Page 84 of Electric Kiss

“And then we all met up for ice cream,” Jason said.

“Man, that was a good day,” Archer said and sighed. “I wish we had more of them.”

“You’ll have memories with your own kids. You’re going to have so many campfire legends to tell your grandkids, with all of you living next door to each other. Your kids are going to grow up together, and then they’re kids, too,” Imelda said.

Daisy wiped away the tears as she listened to stories before she was born. When her mum was happy even though she was living under a tyrant’s roof. They walked to the end of the wing on the opposite side from the study, and the morning room was situated. Imelda tried the door handle to see if it was open, and it was.

“Come on, let’s show Nate where all the serious books are,” Imelda said, furrowing her brows to make her look like an elderly college professor.

Nate laughed and dropped Daisy’s hand to move to the library. It was like someone said books, and he ran in that direction.

“Holy shit,” he shouted from inside.

Daisy and her brothers were still outside, letting him have the run of the library. When Daisy was younger, she thought they modelled Beauty and the Beast films in her library.

“Are you really happy, Daisy?” Archer asked quietly. “You married really quickly.”

“Quicker than you?” she countered with a grin.

“Fair point. But I wouldn’t be your big brother if I didn’t make sure you’re happy with Nate.”

“He makes me happy. He takes away my loneliness,” she said, and she had three faces look stricken at her. “Don’t give me that look. It’s hard being the youngest and the smartest.”

“You never said anything,” Jason said.

“I don’t think any of us shared what we went through in this house. I have days where I want to strike a match and burn it to the ground, but this house has too much history. As much as she was awful to all of us, I don’t wish her dead. But when the old goat does go, this place needs to be utilised in some way. Obviously, Nate won’t let anyone in that library based on how quiet he’s gone, but we should come up with something. Maybe a permanent movie set?”

“That’s not a bad idea. Maybe we could bid for a series to be filmed here, not just a movie. They used loads of houses on the mainland for period dramas.”

“We’ll put it on the list,” Daisy said.

Imelda came out of the library smiling. “Nate is moving in there, so let’s leave him and go to the morning room.”

Imelda marched off to the other end of the mansion, and all four of them stayed where they were. It took a full minute for Imelda to realise she was on her own.

“Do we have to?” Luke asked.

“Yes, come on. I’ll protect you. She won’t be in there, anyway. She knows I know, and she knows I’m spilling all the secrets, so shame will keep her up there in her rooms. Come on,” she said and held out her hand.

It wasn’t for any one of them, just a simple gesture that she wanted to be their mother. Luke went first, and Daisywanted to sob for him as he had the rawest deal with Aunt Cynthia besides her. Then Jason followed. Archer snatched up Daisy’s hand, and they strode towards their mother.

“I have an idea. Well, it was Bailey’s really,” Imelda said when they caught up.

Daisy looked to her brothers and then back to Imelda walking away. None of them knew what she meant. Using the bunch of keys Bailey had given her, she unlocked Cynthia’s morning room and kept the door wide open. She picked up the nearest heavy thing and wedged the door open.

“No more locked doors,” Imelda announced.

They moved as a group to where the conservatory was overflowing with plants. Daisy had only been in that room once as an adult, but it still took her breath away.

Its grandness and grandeur filled the air with a sense of awe and wonder. Her grandfather would recite stories of visitors to the estate filled with admiration and envy of its many features, particularly its exotic plants and blooms.

The conservatory was massive and filled with various plants and flowers, from rare orchids to exotic lilies, from tropical palms to fragrant roses. The walls of the conservatory were adorned with glass, allowing the warm sunlight to pour in and bathe the room in an array of colours. The light reflected off the glass of the walls and filtered through the greenery of the plants, creating a truly magical atmosphere.

The scent of the flowers was intoxicating. The heavy aroma of roses and lilies scented the air, while the delicate aroma of orchids and jasmine wafted around the room. The humid air was filled with the sweet smell of nectar and the alluring aroma of pollen.

It was clear why the manor house conservatory was so popular. It was a place of beauty and serenity whereCynthia, no doubt, could escape the hustle and bustle of the house and take in the beauty of nature.

“Do you know how rare these flowers are? Back in the 70s, Grandfather Turner used to host a festival of flowers. The islanders were encouraged to grow their own too. Blessed with long summers and higher temperatures, Copper Island can grow so much. But the flowers in this conservatory and the walled garden have flowers from all over the world. Centuries ago, the original Turners encouraged their overseas guests to bring seeds, and then this monstrosity of a conservatory was born.”

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