Chapter 3

Maeve’s POV

My eyes rolled up into their sockets at the rambling on the other end of the phone. “I told you, Selene. I am stretched out for the month.”

“How are you stretched out when you are travelling to work? Are you saying they didn’t pay you upfront or give you some kind of stipend at least? I hope you are not trying to act indifferent towards me? I am your sister and there was a time in your life that I was the reason you survived.” As always she had that annoying haughtiness to her tone.

“I really can't do this with you, Selene. I have so much on my mind right now.”

“Are you trying to say you no longer care about your niece? Do you want her to drop out of school and go hungry?”

“Selene…”

“What?” she clipped. “I thought you always claimed you love the girl and now that you are supposed to be there for her when she needs you the most, you are backing out.”

I felt the strong urge to pull my hair at her unbelievable words. I tried my best not to let her actions get to me. But at the end of the day, I am only human and she can be quite inconsiderate.

Taking a deep breath, I rested on my left foot with my hand clipping my waist. “If I remember correctly, not up to a month ago, I practically cleared my savings and racked up some credits just to pay for Kiara’s surgery. Just because I told you about a job that I still don’t know how far I would be able to go with it, you chose to ignore how much of a toll the unexpected expenditure might have had on me all for your interest. Have you ever paused for a moment to think of how selfish your actions are?”

When there was a pause on the other end, I thought she was feeling remorseful and might be embarrassed. But her next response told me all I needed to know.

“We are family after all. You are supposed to do a lot for the sake of your family.”

“Selene!” I lashed out, surprising myself. Inhaling sharply, I held up a hand forgetting she can’t see me. “You know what? I will not let you get the best of me. I am sure Kiara knows how much I love her and I won’t be the one she hates. Do not call me unless it is an emergency.” I kissed my teeth and dropped the call. Kicking the floor in annoyance.

“Someone looks pissed,” Keoni noted, closing the space between us before pulling me into an embrace. He leaned back to hold my gaze. “What happened?”

I huffed, “it's Selene. Despite my explanation about my present financial state, she insists on me sending her some money. When I didn’t budge, you don’t want to know what she resorted to.”

Keoni looked bored. “She used your niece to blackmail you I guess.”

“Exactly! Isn’t that distasteful? I have broken my back for a child that isn’t mine, even though I love her to death. This is not fair.”

“Saying things aren’t fair will only make you appear weak. You can decide what is fair or not. I will never understand why you give someone like Selene so much access to your life.”

“She is family.” I croaked.

“And families can be discarded if they become too troubling.”

Sighing, I waved a dismissive hand. “That’s enough. Let's go. I might miss my flight at this point. You didn’t have to worry about dropping me at the airport.”

Keoni snorted, “So you thought I would let you go all by yourself without at least seeing you leave? What sort of monster do you take me to be?”

I pulled at his cheek, grinning sheepishly at him. “I will never think of you as a monster. So get into the car and drive, monsieur.”

“You are lucky I love you so much.” He snickered, opening the car door for me. “I hope all of you got everything that you might need.”

“All thanks to you, Your Majesty. I do not think I will run out of anything.” I teased.

He had a smug look on his face. “It's an island with minimal essentials. To get the good stuff you will need to travel to the mainland and that can be quite stressful. I don’t want your stay there to be uncomfortable.”

“I think you are only trying to cool your guilty conscience seeing how you are sending me off to a wolf.”

“Is that how you see it?”

I thinned my eyes at him, clearly hearing the mockery in his tone. “I will pay you back in your own coin.”

“Please do, I can’t wait.” He laughed, igniting the car. “Please, I hope you didn’t share the details of your location and pay to your sister?”

I chuckled dryly, “Wouldn’t that be me setting myself up? I might let her get away with a lot of things. But I know there are some things that I can no longer share with her, whether absentmindedly or intentionally.”

“We can’t afford a repeat of five years ago. This is serious business.” He uttered in a firm tone.

I could never wish for such an experience to be repeated. Five years ago, during my residency program, I had shared my monthly pay with my sister, thinking nothing of it. One particular month just three months after I started working, Selene had asked for some money and I told her I didn’t have it. Only for her to show up at my workplace to yell at me for being irresponsible and had the audacity to visit the HR’s office to ask them to start paying half of my salary to her. Aside from being so mortified that I wanted to be buried alive, I almost got sacked from being a resident.

Thanks to Keoni who happened to know the hospital chairman and begged on my behalf. Till today, Selene still hasn’t apologized for almost costing me my job. Now that I think about it, I really should have cut ties a long time ago. But my white knight syndrome has a chokehold on me.

