Page 4 of One Weekend On Mackinac Island
Scott and his sister, both as vapid as the other, had been part of our lives since we were children, but our relationship with the siblings was characterized by tension. We wouldn’t have even considered giving them the time of day if it hadn’t been for our parents all being friends and business associates. Seeing thatduo tormenting Kat always made my blood boil. They clearly had her marked as an easy target, which I never understood. Her bold and assertive demeanor during our exchanges left no doubt about her strength of character and her resolute spirit. No matter what I threw at her, she always met it with grit and determination, never backing down.
The Chambers’ power over her was puzzling; she seemed to shrink under their gaze, her fear a palpable presence. Her vulnerability always triggered a primal instinct in me, making me want to protect her at all costs.
“How was the boat ride over, Kat?” Stephanie's question was laced with a hint of maliciousness, making it more of a taunt than a genuine inquiry. The tone of her voice immediately ignited my protective instincts, making me feel the need to defend shield Kat even though I didn’t understand the underlying tension driving the situation.
“Hope it wasn't too rocky,” Scott said, his words instantly putting me on edge.
I didn’t think it was possible, but Kat seemed to shrink even further, her shoulders slumping and her head drooping like a wilting flower. Their interrogation appeared to have a visible effect on Kat; compelling her stature to diminish as if she were trying to disappear altogether, and the color drained from her face, leaving it as white as a sheet.
“It was fine,” she answered tersely before turning to Tria. “I’m gonna head up to my room and get ready for dinner.”
"Okay," Tria said, her eyes on her friend, worried. “Want me to come with you?”
“No. I’m just gonna take a long shower. I’ll see you at dinner.”
Kat took hold of the handle of her suitcase and left, the Chambers’ laughter trailing after her like a malicious parting gift.
Tria turned on the pair as soon as Kat was out of sight. “This is my wedding,” she growled at them. “Consider this my one and only warning: if I hear either of you taunting her again, I will not be happy.”
With the unsaid threat hanging in the air, Stephanie huffed. “Whatever. Come on, Scott. Let’s go check out the stores.”
Scott's grin was wide and almost mocking, as if he could sense my confusion and anger. He gave me a two-fingered salute, a mocking grin on his face, and then followed Stephanie out of the lobby.
“What the hell was that all about?” Todd asked, voicing my thoughts exactly.
Tria hedged. “I don’t know.” It was a blatant lie, and we all knew it.
“Tria,” Todd scolded.
A sigh slipped out from between her pursed lips. “I promised I’d never tell.”
“Tell us,” I pleaded. The need to know what put that fear into Kit’s eyes was overwhelming. “We just want to know so that maybe we can help her.”
Her eyes flickered, and I could almost hear the gears clicking as she mulled it over in her mind. Finally, she began to speak, her voice heavy with resignation, and as the story unfolded, a burning anger grew within me.
“I took Kat kayaking once. She’d always wanted to try it and begged me to take her. She was nervous, but she seemed to be doing well. We got separated. When I caught sight of her again, Scott and Stephanie were surrounding her, rocking her kayak pretty badly. God, the fear I could see on her face . . . I’ll never forget it.
“She got flipped upside down and Scott and Stephanie left her like that, laughing as they paddled away. I was too far away to do anything quickly. She was under for so long. No matter howhard she tried, she couldn't manage to turn herself the right way up again. It took me forever to reach her. When I did, I thought for sure she was dead. Thankfully, she can hold her breath for a long time. I got her out and back to shore. Ever since then, she’s been afraid of boats.”
“Where were we?” Todd asked. I wondered the same thing. That was the type of activity we’d normally all do together.
“You had already left for the Army.”
“Shit,” Todd growled. “Why didn’t she ever say anything?”
Shaking her head, Tria let out a sigh of frustration. “I think she was embarrassed. You know her. She hates being seen as weak.”
“Too stubborn for her own good,” Todd mumbled. I had to agree, but I liked that about her. She didn’t let much defeat her. If she struggled with something, she kept at it until she conquered it. The fact that this fear of boats was still affecting her proved how frightened she must have been that day. I wanted to hunt Scott and Stephanie down and give them a taste of their own medicine. Years had passed, but they continued to taunt her, revealing the depths of their spiteful personalities.
“I was worried the ferry ride with the crappy weather today would have been too much for her.” She put a hand on my arm, her touch light, and said, “But she told me you distracted her. How did you know?”
“I didn’t know about what happened,” I answered. “She looked tense. I’d seen men during my Army days on the verge of panic attacks. She had that same look. Distraction usually helped them, so I figured it’d work on her too.”
“Thanks for that, Owen. If she could manage to get past her embarrassment, I’m sure she would let you know how much she appreciated your help.”
I snorted. My Kit was never one to willingly accept my help for anything. She’d fight me tooth and nail before she’d ever admit defeat. I understood her all too well. After all, I’ve put up withher prickly attitude toward me for decades. And my infatuation with her deepened, fueled by her endearing traits, which I found increasingly captivating.
Frustration bubbled up inside me, and I ran a hand through my hair, tugging at the strands. I often wondered what she would do if she knew the depth of my feelings for her.
