To refresh your memory:

– Cynthia was on her way to Lighthouse Island.
– Jane and Penelope were driving to Bridgeport
– Dawn Nightfall takes care of Cynthia’s children.

*****

Cynthia arrived at Lighthouse Island. She walked on the beach and saw Jeremy’s boat there but she knew that he would be in the lighthouse. She hesitated; she had been so relaxed the whole morning and now that she was here, she became nervous. All kind of memories came back to her; first of all her immaturity and her need for help when she arrived here for the first time and afterwards her growing admiration and love for Raphael.

She thought that she should have come back sooner to remember all those things that were close to her heart.
She sat down on the warm sand and started to meditate. She wasn’t aware the hours passed while meditating.

*****

Jeremy had a look at the fuse box but he couldn’t find anything wrong. He knew there was a generator for spare electricity but that would only be enough for the fridge. ‘Damned! I should have brought some candles with me’, he thought. He was aware that the lack of light in the lighthouse would be of no importance anymore to the ships but it would upset the people living in Sunset Valley. They were so used to the swaying of the light bundle that it had become part of their lives.

He went to the backyard, took place on the old tree trunk and overlooked the beach, wondering if he would take his boat and go to Sunset Valley to buy some candles or eventually a bigger generator. Sunken in his thoughts he hadn’t been aware of a new presence on the island; not until he saw someone move. Who could have come to the island?

He decided to do some jogging and see who, the heck, had come to the island. Coming closer, he couldn’t believe what he saw. It was Cynthia who was meditating on the beach. Now…, that was something unexpected! Why would she have come here and  for what purpose? After the severe words she said to him the other day, he didn’t expect her to pay him a courtesy visit.

Cynthia was meditating but her concentration broke by Jeremy’s presence; it forced her to come out of her peaceful moment. She looked up at the man who was standing there near and she said: “I’ve come to bring you some light.”

–  “You bring me light? What do you mean?”
–  “Exactly what I say…, here… have some candles. I suppose you have to do with that until the regular light will be fixed.”
Jeremy felt like a fool. – “Ah…, I see. Thank you. That’s a nice little motorboat you have got there. Is it yours?”
–  “No, I rented it for today. The owner couldn’t bring me because his colleague wasn’t there and he couldn’t let his ‘Rent-a-boat’ alone. After closing time he will come with his colleague to pick it up and they will come to take me back when I call them.”
–  “Does that mean that you are not leaving today in the same boat?”

–  “Yes, exactly! I suppose that the guestroom still is prepared for use?” She turned her eyes away from the motor boat and looked at Jeremy who immediately said: “Well, of course. I only have to put the sheets. I suppose that you don’t mind the lack of television and electricity.”
Cynthia noticed that Jeremy was nervous and said sarcastically:  “I know…, that’s what I came for… to bring you some light…, remember?”

The man said: “Of course, I’m sorry. Come with me and I’ll prepare you something to eat.”
Both went walking up to the lighthouse.

Once inside they put candles in the living room and kitchen. It wasn’t much light but it would do for now.
Cynthia told him that she wasn’t hungry and he admitted that he wasn’t very hungry either. They just took some fruit.

Then Cynthia looked around to all that familiar furniture and she said with a soft voice: – “Jeremy, I would appreciate it very much if I could have some privacy here in this living room. I haven’t been here since Raphael died and I want to remember him properly without other people being around.”
–  “Oh…, well… of course; good night.”
–  “Take some candles with you for your bedroom and bathroom. Good night.”

When the man had gone upstairs, Cynthia lit the stove and remembered some moments she had lived with Raphael.

Her dear memories were disturbed by some noise. She looked out of the window and saw that another motorboat had arrived with two men. One jumped out of it on the beach and took the boat she had come with. Then the two boats left to go back to Sunset Valley. Now she really was alone with Jeremy.

She put out the fire and went to her bedroom. She felt very comforted by Raphael’s spirit. Although not seeing nor hearing him, she knew he was right there with her. Very soon she slept like a baby.

*****

Dawn Nightfall was very happy she could take care of the boys. They didn’t give her much work and she loved to be with children. During breakfast next day, Risto asked her if he could take a friend home after school and she answered: “Well of course, honey. You may do exactly the same things as when your mother’s around.”

After they had left with the school bus, Dawn prepared to clean the house, when someone rang the door bell.  ‘Oh yes, that’s true; Cynthia told me somebody would come and clean the house.’  What she didn’t expect, was a man who said that his agency had assigned him to work here as a butler and he wanted to know in which room he could sleep.
This was completely unexpected and she told him to sit down until she would have another bedroom prepared. The man took a book from the bookshelf and took place next to the organ. Dawn knew that upstairs there was another room completely empty.

