Private Island, page 1
PRIVATE ISLAND
M J HARDY
Copyrighted Material
Copyright © M J Hardy 2022
M J Hardy has asserted her rights under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the Author of this work.
This book is a work of fiction and except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form without written permission of the author, except by a reviewer who may quote brief passages for review purposes only.
This book uses UK spelling
CONTENTS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Epilogue
More Books & Me
PRIVATE ISLAND
Only the invited get to stay.
Only the lucky ones get to leave.
When Katrina Darlington lost everything, she turned to a stranger for help.
Desperate and grieving, she trusted the hand of friendship and travelled halfway across the world to a very private island.
Blue skies, blistering sunshine, and luxury on a scale way beyond the average person’s means.
The perfect place to start again, surrounded by warm and friendly people who have your best interests at heart.
Or not!
Catalina Island is an island paradise hiding a sinister secret.
Will Katrina become just another one of its victims, and after having lost everything, discover she still has even more to lose?
When the people you trust most in the world turn out to be the ones you should have feared all along.
Desire creates lies and deception, but is having it all worth losing your humanity?
It’s time to find out.
When you lose everything, the only thing left to find is yourself.
Escape with the perfect read this Summer and discover that sometimes in life fate plays no part at all.
“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.” ― William Shakespeare
1
The only warmth in my life right now is the sun beating down on the back of my head as I peer into oblivion. It’s strange what goes through your mind when you’re living your darkest hour.
I don’t even register the fact I’m all alone in the world. The only family I had are now settling into their new home.
‘Ashes to Ashes, Dust to Dust,’ are words I’ve heard thousands of times before, but now they are mocking me. My whole life has turned to dust along with them because now I must cope—alone.
My neighbour, Betty Adams, places a comforting hand on my arm and pats it almost absentmindedly.
I’m grateful for any show of compassion, any company even because now the world is a very frightening place.
My moment has come and as I approach the double burial, I swallow hard and blink behind my oversized glasses as I place two identical white roses in their forever home.
“I love you.”
I whisper to each in turn and, for a moment, just stare into the abyss in every way possible.
The next person adds their own tribute to my parents, and I step away, vowing to return within a few hours to say a more personal goodbye.
I never got that chance because I left before they woke up on that fateful day and when the police came looking for me at college, it was to tell me they were gone. Forever.
Such a final word; so painful to hear. I can’t bear the emotions that hit me like a bat in the face every time I realise that I am never going to see them again.
Death by accident. The coroner says, anyway. Driving to the supermarket and meeting a steep embankment along the way.
“We think they swerved to avoid something on the road and crashed through the barriers.” The policeman said with a look of sympathy as he delivered the devastating news.
Just like that. Two lives ended and one left in grief.
“Come on, love, let’s get you a nice cup of tea, or something stronger if you like.”
Betty is so kind and has been a godsend this past month as I’ve dealt with things an eighteen-year-old girl should never have to do.
“Excuse me.”
We look up and see an extremely glamorous woman standing before us with sympathy flashing from her stunning blue eyes. I don’t think we’ve ever met, but there is something almost familiar about her.
“Excuse me for interrupting, but my name is Madelaine Covington. I was a friend of your parents.”
I’m a bit confused because I don’t remember ever meeting her before and it must show in my expression because she smiles kindly. “We lost touch a few years back, but when I heard of their tragic accident, I had to come and pay my respects.”
“Thank you. They would have appreciated it.”
The words stick in my throat because just thinking of them in the past tense is too painful and I’m surprised when she pulls a business card out of her pocket and says kindly, “Here are my contact details. Once everything settles down, please give me a call. You may be glad of a friend because, from what I know, you have no family to count on right now.”
“That’s very kind of you.” I’m a little surprised because I wasn’t expecting offers of help anytime soon and she reaches out and pats my arm in a show of compassion.
“I would love to help in any way I can. They would have wanted it this way.”
She sighs heavily and looks past me across the graveyard and says almost to herself, “I can’t believe I’ll never see them again. Fate deals a cruel blow to the most undeserving people sometimes.”
She looks back and sighs. “I must be going, but please, stay in touch. I’m here for you, Katrina.”
