Tara looked up at Lynch swiftly and began to tremble.
“In fact, in a few days you were about to vow that this is someone you would love forever, for better or worse, in sickness and health,” Mattheus was making his case strongly.
Encouraged, Lynch joined in. “You did say that you loved me, Tara. You said you loved me more than anyone or anything else in your life.”
“I said that, and it was true at the time,” Tara trembled more strongly.
Lynch took a step closer to her. “Did you really mean it?” he asked, his head dropping, “or was it just words?”
“I meant it,” said Tara, “of course I meant it.”
“Then give me a chance,” Lynch pleaded. “That’s what it means to love, isn’t it?”
Tara was silent a few moments and then shook her head. “I’m not sure what it means to love at this moment,” she whispered. “I could ask you the same question, if you loved me, how could you have hidden your son from me? How could you, Lynch?”
“What’s the matter with you?” Lynch grew agitated, “you’ve become completely obsessed with my son.”
*
Cindy and Mattheus left the two of them alone for a while to talk further as Aldon walked in from the balcony.
“Where do we go from here?” asked Aldon. “How are we breaking the news that it’s done?”
“That’s for them to decide,” Mattheus said scornfully to Aldon.
“There’s nothing to decide, the facts are clear,” Aldon countered. Then he turned to Cindy, “I hope you told my daughter that she was making the right choice in saying good bye.”
“This is her choice,” Cindy chimed in. “She and Lynch need time alone together now.”
“What for?” Aldon’s face curled in disgust.
Cindy turned and looked into the room and saw Tara and Lynch, drawing closer, speaking to each other tearfully. “I think it’s best to leave them alone for now,” Cindy said quietly. “Let’s all go down to the restaurant and have some lunch.” Cindy was hungry, it was almost mid-afternoon.
“I’m not leaving Tara alone for a minute,” said Aldon.
Cindy shook her head slowly. “It’s up to you, of course, but if you push too hard, it will backfire.”
Aldon took that in quietly. “Okay, maybe you’re right, but I’m still staying here. There’s no reason for us all to have lunch. You’ve both done you’re job. You can leave now.”
Cindy didn’t like the brusque way Aldon tried to discharge her. Things were far from over and he knew that. “Tara’s not ready for me to go, yet,” she replied.
Aldon backtracked a second. “If anything turns up and we need you, I’ll be sure to call you again.”
“This isn’t over,” said Cindy slowly.
“You’ve done a fine job and I’m grateful,” Aldon insisted.
Mattheus turned away, saying nothing.
“You both have your room here paid for another few days,” Aldon continued. “Please stay and continue to enjoy the island at my expense.”
*
Mattheus didn’t want to stay and enjoy the island, he couldn’t stand Aldon and wanted to get out of here as fast as he could. Cindy felt differently. She was tired, oddly saddened and wanted to rest and regroup.
“Speak about an in-law from hell,” Mattheus muttered. “I don’t want to do anything at this guy’s expense.”
“This is a beautiful place with so much to do, there’s no reason to let him spoil it for us,” Cindy said to Mattheus, when they’d returned to their room. “It’s part of the payment for our work. We arranged for this in the beginning. He’s not giving us anything extra.”
“But he’s trying to make us feel like he is,” Mattheus muttered.
“Forget about him, he’s a lonely, old guy,” said Cindy. “We could use time together at the beaches, exploring the hot spots, laughing again.”
Mattheus relented a moment. “That’s for sure,” he agreed.
Although the case had only lasted a short while, it had taken a big toll on both of them and definitely created a distance between them that hadn’t been there before.
Cindy wanted to get back on track. She went over to Mattheus and stroked his face slowly. “Why are you so mad at me?” she asked in a playful tone.
Mattheus closed his eyes a moment, “I’m not mad. I’m just upset by your reactions to the case.”
Cindy withdrew her hand quickly. Upset by her reactions? What should she say about his? She and Mattheus had differences before, but they’d never gone as deep. And they’d never taken this kind of toll on them while they were on a case.
Mattheus opened his eyes abruptly as Cindy withdrew. “Okay, let’s go down and have lunch on the beach, then take a walk and talk.”
Cindy felt a pit in her stomach. “Talk about what?” she asked, trying to be casual, “we’re officially off the case.”
“About life, love, secrets, the whole works,” Mattheus answered. “Go change into your bathing suit and a sundress, and I’ll get ready too.”