Chapter 49
Kate
After the latest message from Alan came in with another picture of his erection half hanging out of his underwear, Kate didn’t want to be there on the beach anymore. She was still exhausted from the trip, and she didn’t have the mental energy to deal with Fernando and Brandy.
So she ran off. She walked down the boardwalk path that led to the Holbrooks’ summer house. As Kate walked alone, listening to the birds chirping, she heard someone biking on the path behind her. Kate automatically stepped aside, but the biker slowed down and stopped.
She froze. Oh no. It couldn’t be.
“Kate,” Alan said. “You didn’t return my calls.” He touched himself suggestively, and Kate felt panic rise in her chest. She still couldn’t believe she had had an affair with him. He had a wife and a family. What had she been thinking? And now she was all alone in the woods with him. No one even knew where she was.
“Are you stalking me?” Kate said loudly. “Stay away from me.”
“I just wanted to talk,” he said, cornering her against the railing along the path.
“I don’t want anything to do with you. You lied to me.” Kate was wondering if she should make a break for it or jump over the railing into the underbrush. She was only wearing her flip-flops, though.
“You were always my best student,” Alan said, reaching for her hair. “We were good together.”
She flinched away from his hand. He had his wedding ring on, she noticed.
“Finally advertising your real status?” she snarled.
He glared at her. “We have unfinished business.”
“No, we don’t.”
He made a move as if he were about to hit her but stopped when they both heard the sound of someone large running toward them.
“Kate!”
She breathed a sigh of relief. It was Grant—he had come to find her.
“Who the hell are you?” he growled, pushing his way between Von Breuer and Kate.
“I’m her old teacher,” Alan said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “And you’re the owner of the famous watch, if I’m not mistaken.”
Grant scowled at him. “That’s none of your business.”
“I am merely a fellow enthusiast,” Alan said, picking up his bike. “Enjoy your stay here.”
“Who was that?” Grant demanded.
“No one,” Kate replied, trying to fix her clothes.
“I’m walking you home,” Grant said with a grim expression on his face. He grabbed her by the arm and hauled her down the path.
Kate was still shaken while she dressed for dinner. Grant tried to reach for her when she went into her bedroom, but she pushed him away. This day had clearly been yet another reminder that she wasn’t good enough for him.
That evening, they all walked to the Davenport house. It was only a ten-minute stroll, but Kate was glad she had decided on flats. Grant stayed glued to Kate the whole walk over. She could tell he was on high alert. His eyes never stopped scanning the tree line.
Great, she thought, I’ve probably tripped his PTSD. He’s going to be paranoid and crazy the rest of the evening.
No one seemed to be in that great of a mood. Jack and Walter were walking as far apart from each other as they could. Kate knew everyone was missing the children. The only reason Grant was even there was because his younger siblings were killed. It had to be hard—the kids had loved coming to the island.
As they walked up the Davenports’ walkway, Kate saw a figure walking down the road ahead of them. She hoped it wasn’t Alan. She forced herself to put him out of her mind as the door opened and Eric greeted them.
“Greetings!” he said. “You can put your jackets and wraps in a side room. We’re all gathered in the parlor for pre-dinner drinks.” Ginny was there too, as were Brandy and their parents.
Kate looked through the window and saw a figure moving out of the woods in the shadows. Was it Alan? She tried to keep her cool. Grant looked between Kate and the window, ignoring the drink in his hand.
Jack and Walter were both drinking too much, however, Kate noticed. Between the two brothers and Grant’s constant vigilance, everyone was on edge. This was going to be a long evening.
Their hosts hurried them all through drinks and to the dinner table. Please let this evening be over quickly, Kate prayed.