Page 16 of Strictly Friends
Jake, who had been listening intently to the conversation, piped up curiously, ‘Where’s Martin Junior?’
MissIda’s bright smile dimmed. ‘Sweet child, we lost Martin Junior just five years after we came to Sorrel Island. But Marty’s in Heaven with him now, so our baby has someone up there taking care of him.’
Jake absorbed MissIda’s words and then, to Ruby’s astonishment, he went over to her and wrapped his arms around her waist, making no protest when she gently stroked his hair.
MissIda blinked rapidly, and hugged Jake to her for a moment before gently disengaging herself. ‘Well, now, it’s getting late, and I should get your room made up before I start on dinner. The two of you must be worn out from all that travelling.’
She bustled across the room and flung open a set of French doors which led out to a stone terrace. ‘It’s getting cooler and you have the place to yourselves until the other guests get back. Take a walk on the terrace and visit the gardens while you’re waitin’ on me, and I’ll come fetch you when I’m done.’
With that, she left the room, and Ruby filled a glass from the red juice in the jug, handing it to Jake before pouring her own. The ice-cold drink was delicious and tasted like a blend of sweet berries, ginger, and sugar, with a hint of spice.
Zeke appeared, his straw boater tucked under his arm, and Ruby poured him a glass, which he swallowed in a few gulps before jamming his hat on his head with a satisfied smile.
‘Y’all have a good visit, now, and I’ll be seeing you soon.’
Touching the brim of his hat respectfully, he gave them a nod of farewell and left.
10
By the time Ruby had finished unpacking, Jake was visibly flagging. Pushing the empty suitcases into one of the roomy wardrobes in their bedroom, she gave him a bracing smile.
‘I know you’re tired, buddy, but dinner will be ready at seven, so hang in there until we’ve had something to eat and then we can both get some sleep.’
Jake yawned and then nodded. ‘Okay, but aren’t we going to look for my dad?’
‘We’ve got plenty of time for that tomorrow. It’s been a long day and all we’re going to do now is have dinner and an early night. Tell you what, why don’t you take a shower? It’ll help you stay awake, and after I’ve had mine, we can go downstairs and look around the inn before dinner.’
Ruby shooed him into the adjoining bathroom before he could protest, and, closing the door behind him, looked around with a sigh of pleasure. The Cloud Room MissIda had offered them boasted a stunning feature wall painted a deep shade of blue with puffs of white clouds that ran along the length of the room. Two double beds, draped in blue floral bedspreads and matching pillowcases, were separated by an ornate wooden screen with diamond cut-outs, while large fans circulated a cool breeze around the room. On one side of the room, an archway framedan alcove with a sofa and a large desk and chair, perfect for Jake to work on the school assignments she had promised MrHinton would be submitted at the end of each week. At the other end of the room, floor-to-ceiling glass doors opened to a covered balcony overlooking the gardens.
Eager to explore the balcony, Ruby slid open the glass doors and stepped out on to sun-warmed white tiles. Leaning against the wrought-iron balustrades to take in the view of the landscaped grounds, she sniffed appreciatively as the warm breeze carried over spicy aromas from the kitchen. Knowing Jake could spend hours in a shower if left to himself, Ruby moved to sit on one of the sun loungers set out on the balcony and stretched out, flexing her toes to ease her tired leg muscles. Within moments, she had drifted off, only waking when she felt Jake’s damp fingers shaking her by the shoulder.
‘You said we couldn’t sleep untilafterdinner,’ he said accusingly.
‘Sorry, buddy.’ Smiling sheepishly, Ruby scrambled to her feet. ‘I must have dozed off. Give me a few minutes to take a shower and then we’ll go downstairs.’
When Ruby and Jake walked into the spacious dining room adjoining the parlour, it was still early. Tables of varying sizes covered with pristine white cloths had been set up for dinner with gleaming cutlery and polished glasses, but the only diners present were two elderly women seated together at a table and a young couple with a small boy and a little girl in a highchair at another. Saloon doors on one side of the room led to the kitchen, while, at the back, two sets of sliding glass doors opened on to a floodlit stone terrace that stretched the width of the room and overlooked the sea.
Ruby’s gaze lingered on the young family as she walked past. Seeing the father attempt to persuade the little girl in the highchair to swallow the food he was spooning into her mouth reminded her of the tactics Griffin had used in the past to coax a fussy Jake to eat. Not for the first time, she wished her best friend was there with them. Griffin reallydidmake everything fun, she thought wistfully, as she steered Jake towards an empty table by the window.
The aroma of spicy food emerging from the kitchen set Ruby’s stomach growling with hunger. It had been hours since their meal on the plane, and Jake had long since devoured the snacks she had stuffed into their backpacks. Right on cue, a pretty dark-skinned girl in a white shift dress that emphasised her slender figure approached their table.
‘Good evening, folks. I’m Narita,’ she announced with a sunny smile. ‘I’ll be serving you this evening. I hope you found everything in your room to your liking?’ Her soft, lilting accent instantly reminded Ruby of Zeke.
‘The room is lovely, thanks.’ Ruby smiled. ‘In fact, everything is simply perfect.’
‘I’ll let MissIda know, for sure. She’s in the kitchen and says if you need anything, you must be sure to let her know. May I inform you of tonight’s menu?’ Without waiting for an answer, Narita reeled off a list of dishes so quickly that Ruby struggled to keep up.
‘I’d like the chicken and spicy rice, please,’ Jake announced as soon as the waitress paused for breath, and Ruby raised a surprised eyebrow. Her son was notoriously picky about food, and she bit back a smile. Clearly, she wasn’t the only one the island was working its magic on.
‘I’ll have the Paradise grilled fish with the spicy rice, Narita,’ Ruby said. ‘It sounds yummy.’
When their food arrived, Jake wolfed down his meal, scarcely pausing long enough to respond to Ruby’s questions. After gulpinga glass of iced water, he slumped into his chair while Ruby finished her meal at a more sedate pace.
‘What do you think my dad’s house will be like?’ Jake demanded suddenly. ‘I bet it’s just as big as MissIda’s.’
‘I have no idea, but hopefully we’ll get some more information tomorrow. It’s a small island and I’m sure it won’t be that hard to find him.’
Ruby took another mouthful of the deliciously flavoured fish and suppressed a sigh. The sooner she got Jake in front of Kenny and put an end to the boy’s grandiose fantasies, the better.
