by Andrea Hurst
“I guess I have to go, for Lily,” she said.
“Don’t you want to go?” Jude asked.
Kyla just stared at her with a faraway look. “I guess running is no longer an option,” was all she said. Then she hiked her green satin skirt up, laced up the leather thongs of her knee-high sandals, and adjusted the embroidered belt over her peasant blouse. She looked like a gypsy princess with gathered sleeves falling gently over her porcelain-like shoulders. But her pupils, wide as a spooked horse’s and surrounded by emerald eyes the color of an Irish hill, betrayed her. Jude kept silent. Kyla would tell her when she was ready.
Kyla dropped onto the velvet sofa. “Remember when we posed for Coast Flight Magazine, when they featured the inn’s grand opening?”
“Sure,” Jude said. “The picture of the three of us smiling, toasting Madrona Island B&B looked great.”
“What had I been thinking that day?” Kyla said, looking at Jude her eyes pools of sadness.
“What do you mean, Kyla? Tell me.”
“The story was picked up by the travel section of the Seattle Times. I was recognized and he tracked me down.”
Jude felt concern building in her chest. “Who tracked you down?”
Kyla rambled on, “He must hate me for leaving like that without a word. How can I face him again?”
“What do you mean?” Jude asked, hoping Kyla would make some sense.
Kyla walked over to her answering machine and pushed play. “Kyla, my love, per chance do you remember me? It’s Lucas. How lovely you look in the Coast Flight Magazine, flowering herbs in your hair, not at all the NY model splashed across Vogue that I remember.”
There was a sharp edge to the voice, each word pronounced with precision and aim. Kyla was frozen in place. Jude tried to compute all the information being spilled out in this message.
“Imagine my astonishment finding enchanting little you on this remote island. Ah yes, I am here too. I wouldn’t miss this grand opening for anything. Until then…”
Breathing deeply, Kyla reached for a glass of water and took a sip. “Enough,” she said, rising to her feet. “Let’s go, Jude. I will not give in to fear.” Rushing now, she jumped into Jude’s car. “Please don’t ask me about this now. I’ll tell you everything after the party.”
Jude drove, her mind reeling. Who was this woman she called her friend? All the missing pieces started to fill in, Kyla’s secrecy and fatigue.
There were cars lining the lane and filling the parking lot when they got there. “Good for you, Lily!” Jude said aloud. Kyla emerged from her car, a vision of green satin and red curls, holding a large woven basket of rosemary and other flowering herbs. Jude watched her eyes scan the crowd and lock into another pair watching her from his lone perch on a nearby bench.
He was at their side before Jude could catch her breath. “May I help you carry anything, Kyla? It is you, right? I just had to see for myself.” His eyes went from her hair to her eyes, from her clothes to her shoes. “From sophisticate to country gypsy, I didn’t think that was your style.”
Both women tried to walk past him, but he blocked Kyla’s way and Jude would not leave her there alone.
“I can see the allure of this lifestyle,” he said, staring out at the water. “You could have given me the choice to follow.” He moved closer, his lightning-gray eyes searching her own. “Or was that part of the plan…to leave me behind?”
Kyla’s voice came out in a whisper. “Lucas.” She averted her eyes and clutched her chest.
Jude stepped over to rescue her friend. “Kyla, let’s go greet Lily.”
“It’s okay, Jude. I owe him some explanation.” Kyla turned to Lucas. “I have no good excuse, my fears took over and I just had to run.”
The anger in his face seemed to drain out and uncover the grief lurking below. Lucas ran his fingertips over Kyla’s arm and shoulder. “What were you really running from Kyla…from me?”
Tears spilled down her sun-touched cheeks. “No, Lucas, I was just…” Kyla covered her eyes.
Jude had had enough. She took Kyla’s arm and guided her toward the house, leaving Lucas behind and praying he wouldn’t follow them.