Before I can even thank her for coming, she walks away and Betty whispers, “She was obviously way ahead of me in the creation queue. Look at that figure and did you notice her skin? Alabaster, they call it. Perfect nails, teeth, hair and she obviously doesn’t shop at the chain stores like the rest of us. I hate her already.”
Despite myself, I smile as Betty shakes her head, looking so envious I say with a soft, “I like you just the way you are, Betty.”
She smiles and I hate seeing the tears in her eyes as she says sadly, “It’s not right you being all alone. You know I’m always here for you, don’t you love?”
“I know.”
The other mourners file past, neighbours, friends, and people they worked with. Nobody important, not to me, anyway, and as the last one leaves, I turn back to the freshly dug grave and fight back the tears as I crouch beside the open pit. Two coffins, side by side, united in death as they were in life.
“You know Betty…” Her hand on my shoulder is comforting as I say thickly, “I’m really going to miss them.”
“Me too, love, me too.”
My tears fall and join my parents and I’m conscious of the gravedigger waiting to wrap them up warm for the night and so I stand and smile at Betty as bravely as I can and say in a small voice, “I think I’d like that cup of tea now.”
There is no wake. No gathering to celebrate their lives and reminisce about good times. My parents were so wrapped up in each other, they never wanted anyone else, so at least they both ended their life at the same time. Forever together. I’m glad about that at least.
It’s just me and Betty, who lives next door with her three cats and many plants. She was married, but her husband left her for a woman at work and she never replaced him, preferring her own company along with her pets, who, in her words, never let me down.
I sit in her bright kitchen nursing a cup of tea and feel a certain sense of relief as I take a moment to think about how different my life is now.
“It was a beautiful service, Katrina. They would have been as proud as punch to see their little girl saying such lovely things about them, especially in grief. You did them proud.”
“Thank you.”
To be honest, I could barely get the words out and faltered so many times the guests for the next funeral were lining up at the door. Luckily, the priest intervened and kindly finished reading my carefully prepared script, while I desperately tried to pull myself together, but I tried at least so I think they would have been proud about that.
“Would you like a hand sorting things out? I’m considered quite good at that, you know.”
“It’s fine. I’m not going to rush into anything. The solicitor is coming around tomorrow to discuss the Will, so I think I’ll wait until then.”
Betty shakes her head and refills my mug with tea, sliding a slice of cherry cake towards me. “You should be ok; I think they paid their mortgage off years ago, and Colin was a shrewd investor. I’m guessing money will be the least of your worries.”
“I hope so because I don’t want to lose the house as well as…”
I falter and take a deep swig of my tea. “Anyway…”
Betty sighs. “Now the funeral is over, you can stop and think for a bit. You have the summer to work things out; maybe take some time to think about what you’re going to do. I mean, you could go anywhere in the world when college finishes. Maybe book a holiday or go and stay with a friend. Get away for a bit and have a change of scene.”
“Sounds good.”
I smile even though it physically hurts to do so. “Thank you, Betty. You’ve been so kind, and I couldn’t have done this without your help.”
She blushes and waves her hand dismissively. “Nonsense, you don’t need to thank me. It was the least I could do.”
As I think about the funeral, the glamorous woman pops into my mind. “You know, Betty, my parents never told me about Madelaine. I wonder how she knew them?”
“I didn’t recognise her. I would have remembered on the spot if I had. She’s certainly memorable, that’s for sure.”
Thinking about the striking friend of my mother’s, I must agree with her. She was definitely stylish and seemed rather kind, and I wonder what happened to create distance between them.
After saying goodbye to Betty, I take the short walk home and wonder how I can possibly live here alone. The house is large and feels even larger when there’s just me in it. I wonder if I’ll have to sell this too and lose another part of me that means so much.
The future is looking very unclear now and I just hope the solicitor’s visit tomorrow is just a formality because the last thing I want to do is make any more decisions.
The first thing I do is shower and change into something more comfortable and try to distract my attention by catching up with a drama series I’ve been watching.
I only manage an hour because it feels so strange knowing I’m here alone and they won’t be walking through the door anytime soon, telling me to clear up after myself and to put the kettle on.
