Chapter 10

Adam and Kendra walked into the living room. Fiona was seated on the sofa with her foot up, a cold compress wrapped around her ankle. Holly was sitting near her, attempting to be solicitous, but the smile that was fixed upon her face was looking strained.

Kendra let out a soft groan that only Adam heard, but plastered a smile on her own face.

“Hey, hey! Did you miss us that much, Hols?”

Fiona glanced up, her face unreadable as she took in Kendra and Adam. Holly gave her fiancee a relieved look, but made her voice sound a touch sarcastic.

“Yep, that’s me. Devastatingly lonely.”

Adam sat down on one of the single chairs while Kendra squished herself down next to Holly. He cleared his throat as he looked at his cousin.

“So, uh, how do you feel, Fi?”

Fiona scowled as Adam slipped up, calling her by her nickname. His cousin hesitated, glancing at the two older women on the sofa with her, and kept her mouth shut. She simply looked down, muttering as she replied to Adam.

“Yeah. It feels better.”

Fiona hesitated again, and glanced over at Holly and Kendra. She mustered up a weak smile.

“It really does. Thanks.”

Holly nodded easily. There was a moment of silence as they all searched for something to say. Kendra broke the quiet, asking Adam’s cousin brightly.

“So, Fiona. I don’t think I’ve really seen you around the Retreat. What have you been doing with yourself since you got here?”

Fiona shifted uncomfortably on the sofa.

“Oh, I’ve been around. I guess we haven’t really done much, but we’ve only been her a few days. I’ve been with my boyfriend, Todd, most of the time.

Fiona looked slightly upset, but she hid her expression as best she could. Adam knew the partial omission must have stung Fiona — his cousin still didn’t know where Todd had been spending his time.

Adam schooled his face to stillness. He didn’t want to set off Fiona again, not when they were with company. To his slight dread, he saw Kendra pull Holly over towards her as she whispered in her ear. Adam saw Holly’s eyes widen. The brunette flicked her gaze between Fiona and Adam, looking slightly outraged. Adam sighed. He hadn’t expected Kendra to keep it a secret, but he’d at least thought she would have waited for Fiona to leave before telling her fiancée. At least Holly hadn’t had an outburst like Kendra had.

Adam spoke quickly, trying to cover up any misstep before Fiona noticed.

“Say, Fiona, I never actually heard how you first met Todd.”

Fiona brightened up a bit, even though it was Adam asking.

“Oh, your dad introduced us. Coming up on a year ago I think. We really hit it off straight away. I knew he was the one for me.”

“Oh, my dad did...”

Adam frowned. He remembered what Emily had told him the night before about his father. Why would he be introducing anyone to his niece? Especially if the guy in question was in his mid-twenties. Why not introduce Todd to his actually age-appropriate daughter?

Kendra piped up, saying what was running through Adam’s mind.

“Hey, that’s nice of him. I guess you were lucky, I would have thought he would have introduced someone like that to his daughter. Aren’t they the same age?”

Fiona scowled.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Oh, don’t be mad! I just meant that your boyfriend is about my age. You’re a cutie, don’t get me wrong, but I wouldn’t be interested in dating someone so young. You need more life experience to keep things interesting.”

Fiona looked quite offended. Adam raised an eyebrow as well. He was only a year older than his cousin.

Kendra raised her hands placatingly. Then she glanced at Adam, her face falling as she realised what she’d said. Holly elbowed her gently in the side.

“Two at once. Nicely done, K.”

“Hey, I didn’t mean it like that! Not exactly.”

Fiona crossed her arms.

“Hey, I’ve been with Todd for almost a year. He’s great!”

Kendra nodded fast.

“I’m sure he is.”

Holly smiled at Fiona.

“She didn’t mean anything, she just —”

Fiona spoke over the top of them, her voice getting louder.

“He’s really kind. And caring! He’s always there when I need him.”

Kendra hesitated, her face screwed up in thought. Adam could almost see what was coming. Kendra went for it.

“Adam said you couldn’t find him though?”

Fiona gaped at the pretty blonde. She tried to glare, but her eyes were tearing up. She dashed her hand angrily across her eyes.

“That doesn’t mean anything!”

Holly sighed. She cast a reproachful look back at Kendra.

“Look, calm down. We might be getting a little —”

“Are you both in on it too? Adam won’t tell me where he is! He says he doesn’t know, but it doesn’t add up!”

Holly reached out a hand, putting it on Fiona’s shoulder. Adam’s cousin tried to shrug it off but Holly was too strong.

“Hey, hey. Look, I’m sorry. Neither of us meant to upset you.”

Kendra looked defiantly guilty. She mouthed ‘sorry’ at Adam, before turning to Fiona.

“Yeah, look - I’m sorry. I don’t always think before I speak. I didn’t know it was that big of a deal. Or that it isn’t a big deal? Either way, I’m sorry.”

Fiona glared at Adam.

“Are you putting them up to this? Is this some sort of joke you’re pulling on me?”