✦✦✦✦
Lily tightened her grip on Ian’s warm hand. They stood motionless, watching the scene unfold between Kyla and a man Lily had not seen before. She could feel Ian’s body stiffen, and his eyes never left the couple. Jude was with them, so she was not too worried. Ian did not share his thoughts with her, but Lily was pretty sure he knew more than he was saying right now.
“What the heck? Who is that man and why is Kyla crying?” Lily said, loosening her grip on Ian’s hand. “Should I go after her or let her have her space? She’s such a private person.”
Ian kept his eyes on Kyla. “I’ll go,” he said. “Trust me, Lily, she needs support. It appears the whole story will probably come out now.”
Lily cocked her head. “What story, Ian?”
His eyes softened and he kissed her cheek. “Let me go now, we can talk later.”
She watched him head toward the back door, and an uneasy feeling moved through her stomach. She considered following him. Did she still not trust this man she loved? Brad’s face crossed her mind, and she banished it to where it belonged, gone. She noticed the golden boy who had caused all the trouble with Kyla was watching Ian too. His face looked like he had seen a ghost.
The man walked over to Lily and introduced himself. “You have one fantastic place here, and I’m sure you will be very successful.” He put out his hand to shake hers. “Lucas Alexandro Curti.”
She shook his hand. One thing for sure, he was not hard to look at. “Nice to meet you,” she said.
“I’ll be leaving now, but I’m sure I will be back. Good luck with your new endeavor.”
She watched him walk away. Who the heck was he and where was Kyla to ask? Perhaps she would check in the house.
Lily peeked into the kitchen. “Everything going ok in here?”
Mary smiled. “Couldn’t be better, especially with Jason, my little helper, here.”
Jason was so busy decorating trays with sprigs of fresh herbs that he didn’t even notice Lily was there. She crept up behind him and covered his eyes. “Guess who?”
He pulled her hands down, turned, and gave her an enthusiastic hug. “I love helping with the food and tasting it too. Mary said I have a good plate.”
Lily laughed. “You mean palette, good tasting ability. You have your dad’s creative eye too. I see. Maybe one day you’ll be a master chef.”
Jason clapped his hands joyfully. “Yes, yes, I want to be a baker too.”
“Speaking of your dad, have you seen him lately?”
Jason thought for a moment. “Oh yeah, I saw him a few minutes ago go up the stairs with Kyla.”
She ruffled his hair. “Thanks, Jason, I’ll just go find him. Keep up the good work.” She winked at Mary and headed up the steps.
A cloud of fear crept over her heart. Images of the two of them in one of the bedrooms raced through her mind. Old wounds from her life with Brad propelled her up the stairs while trepidation nipped cruelly at her heels. When she reached the closed door to the Lavender Room, she could hear muffled voices inside. At least it wasn’t the Rose Room, where she and Ian had declared their love.
Quietly, she cracked open the door and saw them sitting on the edge of the bed. Ian had his arms around Kyla, and her head was resting on his chest. Kyla’s head jerked up, startled, eyes wide and puffy and tears staining her cheeks. Ian was comforting her. But why here, now, why him? Was he breaking up with her? Kyla was supposed to be Lily’s friend and Ian… Her thoughts came to a halt as her body began to tremble.
Kyla and Ian darted over toward her. All Lily could do was put up her hands in a stop motion. Ian looked at Kyla, as if for permission. Silence, then Kyla wiped her cheeks with a handkerchief and nodded to him.
“Lily, please come in,” she said. “It’s time I told you more about me.
I am so sorry I waited this long to confide in you.”
Heart thumping violently inside her chest, Lily took a seat by in the rocker by the bed. The scent of lavender filled the air, and though it was one of her favorites, the smell turned her stomach sour now. Ian moved behind her and placed his hands on her shoulders. She reflexively flinched at his touch. “Why don’t you start by telling me what’s going on here?”
Kyla sat on the edge of the bed facing Lily. Staring down at her clasped hands she took a deep breath and began. “Lily, Ian and I knew each other before I moved to the island. It was in New York.”
