Dammit, he’d rehearsed the words he wanted to say so carefully, but now his tongue was feeling thick and unwieldy, his mind a complete blank.

  ‘Will you promise me something?’ he said in a rush.

  ‘Depends.’ Her answer was slow to come, her hands fiddling with the fringe of her suede handbag. She looked unsure. He wanted to kick himself. They’d parted on uncertain terms, not seen each other for two months and here he was almost jumping down her throat at their first encounter. He ploughed on anyway, relentless. If he didn’t he might lose her forever.

  ‘Will you promise to meet me for dinner after the show is over? Or a drink, at the very least?’

  She raised her shoulders in a delicate shrug.

  ‘Please.’ He was practically begging, but no longer cared.

  After another moment’s hesitation, where she measured him with calculating eyes, she finally said, ‘Sure.’

  But he needed her absolute promise. Once she gave her word, he knew she’d keep it. ‘Do you promise, no matter what happens tonight?’ The unsaid words hovered between them. No matter who wins tonight?

  ‘Yes, I promise,’ she replied with a touch of exasperation.

  ‘Great. There’s a funky little Mexican place down the road, they do wonderful vegetarian tostadas.’

  ‘I love Mexican.’

  He hoped the relief wasn’t showing too much in the goofy smile he offered her. This wasn’t how he’d intended this conversation to go, but it was something, a start.

  He felt a hand on his back and a firm voice in his ear saying, ‘You have to take your seat now, sir. We’re about to start our live feed.’ Tam let himself be led by the production assistant to the front of the bleachers, following Cilla who was being steered in the same direction by a woman with an ear attachment and a large clipboard.

  Taking his seat in the front row, Tam noticed JJ already perched on his high stool next to them. Somehow the man managed to look resplendent, even in a casual dark green shirt and long white chinos. The famous dimple was still in place and his teeth just as white as ever as he beamed down at them magnanimously. Sitting next to Tam were Rosa and Simon, the final three up front for everyone to see. Rosa gave him a tentative smile but Simon didn’t even glance his way. And that was fine by Tam.

  ‘We’ve less than a minute before we go to air. Can the studio audience please be quiet,’ a voice boomed over a loudspeaker again. The audience fell silent. People with clipboards and earpieces hovered in the shadows, all watching someone whom Tam assumed was the director wave the contestants to silence and then point at JJ and start counting down for the moment they went to air. For the first time Tam noticed two very large cameras circling the stage, pointed straight at him.

  It was time.

  He almost laughed to realise although he was nervous now, it was nothing to how he’d felt confronting Cilla only moments ago. He stole a glance down the line of people in the front row. She was there, tucked in between Alisha and Hayden. She and Alisha had their heads together, arms linked, whispering in conspiratorial tones. As she listened, Cilla began biting her lower lip and looking decidedly uneasy.

  And maybe she had a right to look apprehensive. They both knew one of JJ’s questions would be, Why did you do it, Cilla? Why did you give Tam the talisman? He’d been asked the same thing at least ten times today already. It was the question on everyone’s lips. He’d love to know the answer as well. People in this show weren’t supposed to be selfless or noble. They were there to win the money.

  There was a light tap on his shoulder and looking around he saw Marg sitting behind him.

  ‘Good luck,’ she mouthed. Jason was sitting beside her on the second tier and he added a wink of encouragement. Casting his gaze further back he could see Glen and Cho, and even Madison right up on the third tier in the back. They were all here. All eighteen of them had returned for this one night. It’d be good to catch up with everyone afterwards, to find out how their lives had changed – or not – after their time on Sea-Quest. Hell, he might even talk to Madison. His feelings of antagonism towards her had mellowed quite nicely over the past couple of months.

  But first he needed to talk to Cilla. The rest could wait.

  ‘Hello, everyone, welcome to the finale of Sea-Quest.’ JJ’s voice cut through the expectant silence. ‘In just a few short minutes we’ll find out who is the winner. Who will dig up the treasure and go home with one million dollars in their pockets?’

  Tam was abo
ut to find out if that money was going to alter his life. Second prize would be good too, if he won that he’d still be able to help his clinic out, but it wasn’t a life-changer, not like the million.

  It was all a little bit surreal. His mind wouldn’t focus properly on what JJ was saying. He had a one in three chance at winning and his heart should have been beating like a drum with anticipation right now. But for some reason he couldn’t summon the requisite enthusiasm. Even if he did win tonight, he knew it’d be a hollow victory. The realisation had dawned on him slowly over the past two months. He’d fallen in love with Cilla. And no amount of money would make his life any happier if she wasn’t in it.

  ~

  ‘Rosa wins the million dollar prize,’ JJ yelled above the deafening cheer of the crowd. Cilla’s chest felt hollow. Tam hadn’t won. He’d come second. Her head reeled with the shock of JJ’s announcement. Tam should’ve had the numbers, Cilla was so sure he’d win. But the game of Sea-Quest played its last ironic trick. Cilla’s gaze fixed on Tam’s face, wanting desperately to change the outcome. He deserved to be the hero in this story. Instead she watched him, gallant in defeat, being the first to congratulate Rosa, picking her up and spinning the excited woman around in a bear-hug. Cilla knew that such was the character of this man, his delight for Rosa was completely genuine. There was no malice or discontent in Tam Connor, he was kind and unaffected in his happiness for her. The thought made the breath catch in her throat.

  The only good outcome from the whole vote was the fact that Simon had come away with nothing. Simon didn’t even try to look gracious when JJ announced Rosa as the winner of Sea-Quest season twenty-two. His mouth screwed up like he’d just eaten a whole lemon and his eyes narrowed dangerously. He’d left the stage immediately, pushing people out of his way as he stomped down the stairs and she could even hear him swearing at the producer above the noise of crowd congratulating Rosa. He’d been one of the most manipulative and destructive players in the game, but now he was just a sore loser with nothing to show for his vanity.