Not that Megan had learned that immediately.
After Remy’s departure, they had both felt the need to get their relationship back on an even footing, and while Anita had a martini, and during the course of their dinner—which was taken on the candlelit terrace—they had talked about less personal things.
Then, at Anita’s instigation, Megan had told her how she had come to be in the hospital. Her stepsister had seemed to find it incredible that Megan should have developed an ulcer at her age. She didn’t seem to understand the stresses and strains involved in trying to start a business, and Megan had been loath to tell her that the specialist had intimated that she might have had the ulcer since she was in her teens.
‘And are your rooms comfortable?’ Anita asked at last, clearly eager that Megan should have every opportunity to relax while she was here.
‘They’re perfect,’ Megan assured her. ‘I just don’t think I should be taking up such luxurious apartments. This must be the busiest time of the year for you.’
‘You’re family. Where else would I put you?’ Anita retorted firmly. ‘And it’s not as if you haven’t always been welcome. I told you when—when your mother died that you had an open invitation. Any time you’d wanted to come for a visit, you had only to pick up the phone.’
Right. Megan nodded politely, wondering somewhat cynically how often she had said those same words herself. In business, people often offered hospitality without meaning it. And contacting the Robards had never been on her list of priorities.
‘Anyway,’ went on Anita, as if sensing the other woman’s reservations, ‘you’re here now, and that’s what matters.’ She gave a rueful smile. ‘I bet you were surprised to see Remy at the airport. He told me that you thought he was some toy-boy trying to pick you up.’
Hardly that, thought Megan indignantly, feeling somewhat hurt that Anita should feel the need to tell her exactly what Remy had said. Besides, it was not what he had said to her, though perhaps his assertion that they could meet on equal terms had been meant to flatter her, after all.
‘I didn’t recognise him,’ she admitted, and Anita gave a short laugh.
‘I don’t suppose you did,’ she said. ‘He was just a boy the last time you saw him. Did he tell you be got a law degree? He’s started his own practice in town.’
‘Yes.’ But Megan was aware that her stepsister’s explanation had caused a sudden tightening in her stomach. It was Anita’s persistence in treating Megan like an equal that disturbed her. Which was silly after the way she’d reacted to what Remy had said.
‘We’re very proud of him.’ went on Anita, clearly taking Megan’s silence as a cue to elaborate. ‘Even his grandfather sings his praises, when he isn’t grumbling about him neglecting the hotel. I think we were all afraid when he went to college in the States that he wouldn’t come back.’
‘But he did.’
Anita nodded. ‘Despite—well, despite everything, this is still his home. I don’t think he’d be happy living in Boston or New York, even though he could have earned a lot more money there.’
“I’m sure.’
Megan was impressed in spite of herself, understanding a little of Anita’s pride in her son. After all, he was her only child. And because she’d never got married their relationship was that much more special.
‘Of course, Rachel probably had something to do with it,’ added Anita, pulling a wry face, and Megan was reminded of her stepsister’s remark when Remy was leaving. She’d said, ‘Give my love to Rachel,’ but Megan hadn’t paid much attention to it then. She’d been too relieved that Remy was leaving after the tenseness of their exchange, and she supposed she’d assumed the woman worked for him or something.
‘Rachel?’ she said now, faintly, hoping her tone didn’t imply anything more than a casual interest, and Anita nodded.
‘Rachel De Vries,’ she said comfortably. ‘Her family own the De Vries plantation that adjoins the land we own on the other side of the island. Her father sits in the local legislature. Remy and Rachel have been dating one another since they were in their teens.’
‘I see.’
Megan was impatient at the feeling of emptiness this news engendered. For heaven’s sake, she thought, what did it matter to her? Despite what Simon had said she intended to stay here as short a time as possible. She’d find some excuse for leaving, and then their lives would go on as before.
‘Of course, I live in hope,’ continued Anita ruefully, and Megan forced herself to respond.
‘In hope of what?’
‘Of him getting married, naturally!’ exclaimed Anita, reaching across the table to tap Megan’s hand. ‘I want to be a grandmother, before I’m too old for it to be any fun.’
Megan sought refuge in her wine glass at that point. Despite her medication, she’d decided that one glass of wine wouldn’t hurt her, and she was grateful now for the diversion it offered. For all the room was air-conditioned, she was feeling uncomfortably hot suddenly. This was harder than she’d expected, and she hadn’t even met Ryan Robards yet.
‘Anyway, I’m sure you must be tired of me going on about Remy,’ Anita concluded, possibly putting Megan’s restlessness down to the fact that she was bored. She shook her head. ‘Tell me about your job. What is it you do exactly?’
‘Oh—I’m sure you’re not really interested in my work,’ said Megan hurriedly. ‘I believe Simon told you about the directory, and that’s all it is. My role is fairly simple; I’m just the gofer. I coordinate the designs, and deal with the printers and so on.’
‘I’m sure it’s not as simple as all that,’ declared Anita reprovingly, but, as if sensing that Megan didn’t really want to elaborate, she chose another topic. ‘I know your—father would have been very proud of you. You always were the apple of his eye.’
‘Perhaps.’
Megan wasn’t at all sure that Giles Cross would have approved of his daughter getting involved in a business that was so trivial—in his eyes, at least. He’d expected so much of her. Without her mother to mediate, it hadn’t been easy.
‘Well, whatever.’ Anita’s lips tightened. ‘It’s not as if he could have expected you to follow in his footsteps.’
‘No.’
‘There are so few women in the ministry—none at all here—and his work was very demanding.’ Anita frowned. ‘He put so much of himself into his work. Your mother said you were often on your own.’
Megan caught her breath. ‘We didn’t mind.’
‘You didn’t.’
‘Are you saying that my mother did?’
Anita sighed. ‘Laura was a wonderful, vital woman, Megan. Of course she minded.’ She paused. ‘Particularly as your father didn’t have to do as much as he did. All those missions to African countries, for example. Why didn’t he ever take your mother along?’
Megan stiffened her back. ‘She didn’t want to go.’
‘That’s not true. To begin with, she’d have gone anywhere with him to try and make their marriage work. The trouble was, he wouldn’t let her leave the parish. You must know your father preferred to travel alone.’
Megan swallowed. ‘What are you implying?’
‘I’m not implying anything, Megan. I’m telling you that your mother was not wholly to blame for what happened. If it hadn’t been my father it would have been someone else, can’t you see that? She needed company; companionship; love.’
‘She