“Fi, I’m really not doing anything like that. Why would I?”

“Stop calling me that!”

Fiona shrugged out of Holly’s grip. Any change that Adam had loosely wrought in her was coming undone as she grew more upset. She tried to stand up, but winced as she put weight on her foot. She flopped back down onto the sofa.

“Why are you suddenly acting like you’re some kind of nice guy? It was better when you showed your guilt and fucking avoided me!”

Kendra’s eyes widened. Then they narrowed, fixing Fiona with a piercing stare.

“What do you mean, ‘guilt’?”

Fiona laughed wildly.

“Oh, you don’t know? Doesn’t surprise me. Of course you don’t know. There would be no way you’d hang around someone like Adam if you did. Although even if you don’t, I can’t understand you both acting like you fucking like him.”

Adam paused, taking a breath. Fiona seemed to babbling. She definitely wasn’t making any sense to him.

“Fiona. I don’t know what you’re talking about. Look, if you’re that upset, I’m sorry. We won’t talk about Todd anymore, right guys?”

“No, just — just shut up! I’m sick of it. Sick of all of it! Why do I still have to see you? Why do you have to be so shameless and still hang around like you’re innocent, not the fucking pervert you are!”

Adam’s face went blank. He wracked his brains, trying to figure out what his cousin was talking about. He could see Holly and Kendra look at him, confused and quizzical. Adam flushed. He didn’t think he’d done anything to Fiona ... had he done something when he was younger without realising it? He had to admit he’d been pretty clueless when he was younger.

“Fiona, if I said or did anything...”

Fiona stared at him, incredulous and angry.

“What? You want to play it that way? Seriously? What, are you too scared I’m going to expose you in front of your new friends?”

“Fiona...”

Holly broke in.

“Look, you can’t just throw accusations around like that. Not without proof or something. I know you’re young, but —”

“Oh, is that what you think? I’m just some kid? Whatever! You both sit there, acting like you’re so concerned about age-gaps or something. Well, tell me. How do you feel about Adam hiding a camera in my room when I was fifteen!?”

Adam’s expression went dead still. He felt the blood drain away from his face. He could see Holly and Kendra’s faces snap around to look at him. Adam tried to make his voice soft, but it came out harsh. Raspy.

“ ... what are you talking about?”

Fiona laughed.

“Oh, so original. Bra-fucking-vo. How else do you explain me barely wanting to look at you for the past three years?”

Kendra hesitated, her head swinging between Adam and his cousin. Then her face got stubborn.

“That sounds ... terrible. And I’m sorry if that happened to you. But if Adam said he doesn’t know ... I mean, do you have proof it was him?”

“Proof? Why do I need proof!? My mom found the camera after Adam had been over. She showed me what he was really like!”

Adam sat dead still, thinking furiously. He could feel himself going cold, his emotions suppressing. There was something else rising within him. Something angry. The injustice of this accusation, shouted out in front of Holly and Kendra, filled him with rage. He had never done anything like that. Not even close. And yet his aunt had ... Tessa. Adam knew she had never liked him, even if he hadn’t known why. She’d never liked him spending time with Fiona.

Before everything he had learnt last night from Emily, Adam might have put it down as some kind of fucked up misunderstanding. That his aunt had found something and jumped to the wrong conclusion ... but not anymore. He didn’t know Tessa’s reasons or motivations, but he did believe that Fiona had been told a lie about him. And he wasn’t going to take that lying down. Not anymore.

Still feeling cold, Adam could feel his heart racing in his chest. He felt a touch of that strange power, that influence ... but just a touch. Adam could see Holly and Kendra looking at him. They seemed concerned. Worried. Why were they looking at him like that?

“Fiona. There is —”

“No, I don’t want to hear anymore bullshit or lies. I can’t trust anything you —”

“Shut. Up. Just ... be quiet. Listen.”

Fiona was glaring, still angry and upset. But her mouth slammed shut with an audible click. She looked shocked.

“I believe you were told ... that. But I didn’t do it. No, just stop and listen. I don’t blame you for believing your mother. Maybe she did find something —”

Adam’s mouth twisted in distaste. Unlikely, but that wasn’t the point at this time.

“— but think about it. Really think. How many years did we know each other before then? Our entire lives. You know — knew me. And you knew what my life was like at home. Allowance? Never got one. That was reserved for Emily. I never had any money. Ever. Remember? How many times did you mother bitch about having to buy me lunch if we went out somewhere together?”

Adam didn’t mention how hypocritical that was. It wasn’t like it was actually Tessa’s money. Adam’s father always gave his aunt her money.

“I wasn’t even allowed to get a job until after I finished high school. And even then that was only so I could support myself while studying.”

Fiona managed to open her mouth. She sneered.

“So? Is a sob story meant to make me forgive you?”

“No, you little idiot. Think! How the hell would I have paid for a camera to hide in your room? I mean, fuck, Fi — I barely ever got anything for Christmas. Just clothes, and that was so that they didn’t have to spend money on me during the rest of the year. If I had ever got something as expensive as a camera you would have known about it straight away!”

