One Small Island

Chapter 5 Starting over

As she drew near to Osterville, Edina began to feel the weight of all that had happened that day settle on her shoulders. By the time she approached the gatehouse at the entrance to the Island, she could hardly keep her eyes open. Recognizing the Scallop Bays membership sticker adhered to the corner of her windshield the guard raised the gate and waved her through. When she pulled into the drive she walked directly from her car to the house and straight to her bed.

She didn't wake until the next morning when she sat bolt upright momentarily forgetting where she was. And then in an instant it all came rushing back. She closed her eyes, let out a deep sigh and fell back onto her pillows.

This would be the point where most would give up. They'd crawl away and spend the rest of their lives rocking back and forth in a corner. But Edina had always believed herself to be made of stronger stuff.       OK, perhaps Edina hadn't been through this exact mess before but she'd definitely had more than her share of setbacks and she knew she had two choices: give up or get on with it. And Edina had never allowed herself the luxury of the former.

So she rose from the bed, stripped off yesterday's clothes which she had fallen asleep in and stepped into the shower. When she emerged nearly 30 minutes later it was to the scent of rich coffee and frying bacon. She wrapped herself in a thick white robe, toweled dry her hair and followed the delicious aroma into the kitchen. And there at the stove instead of the 60 something Venezuelan grandmother she'd hired years ago was a tall, brunette 20-something bombshell. The girl truly could have dropped from the pages of the Victoria's Secret catalog and Edina hated her on sight. For if there was anything that Edina couldn't stand, it was being upstaged. And looking at this girl, Edina knew that even with the benefit of all her hair and makeup crew, monthly anti-aging treatments and and a fleet of trainers she could never hold a candle to this beauty. Edina curled her lips into the tight smile that anyone who had ever felt her wrath would recognize as a signal to run.

"Good morning Mrs. Francis" the girl said in her heavily accented and annoyingly sexy voice. Resolving to dismiss the girl right after she'd eaten breakfast Edina didn't even try to remember the child's name. 

"Right." Edina said "About that, long story short, the Mrs. Francis ship has sailed so for the rest of the time you're here feel free to call me by my first name Edina." Especially since it won't be long Edina thought to herself.

"Eh Dee Na, Ok Edina" the girl replied slowly apparently getting used to the sound of it.

Edina walked over to the table which had been set with just one place and sat down. "And I'm sorry, I've already forgotten, what's your name again?"

The Brazilian turned to face Edina and extended a hand which would make a professional hand model jealous. Edina's annoyance ratcheted up another notch as she looked down at her own thick fingers which she'd always hated for their peasant-like stubbiness.  

"I am Gloria. Gloria Bomba." The damnable creature continued as she placed a plate of bacon and eggs in front of her employer. "So,I guess you haven't been the one signing my check all these months?"

Edina smiled and shook her head. Touché she thought. The girl had spunk. "No I've got a guy for that." She inhaled the breakfast realizing she hadn't had anything to eat for almost a day. When she'd finished Edina looked up surprised to see Gloria still watching her. Edina had gotten used to the way most people tended to flee the second she was done speaking with them. But this girl had spunk and backbone. Maybe she wouldn't be so quick to get rid of her.

"Listen back to that Mrs. Francis thing, I'll assume you had the gatehouse revoke his access privileges as we'd discussed last night, correct?" Gloria nodded and cleared the plate from the table. "Good. Well I'd also like his name removed from the next edition of the clubs membership book if you could take care of that as well." Edina said as she stood and left the room without so much as a thank you. Her mind had already moved on to the next task- what to wear for the day.