Family Secrets: Books 5-8

by Virginia Kantra

  In the end, shed gone with the maillot. Just for the sheer craziness of it, and to make an impact, shed pulled the B2K T-shirt back on again over it. Shed knotted it at her waist. Then shed tugged on gym socks and running shoes, the better for scootering with. The whole get-up was sort of a long-distance-runner type look, although Honey never ranpurely on principle and because of the sweat quotient. But now Ricardo was balking at giving her another scooter.

  You take Cisco, he suggested, pointing at a mule.

  I ride nothing with ears longer than its tail. Honey turned away. Ill walk, then. Tell the gang Im sorry Ill miss dinner.

  Why you miss dinner?

  Ill be walking that l-o-o-ng lonely road back home.

  Senhora, you wait.

  Honey paused and grinned to herself. In the end, he gave her another scooter.

  She made it all the way down to the cove without going off the road this time. She stopped the bike behind the cabins and got off, toeing the kickstand down, going the rest of the way on foot. The beach was deserted now. There were no children frolicking and smoke was no longer belching from the little cabins chimney. Everything seemed still and silent. Honey looked out at the Sea Change. There was no sign of Joe. She dropped her satchel and whipped out a beach towel, spreading it on the sand. Then she heard a shout from her right. Children were chasing several chickens around in a small pen behind one of the cabins. Without thinking, Honey stood again and went that way.

  Posso eu ajudar? she tried in wretched Portuguese when she reached them.

  The children laughed. Some apparently thought her suggestion was so hysterical, they even flopped down into the dirt.

  Guess not, Honey said.

  They think you get pretty hands dirty, said a voice from behind her.

  Honey turned quickly. A young woman in a long black skirt approached. Her feet were bare and the hand she held out was rough, callused, her nails painfully short. But she was beautiful, with an ebony braid dangling down her back and soulful dark eyes.

  I am Paloma, she said as Honey took her hand. You are from the big house, no? What you want with our chickens?

  I have never in my life had occasion to catch one and Im big on experiences. Thats what theyre doing, right? Trying to catch one?

  Sim. To give back to Senhor Sailor.

  Senhor Ah. Honey looked out at the sailboat again. She liked the tag.

  An eruption of harsh Portuguese came from the nearest cabin. An older woman stomped out, waving her arms at the children. They scattered and she reached down and snagged a roosters legs herself with a hand that moved like lightning.

  Man, youre good, Honey said.

  The woman studied her for a moment then nodded. Obrigado.

  She say thank you, Paloma explained. She is my mama. Her name is Lourdes. Come with me and have something cool to drink.

  Honey grinned, delighted at the prospect. Then she looked back at the children.

  The boys shorts and the girls skirts were threadbare. Their little bellies were skinny. For that matter, so were the hens who remained in the pen. Honey had the sudden, shaky certainty that she should take nothing from these people who had so very little to share. Her, a woman with a trust fund and a decent job. Then she had the unique and wonderful thought that maybe she could do something for these people later to repay this little bit of hospitality. If she put her mind to it, she could figure out a way to have a whole boatload of chickens delivered to them.

  She followed Paloma into one of the little cabins. As small as the place appeared from outside, it was actually one-and-a-half stories. A loft-like space ran along just inside the ceiling. Honey saw beds stacked up there like cans of corn on a grocery-store shelf. She heard snores rumbling from that direction. Paloma put a hand to her lips to signal for quiet.

  The first floor was given over to one large living area. Honey realized that shed seen smoke earlier despite the warm day because the hearth was used for cooking. Several kettles were piled neatly beside it.

  Paloma went to a crate against one wall, tucked into shadows so the sun streaming in the windows wouldnt touch it. She withdrew a jug. It dripped with melted ice. My papa and my Adan go every morning to the mainland. They take fish to sell and the older children to school. They bring back ice and other things we must have.

  Whos Adan? Honey asked.

  My husband.

  She felt her jaw drop. Youre married? Paloma looked so young.

  Paloma poured from the jug into small earthen cups. I am twenty, she said as though that explained everything.

  Honey swigged from the cup without bothering to ask what was in it. Wow, she thought, it was nectar. Sweet and tart at the same time, and ice-cold. No offense, but where I come from, twenty is just getting your feet wet.

  You have no husband?

  Something shuddered inside her as she thought of her mothers life. No.

  Here we marry as soon as possible. For our pais, our parents. Getting enough fish to sell in Portimao and to feed all of us besides takes many hands. So families join by marriage and all work together. She moved for the door. Come, we go outside. It is cooler there in the shade and quieter.