Lily pushed herself from the chair. “I’ve changed my mind. I really don’t need to know—”
Ian stopped her, pressing down gently on her shoulders. “Lily, it’s not what you think, not even close. Please listen, just for a minute.” He tipped her chin up so she could meet his eyes. “You know me, Lily. Trust me for just a few moments…please.”
Kyla began again. “Five years ago, I was a top New York fashion model. It was a glamorous life, money flowed, and it was one long fantasy. Ian and I met at his premier art showing at the Findley Rose Gallery in Manhattan. My fiancé, Lucas, bought some of Ian’s work and invited him to the loft to join us for drinks.”
Lily started to breathe again. “Go on.”
“The three of us spent several days together hitting NY’s finest clubs, restaurants, and theaters. We sailed on the bay and enjoyed the good life that Lucas and his family fortune could amply provide. One afternoon, when Lucas was conducting one of his endless business calls, Ian told me all about Madrona Island. At the time, it sounded like the far end of the Earth.”
Kyla looked up at Ian, “You have been such a good friend to me.” She turned back to Lily. “Lily, you are a good friend. I would never intentionally hurt either one of you.”
Ian took Lily’s hand. “I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you.”
“Until now,” Kyla said, “it was important to me that Ian keep my secret, even from you, Lily.”
“So, what was so important that you couldn’t tell me?” Lily asked. She watched Kyla’s face grow pale. The room grew very still, except for faint sounds coming from the party outside. Lily looked from Ian’s face to Kyla’s and saw nothing but pain in both.
“Lily, I have advanced Lupus.”
“I’m so sorry to hear that, Kyla, but I still don’t understand why you couldn’t tell Jude and me. We would have been there for you, helped you out.”
“Lily, it wasn’t just the disease, it was every other lie I wove to hide the fact that I was even on Madrona Island. My lies all began to unravel when I became friends with you both. I knew you wondered about Ian and me, but I hoped after you realized there was nothing between us except friendship, your fears would just fade away.”
Ian tuned Lily toward him. “My love, I did not like keeping any secrets from you, but I had made a sacred promise to Kyla. I was in a tough position trying to be honorable.”
Lily was still confused and looked questioningly at Kyla. “Tell me more.”
“About a year after I first met Ian, I could no longer cover up my symptoms. I was horrified, worried about my career and losing my jet-set fiancé, not to mention my life. Without telling anyone, I saw a specialist and began steroid and then chemotherapy treatments.”
Lily stared at her friend. All the pieces started falling together. Why Kyla never wanted to go out and kept to herself so much. How alone she must have felt. The times she was whispering to Ian. “Why did you come here?”
“I decided it would be easier to just vanish to the wonderful little island Ian had spoken of. I was a fool. I know this now. And I couldn’t be sorrier for dragging Ian into my complicated little drama and causing you a moment of pain or doubt.”
“It must have been very hard on you. What about your family, couldn’t you go to them?”
“My family lives in New York, and if they knew I was ill, they would never have let me leave, particularly alone, and I was determined to disappear. I fell back on my family legacy of herbalists and healers, and started a new life here.”
Ian broke in. “You’ve been hiding so much for so long. Maybe it’s time to let all of that worry go and reveal yourself to those who love you.”
“You’re probably right,” Kyla said. “I knew my career would be over, and I didn’t want to find out if Lucas would stick by me without all my worldly trappings. I loved him so much.”
Ian took Lily’s hand and picked up the thread of the story. “It was about three years ago that I got a call at my studio from Kyla. I thought she and Lucas wanted to purchase some of my art. But as we talked, all she wanted was to know more about Madrona Island.”
“Intuitively, I felt that Ian was a trustworthy soul and I could safely ask him to respect my privacy and keep my secret. So Ian became my very kind co-conspirator. He helped me find a location for the Tea & Comfort shop, introduced me to some local people, and occasionally checked up on me. That’s all. Unfortunately for me, my heart still remains stubbornly in love with Lucas.”
Lily considered the heartbreaking confession. Her own self-doubt and fear seemed paltry next to Kyla’s difficulties. She took Kyla’s hand. “I only wish you had told me this before so I could have been there for you as a friend.”
