Free True Love by Jude Deveraux Page B

what happens.”
    “Love ya,” she said.
    “Love ya back,” he replied.

Chapter Four

    “I ’ve decided to leave tomorrow,” Jared said to his grandfather Caleb. It was early evening and they were in the kitchen of Kingsley House. Jared had just returned from his fishing trip and hadn’t yet showered and changed. “I’m going to clean these fish, take them out to Dilys in the morning, then leave the island.”
    “Wasn’t your original plan to stay for the summer? Didn’t you have some work to do here?”
    “Yeah, but I can do it in New York.” Jared pulled the fish out of a bucket and tossed them onto the drainboard.
    “It was about some house, wasn’t it?”
    “I have a commission to design a house to be built in L.A. for some movie stars. That the marriage won’t last two years is none of my business. I thought I told you about this.”
    “I remember you said that in New York you had so many responsibilities outside of designing that you could no longer think. You said you wanted to spend a year on Nantucket.… What was that saying you had? Something about roots.”
    “You know I said that I wanted to get back to my roots.”
    “I believe the word was ‘needed.’ You needed to find where you belong. Is that right or have I contracted some illness that distorts my mind?”
    “You’re too old for any disease.” Jared was dirty and tired and hungry and angry. Yes, he’d planned to stay on Nantucket for the whole summer, but then his aunt had left his house to … to her .
    “So you’re running away,” Caleb said. He was standing by the kitchen table and glaring at his grandson. “Abandoning young Alix.”
    “I think of it as a sort of protection. You, better than anyone, know what my life’s been like. Does she deserve that ? Besides, it would be better if she never found out who I am off the island. As a student, she probably thinks I’m a hero. I’m not even close.”
    “So now we hear the truth ,” Caleb said softly.
    “What did you think? That I was afraid she’d ask me for my autograph? I wouldn’t mind that.” He gave a half smile. “Preferably on some body part. But not this girl.” He got up to start cleaning the fish, but changed his mind. Instead, he went to the tall cabinet by the refrigerator and poured himself a rum and Coke. “What happened to all the limes that were in here?”
    “I ate them.” Caleb was glaring at his grandson.
    “Never a straight answer from you.” Jared drank deeply, poured himself another one, then sat down at the table and looked around at the kitchen.
    “Thinking of tearing it out and putting in granite countertops?” Caleb asked.
    Jared nearly choked on his drink. “Where did you hear that piece of blasphemy?”
    “Just something someone said. Maple cabinets and granite countertops.”
    “Stop cursing!” Jared said. “You’re turning my stomach. This kitchen is perfect just as it is.”
    “I remember when it was put in,” Caleb said.
    “The Fifth, wasn’t it?”
    “The Fourth,” Caleb said, referring to the number on the end of the names of the eldest sons. His son with Valentina, back in 1807, had been named Jared for Caleb’s middle name, Montgomery because it was her last name, and Kingsley for Caleb’s family. Even after all these years, what she’d had to do to get that last name for their son still sickened him. Since that time Caleb had made sure that Valentina’s choice of name had been honored, with each succeeding eldest son being named Jared Montgomery Kingsley. This one, the most obstinate of the lot, was the Seventh.
    “I’m sure you know who did what.” Jared was still looking around the old kitchen.
    “Are you trying to memorize the place?” Caleb asked.
    “Considering all the things I’m not supposed to tell Victoria’s daughter, I think it’s better that I don’t come back. At least not while …”
    “While Alix is here?” It was easy to hear the disapproval in Caleb’s voice.
    “Don’t