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For the two hour drive to the harbor we sat in relative silence. Lewis let me stew in my thoughts and emotions and I was glad for it. I wasn’t ready to talk. I felt guilty as hell. I was doing what was best for me and for Grandma. Someone had to learn how to protect us.
Grandma had practically admitted that S.P.I. existed and I knew the reason she’d made me hide my powers was because she didn’t want to bring attention to us. She was afraid. I could understand that, but I was my own person and I couldn’t accept that for myself. And as the minutes ticked by and the distance between me and my old life grew, my guilt faded. When we were on the ferry that would take us to Haddock Island where Aaron lived, Lewis finally spoke.
He nudged me with his shoulder, a playful push. “You okay?” He didn’t move away, but kept close, his body warm next to mine as we leaned against the railing watching the main land become smaller and smaller. I wanted to go. I was doing the right thing. So why, as the land became a blur, did I feel the stirrings of panic?
“Cameron?”
“Yeah, sure. I’m fine,” I said a little too quickly.
The wind tossed his hair and gave a flush to his cheeks. My body practically tingled when he was near. He was cute. Gorgeous. Realizing he had probably just read that thought, heat shot to my cheeks and I looked away. “I can’t do this.”
I felt his body stiffen. “Cam, you’re doing the right thing, what your father would have wanted.”
“No, not that.” My embarrassment grew. We’d never discussed any feelings between us, if there were any. Heck, maybe I was the only one thinking of romance. But surely he’d read my thoughts and knew how I felt. Wouldn’t he have shot me down by now? Unless he got some perverse pleasure out of seeing me lust after him. “No,” I said softly. “I mean I can’t stand here while you read my thoughts.”
He laughed, those gorgeous blue eyes turning into half-moons as he looked out at the waves. I frowned and shoved him in the shoulder. “Not funny and it’s not fair.” I hated this, but I certainly knew how Anne must have felt. “It’s…embarrassing.”
He looked at me, his eyes sparkling. As much as I wanted to be angry at him, all I could think about was how pure his gaze was, blue like the ocean churning below.
“Cam, I turned off my abilities.”
“Turned off?”
He shrugged, wrapping his hands around the wood railing. His blue windbreaker rustled in the breeze. “Well, only with you.”
“I don’t understand.”
He leaned super close, his breath warm on my cheek. “I’m not reading your thoughts.”
I wasn’t sure if I believed him, but with him so close, I didn’t really care. “But, how? I’ve been able to dim people’s thoughts by focusing on other things, but they still seep in.”
He turned, leaning his back against the railing. “Just one of the many things you’ll soon learn.”
I gazed out at the water, silent as I wondered if what he said was true. There really wasn’t a reason for him to lie. “Why?” I finally asked.
He glanced at me. “Hmm?”
“Why’d you stop reading my mind?”
He looked thoughtful for a moment, and then shrugged. “It didn’t feel…right.” He turned toward the railing again and clasped his hands together. There was a flush to his cheeks, as if he was embarrassed to be talking about his emotions. Such a stereotypical guy.
The horn on the boat released a deep bellow, indicating the shore was drawing near. My excitement flared, sending my stomach into a nervous fit. I hadn’t wanted to sit inside on the lower deck as I’d needed to keep my mind clear of the other passenger’s thoughts. But that meant I was chilled to the bone and eager to get on dry land.
“There it is,” he said, pointing toward the shore.
I leaned closer to the railing, the wind pulling my hair from its ponytail and tugging at my jacket. There, on a sloping green hill that was apparently the highest point of the island, stood a massive brick mansion, even more ornate and intimidating than it had been in my mind. Only a few trees dotted the landscape, but the lack of foliage didn’t take away from the savage beauty of the place.
“Wow,” I whispered, in awe.
Any unease about leaving Grandma was gone. I felt my very life changing as that boat docked and the small village came into view. Clapboard homes lined the streets and boats of various colors and sizes docked along the shore. It was a tourist town in the summer, Lewis had told me, a place where people vacationed to go whale watching, fishing and shopping.
Today the island was quiet. Most of the residents had left their summer homes boarded up and empty. The few residents who remained were safely ensconced, bundled up against the chill afternoon wind. But for the few squawking gulls, it was quiet. So incredibly, blessedly quiet of thoughts!
Lewis took hold of my suitcase and started for the dock. I followed, weaving my way around the small group of tourists who had braved the autumn winds. The scent of saltwater and fish was a comfortable and familiar scent. Everything seemed clean, fresh, full of possibilities.
I stepped off the dock and onto solid land and my heart surged with hope. The visitors rushed off to their destinations, leaving Lewis and me alone, just as I liked it.
