Page 39 of Always

“In the house,” Aunt Molly said. “He has a visitor.”

Hearing the queer tone in her aunt’s voice, Anika turned to look at her suspiciously.

At that moment, Liam came out of the house with James at his side. Anika could tell James was equally surprised to see her, though he didn’t seem unhappy about it. In fact, he came striding toward them across the grass, smiling a little.

“What are you doing here?” Anika asked. She hadn’t meant to ask the question so rudely, but James didn’t seem offended. He might have perceived the happy little swell that had risen inside of her, unbidden, at the sight of him.

“Just scheming with Liam,” he said, patting Goliath’s neck. “We’re thinking of starting a hedge fund together, with a group out of Hong Kong. I’m getting fat and lazy—I’ve got to get back to work.”

“Yes you do,” Liam said, catching up with James. “One success is nothing but luck, my boy, it’s on the second and third and fourth venture that you prove yourself. Look at Elon. PayPal was brilliant, but it was with Tesla and SpaceX that he built a legacy.”

“Is that the standard now?” James laughed. “Three completely innovative companies instead of just one?”

“It is for someone as young as you,” Liam said. “You’ve got too much time ahead of you to be complacent.”

“I guess you’re right,” James said, giving Goliath one final pat. “Well, back to the house then. No rest for the wicked.”

“Are you staying for lunch?” Anika asked quickly.

“Should I?” James asked her. He was looking up at her where she sat astride the horse, standing so close that she could feel his breath on the back of her hand holding the reins.

“Of course,” Anika said, dropping her eyes. “If you want to. If you don’t have any place else to be.”

Goliath pulled impatiently at the bit. He didn’t like to stand once he had a rider on his back.

“Come on!” Aunt Molly called. Domino was waiting patiently, cropping at the clover, but Aunt Molly looked toward the fields with anticipation.

“See you soon, then,” Anika said, turning Goliath toward the field.

As soon as they were clear of the yard, she gave him his head and he immediately began to gallop across the field.

“Slow down!” Aunt Molly called after her. “Let me warm up a little!”

Anika brought Goliath around in a large circle, encouraging him to slow to a trot next to Domino. She could tell he was still bursting with energy, but he did his best to comply, with only occasional reminders to stay in step.

“Tell me about Portugal!” Anika said to Aunt Molly.

Molly obliged, telling Anika about the pretty stone castles in Sintra, the Chapel Of Bones In Évora, and the sea cliffs outside Lagos.

“I wish you would have come with me!” Molly said. “I hate traveling alone.”

“Why didn’t you take Liam?” Anika asked mischievously.

“Actually, he’s coming with me to Panama next month,” Molly said. “He said he likes bridges and canals.”

“Really?” Anika said. “That’s fantastic!”

“It is,” Aunt Molly agreed. “It’s not good to be alone. You should think about that Anika—you don’t want to be like me, tramping around empty old castles by yourself at fifty.”

“Why didn’t you ever get married, Aunt Molly?” Anika asked curiously. She knew her aunt could have easily enough—she was just as clever and pretty as Eleanor had been, or close to it anyway.

“At first it was just selfishness,” Aunt Molly said. “I liked running around doing whatever I pleased. You know your grandfather was conservative, and strict too. Once my money came clear—” (she meant the trust fund, which had vested for each of the sisters at age twenty-five)—“then I was free to do whatever I wanted.

“Later I had some relationships, but when I thought about committing to someone, permanently…well, Mom and Dad hadn’t been very happy together, and it was looking like things between Bennet and Eleanor were even worse. No offense to your father.”

Anika simply nodded.

“Then your mother passed away, and I felt like the only thing I could do for her was to help take care of you girls. You were my children, I didn’t need any more. Or at least, I didn’t then. Later I thought it might have been nice...but time passes so quickly, Anika. It’s so pointless to say that to someone who’s young, like you. Old ladies used to say it to me, and it meant nothing to me then. Because every day we wake up feeling that we’re the same as we’ve ever been. But bit by bit, and then quicker and quicker, the face in the mirror starts changing, and by the time you notice it, you’ve become old, and certain things have passed you by.”

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