Kendra and Holly sat silently, eyes wide as they watched the family drama spilling out in front of them. They looked angry. Angry on Adam’s behalf. Adam was breathing hard, frustrated. This explained so much. How had he never known any of this?

Fiona was still glaring at him, but there was a crack. A growing uncertainty in her eyes. She looked confused.

“Then why would my mom tell me she saw the pictures you had taken of me getting changed?”

Adam slumped back in his chair. He looked at his cousin with hooded eyes.

“For that, you’d have to ask her.”

“Are you saying she just made it up? Why would she say it if it wasn’t true? Even your dad agreed with my mom, saying you need to spend some time away from the family. That’s why he sent you away.”

Adam closed his eyes. Ah. So that explained the forced trip away for a month when he was sixteen. Adam wondered if his father actually believed what his aunt had said about him. He certainly hadn’t cared enough to ask for Adam’s side of things.

“Well. I have to be honest, I’m getting a bit sick of learning all the family secrets.”

Kendra expression was thunderous. She was practically vibrating on the sofa. Before she could explode, Holly stood up.

“Fiona. I’m going to help you over to the bar area. You can wait for your family or whomever there.”

Fiona blinked.

“Huh, what?”

“Come on. It’s not far. The painkillers should have kicked in by now, and the compress will have helped the swelling.”

“Wait, are you just taking his side without —”

Holly cut her off, her voice firm. She sounded supremely disinterested in talking with the younger girl any longer.

“Come on, get up. The bar is pretty close to your room. You’ll see your family from there when they get back from wherever the hell they are. And the bar staff can help you with anything you need. Come on, up you go.”

Holly chivvied the weakly protesting Fiona to her feet, taking hold of her arm to steady her. She helped the teen hobble out the door, not letting her stop for anything.

Adam watched them go. His heart hurt. Did his entire family believe that of him?

Kendra got up and took Adam by the hand. She pulled him over to the sofa and then sat down next to him. She put a hand on his arm, her blue eyes wide and concerned.

“Adam, are you okay?”

Adam mumbled to himself, not looking Kendra in the eye.

“All this time...”

“What was that?”

“All this time. She thought I was some kind of creepy pervert.”

Adam laughed bitterly to himself.

“I always wondered why she changed her opinion of me so fast. But then I was sent away, and by the time I was back...”

Kendra took a deep breath. She reached out and took hold of Adam’s cheek, turning him to face her. Using her other hand as well, she cupped Adam’s face on both sides.

“Your family. Sucks. I know I’ve said it before, even if it sounded like I was just joking. But they are truly, truly, terrible people.”

Adam smiled weakly. His face was smooshed together between Kendra’s palms and he bet it looked funny. Kendra was serious though.

“Yeah, but —”

“But nothing. They are terrible. I’m sorry you had to hear that.”

Kendra flung her arms around Adam’s neck, hugging him fiercely. Adam blinked rapidly. His eyes were stinging. He took a deep breath and gently disengaged from Kendra’s embrace. He gave the blonde a crooked smile.

“Thanks.”

Kendra suddenly let out a long sigh, smiling in relief.

“Oh good, you’re back.”

“Huh?”

Kendra eyed him seriously.

“You looked ... different for a minute there. Maybe a bit dangerous even. But sad, too.”

“I did?”

Adam shook himself.

“Sorry.”

Holly came back into the bungalow. She shut the door behind her a little harder than necessary.

“Fucking hell, what a piece of work. Adam, are you alright?”

Kendra waved at her fiancee.

“It’s okay, he’s back.”

Adam looked between the two older women.

“Guys, I didn’t go anywhere.”

Holly looked at him as seriously as Kendra had.

“No. But you looked a bit scary for a second there. That’s why I wanted to get your cousin out of here. Well, that was one of the reasons.”

Adam didn’t know what to say to that.

“Was Fiona alright?”

Kendra scowled. She nudged Adam meaningfully.

“Who fucking cares.”

Holly nodded in agreement.

“I’m not usually on board when Kendra gets this stubborn about something, but I’m fully with her on this.”

“Thanks, baby.”

Adam hesitated, and then sighed.

“Thanks. The both of you. But ... if she was really told that ... I can’t really blame her, can I? I mean, she was just a kid.”

“So were you!”

Holly broke in over the top of Kendra.

“So you don’t have any idea about why your aunt would make up something like that?”

“Not really. I mean, I knew she didn’t like me, but not why. It’s not like I’m ever going to get a straight answer out of her either.”

Adam frowned, thinking back. Brooding. He wasn’t sure what he should do about it. Or even if he should. It had been years, the damage was surely done. It didn’t sit right with him though, knowing his whole family thought that about him. Did his sister believe it? Did his mother?

Kendra raised her arms above her head in an exaggerated stretch. She slowly toppled over, falling across Adam’s lap. He blinked down at her in surprise, the dark cycle of his thoughts breaking. Kendra grinned up at him, her dimples showing.