  Honey followed her out of the cabin and they sat in the sand beneath one of the trees. She sipped more of the nectar. Then she saw Joe step out onto the deck of the sailboat. Do you know what hes doing here on Brunhia? she asked Paloma, motioning to him.

  Paloma shrugged. We are not sure, but he is a very good man.

  Honey leaned closer to her. Tell me everything.

  Paloma studied her face for a moment, then gave a female grin that was the same in any culture, all the world over. He came here one season ago. He stays out there mostly, on his boat, but sometimes he comes to village to help us. We give him chickens and fish and he always gives them back again. Sometimes not the fish, she added thoughtfully. Sometimes he eats those.

  So he had a job of sorts here, Honey thought. But chickens and fish wouldnt go far toward paying for a boat like that. She was getting a feeling for him now. He was a society dropout, content with earning a pittance for odd jobs. He didnt seem to like poultry, though.

  She watched him drop over the side of the sailboat into a little skiff that was tied there. She sighed blissfully. He was coming ashore. Life was good and getting better. Honey stood. I think Ill just wander back over to my towel and lie in the sun for a while.

  Paloma gave a quick burst of laughter as she got to her feet as well. Come back again. We talk more.

  For the second time today, here was someone who hadnt a clue that she was either Honey or Honor, she realized. Here was someone who didnt know that she had once let herself get arrested for underage drinking without consuming a drop just so as not to appear sanctimonious to her pals and to get a rise out of her parents. Paloma did not know that she passed out in rose bushes when a man touched her. Ill definitely be back, she promised.

  Then she hurried for her beach towel because Joe was throwing the lines off his little boat and tugging at t
he ripcord of the outboard engine. Honey flopped down just as she heard the engine cough to life. She waited for the little scraping thud that told her hed beached the craft, then she sat up to grin at him. When he noticed her, he stopped cold.

  What are you doing here? he demanded.

  All in all, Honey thought, shed had better welcomes. She let her smile spread as her gaze coasted up and down him. Enjoying the view.

  Its better on the other side of the island. He turned away and headed for Palomas village.

  Honey vaulted to her feet. Hey, wait up there!

  He stopped and looked back at her. Why?

  Well, because Honey floundered. She never floundered. She flailed mentally for some witty response but none would come. So we can talk, she finished lamely.

  Why do I get the feeling youll do it whether I listen or not?

  Ah, see, already were getting to know each other. He started walking away again. She hurried to match stride beside him. Why Brunhia? What brought you and your boat here of all places?

  He looked over at her with those whiskey eyes and frowned. Its quiet here. At least, it used to be. Go away.

  I guess Lisbon could get a wee bit expensive. I imagine living is much more affordable here.

  They reached the village. Paloma was no longer anywhere to be found. The children were streaming off toward the woods and more seemed to have joined them because the throng was fairly large now. Joe went that way toward a lean-to behind the cabins.

  Honey ducked in after him. The side roof was low but there was enough room at the far side to stand up. His bike was there. She straddled it and pretended to rev the throttle. No worse for the wear, I see. Mine, on the other hand, is probably still on the beach.

  Kurt will send someone after it. He went to a large metal tool chest and began taking items out.

  Yeah, Ricardo is alreadyWhat did you just say?

  I said Kurt He clamped his mouth shut.

  You do know Kurt. All he said was that youd been anchored down here for a while.

  Damned if she didnt have a way of just sliding in on things and making him forget that he really didnt want to talk to her, Max thought. But it was gratifying to learn that Kurt had stood by him, keeping his mouth shut about his identity. He gathered up the wrenches he needed and stalked out.

  Get off my bike, he said as he passed her. I dont trust you with it.

  Honey levered her leg over again to follow him. Im getting better with the contraptions. I made it down here this time without mishap.

  My lucky day.

  We were talking about Kurt, she reminded him, catching up with him again.

  No, we werent. You were talking about Kurt. I dont want to talk to you at all.

  Why not?

  He reached two boats that had been tugged up on shore just past the village. He kept one of the wrenches and dropped the others into the sand. Then he went to work on the outboard motor, loosening lugnuts to remove it from the stern.

  He figured if he ignored her long enough, shed eventually get pissed off and leave. He wasnt the least bit prepared for her to climb into the boat and sit on one of the bench seats facing him. She braced her elbows on her knees and her chin in her hands. Max finally stopped what he was doing to stare at her.

  They sure as hell breed them brazen on the eastern seaboard, he said finally.

  She smiled. And what eastern seaboard would that be?