“I wanted to tell you and Jude, and almost did so many times. That night of our slumber party, the whole story almost spilled out. But one slip and the chance that it might get out threatened my hard-earned peace and privacy and this life I have come to love on Madrona Island.”
One last shadow of doubt flickered in Lily’s mind. “So, just why are you two up here in the Lavender Room today?”
Color drained from Kyla’s face once again and her voice came out in a thin whisper. “Lucas is here. Today. He has found me.”
Lily gasped. “The man who introduced himself? How did he find you?”
“The picture of all of us in Coast Flight Magazine to help promote the B&B reopening landed in his hands.”
“Oh, Kyla, I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be, Lily. It’s time I let go of this haunting secret and face it head on. I’m older and wiser now, and it will be good for my health to lay this burden down.”
“I think I can speak for Ian and Jude. We are all here to help you. Just ask.”
Kyla returned Lily’s gentle gaze and managed a faint smile. “Nothing beats the old Irish healing methods,” she said wryly, “and the love of good friends! The doctors are quite amazed how well I’m doing, so don’t worry about me.”
Lily stood and started for the door. “I had better get back to my guests. You take as long as you want up here. Lucas has left, so just come down when you are ready. .”
“Thanks, Lily. Ian, you go with her. I want a moment alone to re-center myself before I go down again. Thank you both.”
Lily slipped her hand into Ian’s, twining her fingers gratefully in his as they walked down the stairs. The emotional rollercoaster ride was over…at least for the moment.
Jason came out of the kitchen to greet them. “I see you found my dad,” he said.
Lily looked up at Ian. “Finding your dad, Jason, has been one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life.”
Jason looked puzzled. “I don’t get it. I thought he was just upstairs?”
Ian and Lily chuckled. “Come on, big boy,” Ian said as he whisked Jason off his feet and placed him on his shoulders. “Let’s go outside to join the party and have some fun.”
Hand in hand, they walked outside to celebrate the special day.
✦✦✦✦
The musicians had changed to an upbeat jazz band, and some of the guests were dancing on the grass. “The party is a success,” she whispered to herself. “As good as I could have hoped it would be. She looked up to the sky and silently thanked the Sun Gods for this glorious day. Keyboard music wafted on the breeze, setting just the right mood.
“We’re going to get something to drink, can I
bring you something?” Ian asked.
“I would love some lemonade,” Lily said. “And Ian…thanks.”
Lily checked on Mary and Karen, who were watching over the food tables, and replenishing the dishes that were the most popular. She’d seen Karen’s husband somewhere, baby in a stroller, kids in tow. It was time for her to take a break, if only for a moment.
Her mother waved and motioned her over. Katherine kissed Lily’s cheek. “Look who’s here…Roma.”
Lily hugged her friend. “I can’t believe you flew all the way up here from LA for this.”
“Wouldn’t miss it,” Roma said. “This feast you’ve prepared could rival any top chef. Great job, Lily.”
“Thank you, it means it lot. And I thank you for all your help, Mom.”
Katherine leaned in and whispered, “Everything all right with you and Ian?”
“You don’t miss much do you, Mom?” Lily looked over at Ian and Jason walking toward her with a tall drink. “Much more than all right.”
Jason hurried over, balancing the icy lemonade. “Here you go,” he said. “There’s a strawberry in yours and mine too!”
“Here’s yours, buddy,” Ian said, handing Jason his drink. “Can I get you a glass, Katherine?”
“No thanks, I’ve had my fill. But I do think I will head over and get another one of those brownies now.”
Lily stood and sipped her drink. A light breeze carried the scent of lilacs as the bright sun warmed her face and shoulders. Everywhere people were smiling and having fun. Jude was dancing on the lawn with her new chef. Ryan’s shyness seemed to melt away under the radiance of Jude’s smile as he twirled her under his arm. A young couple walking arm-in-arm approached her. “Excuse me, are you the innkeeper?”