Shaking the thoughts out of my head. I tried to focus my attention on the journey ahead. It is my first time travelling out of my city, by flight at that. Even though it's only about forty-five minutes fly time, it is still a big deal. Getting a leave of absence was easier than I expected. Even though the offer had shown up last minute. My supervisor was kind enough to consider my diligence over the years and not refuse my request. I still don’t know who my client will be aside from slight detail of his career and finances.

I already signed a non-disclosure agreement and the first month's pay has been sent to my account. All my transport needs have been paid for too. I had to sort my rent for the month, just in case I might need to return after a month. If I don’t and get lucky to spend more than a month. Keoni would help get my things out to a safe place and when I return I will get a better apartment from the one whose walls are so thin you can practically hear the heavy breathing of one's neighbor.

“My magnificent Maeve, I am going to miss you.” Keoni lamented when we arrived at the airport, holding me to his chest like he intended to snuff life out of me. “I don’t think we have ever had to be away from each other for a month and there is a chance I won't get to see you for half a year.”

I laughed lightly, wrapping my arms around his waist. “I will miss you too. But I don’t want you to get your hopes up for nothing. I might be coming back home next week.”

He shook his head, patting my hair. “I am very sure that wouldn’t happen. You are tougher than you think. And the crazy truth about you is that you enjoy tough challenges. It is why you are putting up with your crazy sister.”

“That’s enough use of crazy. See you around, PT Cooper.” I grinned when my flight number got called for boarding.

“Bye, Maeve.” He waved as I headed towards the boarding line.

I got the middle seat and I was grateful when the plane eventually took off and I thought my heart would leap out of my mouth. I didn’t realize how hard I was gripping my belt until the person sitting by the window, tapped me gently on the knee.

“It's okay, it is steady now. You can open your eyes,” he said in a reassuring tone. “First time flying?” I could only bob my head in response while trying to catch my breath.

The next forty minutes went by with no hassle until the plane was due to land again. This time I tried not to appear fidgety again, but it still wasn’t easy. We arrived in East Hampton and I had to hurry to the ferry port to get on the almost two-hour ferry ride to my final destination, Harbor Isle Island. The house manager I got in contact with, Wanda, did a good job analyzing every one of my move. In one day,

I am experiencing a lot of firsts. Flying, then getting on a ferry to travel through a large expanse of water that seems to have no end in sight. I tried to stand by the deck to watch us leave the mainland behind, but it felt like I would get seasick forcing me to go sit my ass down and wait until we arrived.

After what felt like ages, we finally departed the ferry onto dry land and the first thing that clung to my nostrils was the smell of the sea, and an air that felt like it had never encountered pollution in its entire existence. There was barely any bustling noise like I am used to in New York. There are lined cabs that don’t exactly look like the usual New York cabs and instead come in a variety of shapes. Even a truck is also available to be ordered for a ride. It dawned on me that I am quite far away from home.

“Hello, ma’am. Where are you headed?” A man who appeared to be in his sixties approached me.

“Oh, yeah,” I mumbled, searching for my phone to check the house address. “Errm…I am headed to the house by the cliffside.”

An interesting look crossed his eyes. “The cliffside estate, uhn? Sure, I can get you there. Is this your luggage?” he reached for my two boxes before I could respond. To my amusement, his car happened to be the truck. I coughed out a laugh. “Is everything alright, ma’am?”

“Sure, it is great,” I replied, sniffing. I can’t wait to tell Keoni and Jade about this.

The roads happened to be dirt roads with several tiny stones that made the truck rattle. The ocean seemed visible at every turn. The sight of the buildings made me feel like I had entered a fairytale world.

“So, are you really going to the cliffside estate or just a house near it?” the driver inquired.

I cleared my throat, readjusting myself. “It’s the estate. Why do you ask?”

“You must be a doctor then. You are like the eighth doctor I have picked up heading there. And I am sure other people offering taxi services have had experiences.”

I wanted to correct him that I am not a doctor but a physiotherapist then thought against it. I already had an idea of what the situation at my destination might be. It is just quite interesting, hearing it from someone who is obviously a resident of the island.

“We have arrived.” He announced, stopping the car in front of a house that did seem to be sitting on a cliff, far from the rest of the residents. “Let’s hope you don’t also get to leave soon.” He bowed his head slightly at me when he dropped my luggage before driving off.

I suddenly felt a lump in my throat as I stood facing the house that appeared to be set back from the cliff edge. Regret was beginning to set in as it felt like I had just shut myself out of civilization. The house and its environment are very secluded. Murder could be committed here and would be gotten away with. Just as I was about to decide whether to bolt or face my fears, the door burst open abruptly.

My heart almost flew out of my chest.