Switching off the television, I wander aimlessly around the house and find myself in their bedroom. It’s a familiar room but not one I frequented much, but knowing they will never sleep here again causes a sharp pain of resentment to slice through my heart. Why them? Why take the kindest, most amazing people in the world to another one with no warning? I wish it had been me. After all, what’s the point of living without them?
Climbing under their duvet, I hug the pillows and sob my heart out because my parents have died and I’m so afraid.
2
The solicitor is feeling awkward. I can tell that the minute I open the door and he regards me with a nervous expression.
“Um, Miss Darlington. I’m Mr Frobisher of Hammond and Connor.”
“Of course, please come in.” I smile to put him at his ease and open the door. He follows me inside and we head towards the kitchen where I have made a pot of tea and thrown some biscuits on a plate with the usual doily underneath. It’s the way my mother always used to receive visitors and I know she would be happy for me to continue the tradition.
He clutches his briefcase to his chest as if it’s a lifeline and a feeling of dread prickles inside me.
“I’m sorry for your loss, Miss Darlington.”
“Thank you and please call me Katrina.”
He pushes his glasses further up his nose and nods. “Thank you, um, Katrina.”
I watch as he opens his briefcase and removes a sheaf of papers and clears his throat.
“Your parents entrusted me with their last will and testament, and I hoped it would be many years before I had to present it.”
He sighs heavily. “Far too soon; a terrible tragedy.”
I nod because he’s certainly right about that and he clears his throat.
“Anyway, as it happens, their will was very straightforward and may not make easy listening, so I must apologise about that.”
That feeling of dread is now drowning me, and it must show because he says with a worried frown. “Do you have anyone who can be with you and support you during this time? I could wait until they get here.”
“No.”
I could get Betty, but I don’t want to be a burden to her because I know this is her day for bingo and it’s the one thing she loves, along with her cats, of course.
He looks down and I can tell he is hating every minute of this as he says sadly, “The will leaves their entire estate, including this house, their savings and any possessions to The Green Valley Foundation.”
“Excuse me?”
I’m not sure if he’s picked up the wrong paperwork because my parents have never once mentioned a foundation of any kind.
“I’m sorry, Miss Darlington, but I was with them when they made this will.” He shifts awkwardly. “They were very clear that everything they own was to be left to The Green Valley Foundation and so it pains me to say, the house is no longer yours. Under the terms of the will, you have thirty days to vacate the property and are restricted from accessing any of their accounts. A hold has been placed on them and their assets frozen. As soon as they died, their estate reverted to the foundation and I will need you to sign a contract to say you will leave within the month.”
I am astounded and just stare at him in disbelief as he shifts nervously in his seat and shakes his head.
“I’m so sorry, Katrina. I specifically asked if there were any dependants and they told me the estate had been signed over before you were born.”
“So, I have nothing.”
I can hear the tears in my voice as I face a very uncertain future and he says sorrowfully, “I’m afraid it looks that way. Are you sure there is nobody you can go to?”
“No, there’s not.”
Looking very disapproving, he slides the papers across the table and says with regret, “I’m sorry to ask you to sign this, but I need to do my job.”
Lifting the pen, the signature line swims before my eyes, and I gulp as I hold it above the page. My fingers shake as I prepare to sign my life away and yet from somewhere, I feel a little of my fight return and I place the pen down and say, “No.”
“Excuse me.”
He looks surprised, and I shrug. “I’m not signing anything until I get this looked over by an impartial solicitor. Surely you can understand that, Mr Frobisher.”
“Of course.”
I gather the papers in my hand and say abruptly, “I’ll be in touch when I’m ready to sign.”
He nods and a faint smile ghosts his lips as he stretches out his hand towards me. “Thirty days, Katrina. Regardless of anything, this house needs to be vacant in thirty days, otherwise you will be evicted. Get a second opinion if you must, but I already know this document is legal and binding and there is no loophole to exploit.”
He stands and looks sad on my behalf. “I wish you luck, Miss Darlington. I have a feeling you’re going to need it.”
He sees himself out, leaving me staring at a pile of paper that has just made a desperate situation even more so.
I have nothing. No family, no parents and now nowhere to live. I don’t have any money to rent anywhere either and the only place I am heading is rock bottom.
Three hours later and I have read every line of their will. It’s so cold, so practical and nothing like my parents, who were the warmest people I have ever known.
