Chapter 203
Celestine blinked at the unfamiliar ceiling, disoriented for a moment.
Then it clicked–she was at Sandra’s place.
Instinctively, she glanced over to the other side of the bed.
The sheets were still neatly folded, just as they’d been before she went to sleep, not a wrinkle out of place.
That alone helped clear the fog in her mind.
Where had Gideon slept last night?
She stumbled out of bed, pulling on a cardigan as she went.
That’s when she noticed a faint smear of ointment on her forearm.
Celestine frowned in surprise, trying to piece together the details.
She wandered out of the room, still half–dazed.
The island was quiet in the early morning, the air cool and tinged with the briny scent of the sea.
Sandra, already up and about, was sweeping the garden path in an apron.
“Sandra, have you seen Mr. Prescott?” Celestine called out.
“Who?” Sandra straightened, stretching her back.
She glanced up, catching sight of Celestine in one of her usual, unflattering old sweaters–except somehow, Celestine managed to make it look stylish.
A flicker of surprise and envy crossed Sandra’s face.
Celestine explained patiently, “The man who came here with me last night.”
“Oh, him.” Sandra’s memory caught up, and she gestured toward the gate. “He left first thing this morning. Guess he ditched you, huh?”
Celestine shook her head with a faint smile. “He wouldn’t do that.”
Even with Sandra teasing, Celestine simply knew–Gideon wasn’t the type to just leave her.
Sure enough, before breakfast, Gideon returned to Sandra’s little courtyard, carrying two.nearly new phones and a box of the village’s homemade pastries.
14:20
Sandra emerged from the kitchen, hands dusted with flour, and caught sight of him. “Well, look at that. Didn’t expect you to be right.”
Celestine just pressed her lips together in a quiet smile.
Gideon, on the other hand, was intrigued. “What are you two plotting over here?” He handed one of the phones to Celestine. “This’ll do for now. We can get you a new one once we’re off the island.”
Celestine accepted it wordlessly, a little overwhelmed.
Gideon noticed the shift in her mood and his tone softened. “What’s wrong?”
if
Celestine hesitated. “Mr. Prescott, could we… not leave the island so soon? I mean, your work is urgent, you can go ahead–but if anyone from the Fordham family comes looking, please, just say you never met me. Please don’t tell them where ! am.”
The moment Gideon showed up, she knew the Fordhams would start digging for
answers.
If he admitted knowing her, it wouldn’t matter if they didn’t dare act openly–someone like Chester would find a way to make trouble behind the
scenes.
Who knew what he’d stoop to…
The more Celestine spoke, the less confident she felt.
Who was she to ask Gideon for this, anyway?
If she owed him for what happened years ago–well, he already saved her life once. That was more than enough.
“So eager to get rid of me?” Gideon settled at the low kitchen table, his lazy gaze tinged with amusement.
Celestine shook her head quickly.
That wasn’t what she meant at all!
He nodded at the bandaged ankle peeking out beneath his jeans. “At least wait until this heals before you kick me off the island.”
Celestine blushed, immediately kneeling beside him to check his leg.
She gently pressed around the bandage, noticing faint spots of dried blood.
Head down, she murmured, guilt in her voice, “Does it hurt?”
1471
Gideon’s Adam’s apple bobbed. The words he’d meant to say caught on something else.
“It does…”
“Well, well, what are you two lovebirds up to so early? Aren’t you embarrassed?” Sandra called, clutching a bowl as she retreated to the kitchen, muttering under her
breath.
Celestine froze, mortified.
Only then did she realize how it must have looked, kneeling so close to Gideon like
that.
She started to get up, ready to explain herself to Sandra.
But Gideon’s hand pressed gently to her shoulder, his voice warm and uncharacteristically vulnerable.
“Miss Selwyn, it hurts.”