  My guess? Maryland. Youre not from Virginia or any farther south, you dont have that drawl. And youre not from up north because you dont go all nasal on your vowels. So its somewhere in the middle.

  I think those are the most words youve ever said to me all at once. Im getting to you, arent I?

  He laughed without knowing where it came from. This boat belongs to a man named Lope. You didnt ask him if you could sit in it, so scoot.

  Where is he? Id be glad to ask him.

  Hes asleep. Get out of his boat, he said again.

  She didnt move. You were right, by the way. Im from Maryland. How do you know so much about American accents?

  I get around.

  Ah. A drifter.

  Max thought about it. He hadnt drifted so much as hed run. He reminded himself that he didnt want to discuss it with heror anything else either, for that matter.

  So where did you begin your drift? she asked.

  He opened his mouth to tell her Paris after finding Camille in bed with that slick-tongued Francois-type character, then he choked on the words. Remind me again how this is any of your business.

  Im a naturally curious person.

  He got the motor free and began carrying it back to his skiff. Hed work on it aboard the Sea Change. Hed be safe from her there. But then he found himself looking back over his shoulder at her as she clamored out of the boat. Just for the record, you dress weird.

  Honey looked down at herself. I was making a fashion statement.

  Of what sort?

  This is my athletic look.

  He was getting it now, Max thought. Maybe he hadnt caught on before because hed been so distracted by that yellow bra. But now he was getting it loud and clear. This was his penance, he thought, though he couldnt put his finger on what he had ever done to deserve it. Hed been scrupulously fair in all his business dealings. Hed never cheated on Camille, despite opportunity in numbers that many men would salivate over. He called his mother every Sunday nightwell, he used to, before hed dropped outand he gave a lot of money to various charities. All the same, fate was hellbent and determined to put him at the mercy of shallow sharklike socialites who were voracious for more of what bought them the good things in life.

  Max dumped the motor into his own dinghy and turned back to her. He saw it all this time. Nothing better to do with your time than change your look, hmm?

  To his surprise, he saw her wince quickly. It amuses me, she said.

  Living for lifes amusements is important.

  I think so.

  I dont.

  His voice had gone so flat suddenly, Honey thought. She was losing her stride again. Then she opened her mouth and heard some very un-Honey-like words tumble out. Why dont you like me?

  He headed back to the spot in the sand where he had left his tools. She went after him again. Answer me, she insisted. Please. I really want to know.

  Im not obligated to like you, he replied without looking at her, no matter what life has taught you.

  What lifes taught me? She felt her temper tug loose. Ill tell you what its taught me, pal. Its taught me that it isnt the least bit difficult to push my current mood aside and be friendly to others anyway because it might just make their day if theyre having a bad one, too. Its taught me that if somethings wrong it doesnt matter how you go about fixing it just as long as you do, as long as you make some noise and draw everyones attention to the problem. Its taught me that people are all pretty much the same insideif you take the Ted Bundy-types out of itand they hurt when theyre
rejected and theyre touched by spontaneous kindnesses. She broke off and planted her hands on her hips. Now look what youve done. Youve made me mad.

  I made you mad? Youre the one who was crowding me! And what the hell kind of lecture was that, anyway?

  Honey looked into his eyes. They were going very dark again. Temper, she thought. Well, at least shed gotten a rise out of him. My point is, theres no need to be rude to me.

  Politely telling you to go didnt work!

  Because you didnt mean it.

  I meant it!

  That makes no sense. Ive only been friendly.

  I dont like rich girls! he hollered.

  Im not a girl. Im twenty-three. Im a woman. Then she watched him clutch his head in his hands.

  How do you wing everything around on me? he asked disbelievingly.

  Its my gift. At least I got you to give me an answer. You dont like me because you think Im rich. And, of course, he had so little, Honey thought. She could see where that might bother him. How did you draw that conclusion? Maybe she could wriggle her way out of the problem.

  Youre an American lady on an obscure island who had to get to Portugal somehow and that takes money.

  Honey shrugged. Youre here. Do you have money?

  I He choked again.

  Although, that is a really nice boat. She looked thoughtfully over her shoulder at it.

  An inheritance, he said shortly. Rich uncle.

  Well, that was something, Honey thought. One more little piece of the puzzle. Hed inherited a boat, or the money to buy one, and had started drifting. And now he was doing odd jobs to get by.

  Then he startled her by moving toward her suddenly and grabbing her wrist. And this! he said, shaking her arm a little.

  Honey looked down at her Rolex. Rich uncle, she said. An inheritance. It was even true as far as it went.