She thought about calling Cynthia to ask her if she wanted her to buy the furniture for that room. When taking her cell-phone, the woman thought that she wouldn’t need so many people around. Perhaps she could just dismiss the butler. She would have enough with the maid to come in the morning. The woman didn’t like to call Cynthia so soon after she had left. That would be if though she couldn’t take decisions of her own.
She told the man that it had been a mistake and sent him away. It would be such a pity to waste money on a butler. Sorry for him! She could handle the household by herself.

Shortly after that, Cynthia called to ask how that first afternoon and night had been. Dawn felt relieved and told her what she had done. She understood that Cynthia only wanted to make things easy for her but she felt better if she could do something herself as well. Cynthia told the woman that she would try to be back as soon as possible.

*****

Jane and Penelope had arrived in Bridgeport and parked the car. Penny had found a nice apartment for 2 days and nights. The apartment had two very spacious bedrooms. They put their things away and went shopping.

Jane immediately fell in love with a blue dress that she bought. Penny looked at her and said that it looked very nice on her but to wear it, she needed to go to the hairdresser.
She went to a hairdresser but they told her to come back the day after at 4 p.m.

That evening they went to a club with life music and while sitting there and enjoying the music, her girl-friend asked her what kind of cocktail she would like. As Jane was new to all those exotic drinks, she told Penny to make the choice for her. Then she heard a voice behind her.
–  “Señorita Jane…! Are you following me?”
She turned around…; it could only be him and yes.

There he stood, nicely dressed and lifting his glass up to take a sip. She was altered right away and wanted to tell him to go to hell but he didn’t let her. He laughed and said:  “Era una broma, señorita. It seems that destiny has put you on my way and one never ever can escape one’s destiny. Now sit down, relax and continue enjoying the music.”
Jane looked beside her and saw that Penny had left already to order the drinks. She tried to concentrate on the music which was very difficult with that… that man behind her. She felt his presence.

The band had begun playing another song. Alejandro leaned towards her and whispered:  “Now, this is a nice one. If you want to enjoy it more…, close your eyes and try to concentrate on the impact the music causes on your skin. If you do that well enough you will start seeing colors behind your eyelids and the reverberation will expand over your whole body; like an ‘embrujo…’; something very special and satisfying.” She felt odd when she closed her eyes and she let herself be taken by the impact of the music.

– “Are you sleeping?” asked Penelope when she handed her a glass of something.
– “Oh…; no, of course not!” She opened her eyes and looked quickly behind her only to see that Alejandro wasn’t there anymore. One way or another, the place had lost her interest. Penny noticed it and said: “Let’s go to the apartment.”

Once there, Penny said: “Spit it out!”
–  “What do you mean?”
–  “What happened while I was fetching our drinks? You looked if though you were hypnotized.”
Jane thought that she had felt like hypnotized but she said: – “Nothing. Well, only that man…, Alejandro was there again.”

–  “I haven’t seen him. He comes and goes so quietly. You know…? I’ve been told that there are many vampires in this town and I think you should be careful.”
–  “Vampires? Don’t make me laugh.”
–  “Honestly Jane; don’t joke about that.”

The girls sat down and now Jane was the one who started to ask questions.
–  “Pen?”

–  “Yes?”
–  “I don’t know anything about you. You make music on the streets and I wonder how you can afford a big car and an expensive apartment like this one. Of course, it is none of my business but it makes me wonder how you can do all this.”
–  “Pfff…, I don’t think my story is a pleasant one to hear. Anyway…, if you insist I’ll tell you something more about myself.”

She stood up to prepare them some coffee and then she started talking.

–  “You know Jane…, I’m not really a professional street musician. This is just a hobby of mine and I don’t need it for a living.
I have been married but unfortunately, I couldn’t have any children. My ex-husband is a well known business man and he wanted dearly to have an heir. I couldn’t give him one, so I suggested we could adopt but his family didn’t want to hear about adopting. They wanted their own flesh and blood.”

Jane didn’t dare to say anything. This sounded very familiar to her.
Penelope continued:  “My ex-husband hadn’t enough guts to stand up for our love and wanted to divorce. He bought me out of the marriage. The lawyer saw to it that I wouldn’t have any financial problems during the rest of my life.”
–  “Oh Penny; I feel so sorry for you.”
–  “I felt so empty and betrayed. A love that had started in such a romantic way and that should have lasted forever….  I sold the house and went away. When I make music in the streets, it’s just for fun. Now, all this happened two years ago so the worst pain is over.”

Then Jane told Penny about her own family story* and after having taken at least 4 coffees, they went to bed. They had been talking all night.

The next day they woke up at noon. They did some more fashion shopping and went to the hairdresser. Later that day they drove back to Sunset Valley where Jane kept her girl friend company until the day after. Jane was so pleased with her new look and her new dress that she kept it on when driving home.

When Jane came home, her brother Valdemar was in awe to see his sister so nicely dressed. She went quickly inside to greet Daisy and little Daniel.
Later that day she went to see Ilona and her brothers and sisters.

To be continued…

* Here you can find Jane’s family story: The Hunter Tragedy