“Come on,” he said, taking my hand in his warm grip. I don’t think he realized it, but his touch was becoming almost normal now. Instinctively I reached for his hand, when I shouldn’t have. When his fingers wrapped around mine, it felt so wonderful.
His excitement was contagious. He was coming home. He loved it here, and I knew I would too. My suitcase thumped, rolling across cobbled stone. The place was picture perfect, like something from a holiday card. I could imagine that in winter, with snow falling, it would look even better. Down the main street, historic stone and clapboard buildings lined the sidewalks. Grandma would love this place. I squashed that thought just as quickly as it had arrived.
“There he is.” Lewis nodded toward a sleek black car where a man stood, leaning against the hood. His arms were crossed over a slate grey button up shirt. His blond hair was short and trimmed neatly.
Seeing us, he pulled the black sunglasses from his eyes and smiled a brilliant smile that showed perfectly white, perfectly straight teeth. I almost paused, not expecting a man obviously wealthy. So refined, so well-dressed. I wasn’t sure what I’d thought he’d look like, maybe an old, wise-looking Dumbledore complete with a beard and robe.
“That’s Aaron?” I asked, the disbelief apparent in my voice.
Lewis nodded.
I felt suddenly nervous. This man had known my father, known him well, when I hadn’t even known his middle name. This man was going to teach me how to use my powers. This man was going to change my life.
Aaron’s blue gaze went to me and his smile widened. “Cameron.” He didn’t pause until he was in front of us. He took both my hands in his strong grip, his palms warm and comforting in some odd way. “It’s so wonderful to finally meet you.” He was silent for a moment, his gaze studying mine until I blushed.
“My God, you look like your father,” he said.
I took the words as a compliment. Even though he was dead, I felt closer to my dad than I ever had. Nervously, I tucked a lock of hair behind my ear. “Thank you. I…I’ve never even seen a picture of him.”
He frowned, his light blue eyes narrowing. “Well, we’ll have to remedy that. I have plenty of pictures.” He took the handle of my luggage and started toward the back of the car. “Come, I’m sure you’d like to rest.”
I’d had little sleep in the past twenty-four hours and was physically exhausted. But inside, I was as giddy as a kid on Christmas Eve. I sank into the passenger seat, marveling over the smooth, soft leather seats as Aaron threw my suitcase into the trunk.
Lewis settled in the backseat. “You excited?”
“You could say that,” I beamed.
Lewis leaned forward, resting his hand on my should
er. “You won’t regret coming here, Cameron, I promise you.”
I didn’t have time to respond. Aaron sat behind the wheel and maneuvered the car down the main road. “I’m so thrilled you decided to join us.”
I certainly was too. As we drove through town I knew I’d done the right thing. Call it instinct, but I was meant to be here, on the cobbled streets with the clapboard and Victorian homes. Here, where I would learn to thrive, instead of hiding.
“There are so many things I want to show you,” Aaron continued.
The town ended and we started up the hill that would lead toward the mansion Lewis had pointed out on the ferry. “So many things you’ll be capable of, I just know it. If you’re anything like your dad.”
Just like that, my excitement faded. I shifted, feeling uneasy for the first time today. What if I wasn’t as powerful as my dad? What if I failed them? But now wasn’t the time to worry. I pushed aside depressing thoughts and focused on the scenery. There were only a few oak trees that lined the road up the hill. It was a rather desolate place, but not uncommon for the islands off Maine. Still, it made an isolated picture. Isolation was fine by me. I was tired of being around people who didn’t understand.
The sun was lowering, sending brilliant orange and pink rays across the ocean to my left. On my right, a high stone fence rose up along the road and followed us, ending at a set of large, iron gates, complete with a gatehouse. It seemed a bit extreme, but I knew rich people liked their privacy and Aaron was obviously rich. I couldn’t help but wonder what he did for a living. I should have asked Lewis more questions on the way here, but had been too emotional to think straight.
We paused at the closed gates. “Don’t worry, it’s mostly for show,” Aaron said, giving me a reassuring smile.
I wasn’t sure what he meant but nodded like I understood. Two guards came forward, glanced inside the car, then opened the gates for us. I noticed the guns strapped to their sides almost immediately. My stomach lurched. Lewis had said S.P.I. was a real threat. Was the fence here to keep S.P.I. out or us in?
The car rolled through the iron gates and Aaron’s home came into view. For a moment I forgot my unease. “You’re our honored guest. Anything you want, anything you need, we have it here. In fact, there’s no reason to leave.” Aaron laughed after he said that, as if he was joking.
I kept my smile in place, but it was hard to do. I was tired, I told myself, merely exhausted from the day’s events. Yet, as the gates closed behind us, I couldn’t help but glance back.
I might have been an honored guest, but I was a guest who was apparently going to have to get permission to leave.