I didn’t say bye to Rebecca, I just hope she’ll understand. Melody thinks. She lowers her head recalling her promise to not leave Rebecca. Yet, she has just broken that promise. It pains her heart to picture little Rebecca trying to wrap her 8-year-old brain around why Melody left the same way as Mr Sanders – without a trace.
When Morison goes to her room to look for her, he will instead find payment for the last few night’s stay. She really did not want to leave this way, but she was left with no choice.
Melody looks around her. She was longing for some time out at sea, but she did not expect it to look like this. She loves the sea. It is her chance to feel like she has not a care in the world. Her chance to let her hair down and not care if it’s in place or not. Maybe when she gets to the new island, she will get to do some exploring too.
She looks back at the Deacon Islands, now a little more than a speck in the distance. The hilly plains and tall trees near Deacon house appear far less menacing. The sight is stunning. As the sun rises along the horizon, it shines bright rays of yellow on the island’s craggy cliffs. Any moment now, the small town will be awake and ready for business. Everything will run normally, except Melody will no longer be with them.
The shadows of the trees retreat their shade and stand erect. A small passenger plane takes off in the opposite direction from the island and Melody knows, That is the plane I was supposed to board this morning. But this time, Rob will be short one passenger.
She enjoyed her time on Deacon Island. Thinking of Rebecca’s sweet face and her friend Emma, Melody hopes she can return to the island. But on that day, she will have the answers she needs and when she has executed her plan, she will quickly escape the island for good.
“The seas have calmed down.” Melody shouts to Nell.
“They have. We’re deep in the Atlantic. The current will increase again as we get closer to my mum’s island. Can you see it? It’s just up ahead.”
Reaching the small island, Melody sees little arrows peeking over the water. “Yes, are those trees?”
Vast forestry ascends from the belly of the deep blues and anchors itself on the shore.
“Yes.” Nell sits up to get a better grip of the oar. She steers the boat towards one end of the island.
The small island is strangely deserted. It makes for a great hiding place for her mother.
“You’re going to like it here, Melody.” Nell reassures her.
“How often do you make the trip out here?”
Nell stands up to get a better look of the shore. She places her hand over her eyes to shade herself from the sun coming up.
“As often as I can. Maybe two. Three times a week?” Now she looks at Melody again as she sits down. “I just love being out at sea.”
“Do you sometimes get caught in bad weather?” Melody can’t believe the bravery of this 15-year-old girl.
“You now the saying, “Red sky, sailor’s delight… blah, blah, blah. I try to be careful.”
Up close, the island is beautiful. The sandy beach is clean, white and looks remote. It must get very few visitors a year. Melody considers how nice it will be to swim in the water, uninterrupted. Except this isn’t a vacation. She is here to find out about her father.
Nell turns the boat around and faces it in the direction of Deacon Island, then she reverses the boat and parks it along the shore. The boat slowly backs up until it bumps against the sand. The engine is now off.
“You should be able to get out without getting wet now.” The current washes against the beach with more strength than either of them expected and Melody almost loses her balance as she steps out. “I’ll pass you your bag.”
Melody catches her bag and holds it above the water until she is far up the shore and safe from the current washing up and wetting her clothes.
Nell quickly powers the boat up and sails away shouting, “I’m sorry Melody!”.
Melody is left on the sandy beach, deserted. “Nell!” She runs after the boat, shouting, “Come back!” to beckon her back to the shore, but Nell has sped off and now turned her body around to look towards Deacon Island.
Her anxiety is on the rise. Realizing she has been betrayed, Melody falls back and sits on the beach with her hands on her head. She doesn’t even know the name of the island she is on.
She looks up to the sky, God, what have I gotten myself into now? With nothing else to do, Melody stands up to go and get her bag.
Suddenly, someone reaches from behind her, chloroforms her, knocking her out.
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Also by Laura Greene
Wild Cove Mystery Series
Murder At Wild Cove Book 1
Susan Dern is Missing Book 2
The Demise of Tom Hendry Book 3
The Past Life of Jane Scott Book 4
The Hooded Figure
