Mr Simon’s gaze focused again and landed on her, hardening. ‘But then you came along and suddenly, you are all he talks about, thinks about, and does anything for. It’s like the rest of us no longer exist.’
Realisation washed over Serena. ‘You’re jealous.’
‘Jealous?’ He seemed just as shocked. ‘Yes, I suppose I am, and why shouldn’t I be? I’m his flesh and blood and you are just an imposition in our home, even if you are more beautiful than any woman we’ve laid eyes on.’
Serena pressed a hand over her mouth in surprise. Did her ears deceive her? Mr Simon considered her beautiful? He was not just jealous of his uncle, but jealous over her as well? Mr Simon’s face drained of colour. Clearly, he hadn’t meant to blurt that out. It ruined his show of defensiveness. But this admission made sense. It made sense of everything in his behaviour. Uncle Eddie had everything Mr Simon wanted, and he couldn’t even get an acknowledgment.
Amusement threatened to overtake Serena’s offended senses, and she kept her fingers over her mouth to hide the smile. ‘Well, you really need not be jealous of me, Mr Simon. Please believe me when I tell you I never intended for things to get so out of hand. I am as puzzled by Mr King’s interest in me as you are. And I sincerely did not come here to cause any trouble. May we please call a truce?’ She thrust out a hand, hoping he wouldn’t leave it there, hanging in mid-air.
He grunted after a long moment. ‘Very well.’ He shook with her, albeit reluctantly, leaving her hand smudged with clay, as if she’d been the one weeding.
Once again, Serena turned to leave but had second thoughts. Perhaps she might put this fragile truce to the test.
‘Tell me truthfully, was Mr King really more sound before I arrived?’
Mr Simon shrugged, pulling a blade of grass and squinting up at her. ‘Only for a time. He’s had these episodes previously.’
‘Has it always been triggered by a girl?’
Another shrug. ‘By a girl? No. There seems no particular reason for it. But Mother has tried her hardest to keep him sensible, lest people learn of it.’
Serena tapped a finger on her chin. ‘I wonder. Do you believe in this curse of which he speaks?’ She joined him on the lawn.
‘There is no curse.’
‘You don’t believe him, or you know this for certain?’
‘He’s twisted the truth in his mind over time.’
‘So, something did happen then?’
‘Uncle Eddie met a priest of some sort, not sure what church, and spent time with him. The priest told him he was too proud and needed to “lean not on his own understanding.” The priest warned Uncle Eddie, if I remember correctly, that pride comes before a fall. The priest invited Uncle Eddie to surrender to God’s will, but knowing my uncle, I’m guessing he refused.’
‘Did the priest mention King Nebuchadnezzar?’
‘King who? No, I’ve never heard of him.’
‘King Nebuchadnezzar was a king in the Bible who went insane after he boasted his own glory and refused to acknowledge God. I read the Scriptures over and over this morning after Mr King told me of the story.’
Mr Simon’s face became grave. ‘I see. Uncle Eddie has read many religious texts over the years. It makes sense he would know of it. But I do not think he learned the story from the priest.’
Serena reached out a hand and touched him on the forearm, feeling specks of dirt on his sleeve. ‘You have helped me very much, Mr Simon. Who could imagine we would find accord? Perhaps we might even be friends?’
He looked at her with solemn eyes and nodded. ‘What shall we do about Uncle Eddie?’
‘I’m uncertain, but you can trust me in this—I am determined to do what I can to help. I have grown to admire your uncle. Very much.’
Serena, feeling unready to return to the house, walked instead to the small bay at the edge of the property. Though the air still held a chill, the wind had died down a little. The coolness refreshed her. Perhaps it would cleanse her mind of all the doubt and confusion. She stood on the shore and gazed at the lapping waves. Funny how the one person whom she thought was her greatest opposition, might in fact turn out to be her greatest ally. Once Mr Simon got past his own emotion, he’d been open and honest, and she now had a clearer picture of the truth than she had in all these weeks.
Now, how to proceed with that truth?
Was there a way to convince Edward he was not cursed? If the Jones family failed to make him see reason, what made her assume she would succeed? They all seemed to believe she impacted Edward, that she held an influence over him.
Serena didn’t want to let them down. They all suffered grief for their dear Edward. They fought hard for his protection. And now they were placing their hope in her. The pressure was great. Perhaps too great. There was no guarantee of success. Especially when she could not fathom how to go ahead. After all, she had no training or experience in these matters.
A seagull hovered over the waves, using the stiff breeze to keep itself suspended above the water, watching for small fish to swim near the surface. How did these birds know where to find food? They had a built-in instinct for it. The way God created them.
And God created her with inbuilt instincts, too. What did those tell her? With a sigh, she acknowledged she was at a complete loss. As if she were the little fish in the big wide ocean, with a huge bird hovering over to snap her up for lunch. Out of her depth. Alone. Undone.
The only
