Passage to Australia [Passage to Australia Trilogy Book One]

Chapter X A Secret Revealed

Chapter X

A Secret Revealed

"Lord, I haven't said much to you in the last couple of years, but I'm hoping you'll listen to me." Erik prayed with closed eyes as he leaned over the ship rail, appreciating the crisp air after the stuffiness inside. "I don't suppose it makes any difference, but I'm not asking for myself, I'm asking you to help my brother, Paul." He paused and glanced up at the star filled sky. The twinkling Arcturus seemed to encourage him to go on. Bowing his head again he continued, "I don't have to tell you that he's having trouble accepting our parents' divorce; I'm not sure I have myself. But he took it harder than I did, and I don't know what to do to help him; he seems to have shut everyone out, even me. But I know you can get through to him when no one else can, so, please, God, help him."

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"Why do I get the feeling that your mood is courtesy of at least one of the Troy brothers?" Janine asked with raised eyebrows.

"Ok, so they're trouble, no matter how you look at it," Paris ceded wearily. She sat on the bed with her back to the wall and and a pillow clutched in her lap.

"I'm glad we agree," her cousin flopped down onto the sofa. "Now, what happened?"

"I don't want to talk, Janine. It's really complicated." Paris thought of her growing feelings for Erik and the confusion involved with that, and then there was Paul and his issues. How did I get so mixed up in everyone else's problems? Complicated was an understatement.

"Mind if I take a wild guess?" The blond asked. "Let's see, obviously, you're having trouble admitting that you're attracted to an arrogant flirt, meaning Erik. And the soft heart you were cursed with has taken pity on a sullen, brooding young man who defies heaven and earth to help him, but you're going to try." She paused for a breath and sent a questioning look Paris' way. "How am I doing so far?"

Paris had to chuckle despite the heaviness in her chest. "Pretty good."

Just then there was a knock on the cabin door and Brandon went to answer it.

"If that's either of the boys, don't let him in," Paris called, not feeling up to another sparring match with Erik or a session with Paul.

But it was an angry Fiona who entered, her temper obviously simmering just below the surface. She took two steps into the room and stood glaring at Paris while her shoulders shook with suppresed emotion. In her periphial vision Paris caught the clueless looks her cousins exchanged and she knew what was going through their minds. What trouble is Paris in now?

Paris suppressed a moan; what she didn't need now was more trouble. Hadn't they all just finished recouperating from her latest escapade?

"Why?" Aunt Fiona's weak voice surprised her, because it meant that whatever this problem was, it was large enough to completely floor her aunt. A terrible suspicion began to wiggle its way into her brain but she dismissed it, hoping she was wrong. She wasn't. "Why did you lie to me, your uncle, your parents, everybody?" Fiona's voice was picking up strength, which was not necessarily a good sign. Paris took a deep breath, mindful to keep any portrayal of guilt from her face.

"Lie?" She faked an incredible voice and pretended she had no idea what her aunt was talking about. But she knew all too well.

"I just talked with your mother." It was a simple statement, but with it, the innocent facade Paris had constructed fell apart.

"Oh," was all she could mutter, not meeting Fiona's fiery gaze. Was she ever in trouble now!

"Brandon, Janine, leave us alone." Her tone had become hard and the girls didn't even venture a 'yes, ma'am' as they silently moved out of the cabin and closed the door behind them. Paris winced as it latched, leaving her to face the music alone.