The evening meal was delicious and the atmosphere light and fun. As usual, it was loud and cheerful, with Tristan and Logan entertaining everyone. There was an endless supply of scrumptious food as well, various sorts of drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Apart from Beth attending as the housekeeper, there were the maids working to ensure the Princeton family and their guests were comfortable and enjoying themselves.
Sakura thoroughly relished in the hearty feast and found that by the end of the banquet, she was stuffed and felt as though she couldn’t move an inch. Of course, the wine Tristan constantly poured into her glass didn’t help either. After three glasses of champagne, her head was spinning, and she kept wanting to lie down and go to sleep. Then by the time she’d finished devouring the delicious dessert of chocolate cake baked by Beth, she felt as though she’d had enough and simply wanted to switch off.
Beside her, Akira asked over the loud noise of laughter and chatter, “Are you okay?”
Sakura leaned over and said, “I think I’m about to fall asleep on the dinner table.”
Akira laughed. She couldn’t help herself. “But you slept all morning.”
Sakura nodded, her eyes droopy. “I know, but the wine.”
Akira agreed. “I noticed. You’re not very good with it, are you?”
“Not really,” Sakura admitted. “I get really sleepy after a few glasses. It’s an unfortunate side effect.” She chuckled.
“I see.” Akira looked around the table and noticed the men, Sosuke included, were currently talking about a topic that didn’t much interest any of the girls. Her aunt Haruka, Mr. and Mrs. Princeton, and Beth had already left and were currently sitting in another room, tucked away in the far corner of the large house, perhaps chatting away and enjoying coffee as adults do after dinner.
Akira said, “How about we go to the sitting room and enjoy some peace and quiet?”
Sakura nodded eagerly. “That sounds great. We can leave the men to enjoy their drinks and whatever they’re talking about.”
When the two excused themselves, Mary and Katherine offered to join them as well. Hence, the four girls left the dining hall and headed across the foyer to the other side of the house, toward the sitting room. Once they entered the quiet sanctuary, Sakura eagerly rushed over to the sofa and reclined on it as she released a long, satisfied sigh.
Mary chuckled. “You sound exhausted.”
“Rather. I’m sleepy. That cunning Tristan, he kept pouring me wine, and now my head is spinning.”
Eagerly sitting in the comfortable armchair, Mary said, “Typical of him.”
Katherine sat on the other armchair while Akira lay on the sofa opposite Sakura.
“That was the best meal ever,” Akira said. “The seafood is top notch. Loved it. Just loved it.”
Katherine agreed. “Yep, one of the best meals I’ve ever had as well. I agree with the seafood. It’s so fresh.”
Mary said, “We are surrounded by the sea, after all.” She chuckled. “So the seafood has to be that good.”
Akira nodded.
It was then Mary leaned forward and started a completely new and girly topic. “So, Akira, about you and Nicolas…”
That made Akira blush instantly and Katherine chuckle with amusement. Sakura secretly smiled as she watched the Japanese woman looking uncomfortable.
“Typical of you to bring that up,” Katherine said.
Akira asked, “What about me and Nicolas?”
Mary chuckled. “Oh, don’t try to sound innocent, Akira. That kiss during the game back at the holiday house told everyone what you two are up to.”
Akira adamantly said, “We’re up to nothing, if you really want to know. Honestly, it’s hard understanding that man and what he wants. Or whatever he’s trying to imply. He’s so confusing…”
As Akira went on about Nicolas’s perplexing character, Sakura closed her eyes, feeling blessed and content. She didn’t know how long she lay there enjoying the cool evening breeze and the soft chattering of the girls’ voices as she started drifting off into a slumber.
When she was jerked awake again, it was to the sound of thunder. She gasped in surprise, her eyes flashing open as her heart raced at the raucous noise. Her body shook in reaction as she slowly sat up.
“Oh my, that was a loud one,” Mary said. “Ugh! I hate storms.”
Akira said, “Conrad did say it was supposed to be a mild one, didn’t he?”
Katherine said, “Who knows? It can change just like that, right? Especially in the middle of the Pacific like this.”
Now fully awake, Sakura watched in awe the darkening sky outside through the windows. Thick clouds were gathering and heavy rain began lashing down, dripping and pelting the windowsills. Suddenly, a flash of lightning webbed across the heavens. Then a few seconds later, loud rumbling of thunder roared across the atmosphere, which caused Sakura to shiver in trepidation.
The sound and the dark, chilled mood reminded her of her childhood when she used to have nightmares. Back then, she had always rushed over to hide in the closet. Then Daddy James would find her and take her into his arms.
Now, she still had that anxiety every time she heard thunder rumbling across the sky, even more so when they were on this island because the noise was so intense, so close.
“Sakura, are you okay?” Akira asked. “You look a little pale.”
Mary turned her attention to her friend. “You don’t like thunder much, do you?”
Sakura shook her head. “No, I don’t.” She moved to sit up straight on the sofa, her heart still pounding loudly in her chest. It was then Michael appeared at the door and rushed over.
“Hey, did you see outside? And did you hear the thunder?” he asked the girls excitedly.
Katherine chuckled at her stepson. “You like thunder?”
Michael nodded. “It’s cool.” He turned to Sakura then and said, “Come on. It’s a good time to play some games. Akira, too. I’m getting bored.”
Akira cocked her head to one side. “What game do you think we should play?”
Michael said, “Sakura told me we could play hide-and-seek, or we could tell scary stories.”
Akira thought about it for a moment and then said, “You know what? How about we freshen up and change into our pajamas and then meet up in my room. Then we can tell each other scary stories. I know a lot of very scary Japanese ones.”
Michael looked excited. “Really? Awesome.”
Akira turned to Sakura and asked, “How about it?”
Sakura nodded. “Sure, that sounds fun.” She turned to ask Mary and Katherine. “How about you two?”
They both nodded in agreement.
A few moments later, Sakura was heading back to her room when she noticed Michael coming along with her. She stopped in the middle of the corridor and asked, “Why are you following me, Michael? Your room is in the southern wing with Katherine and your dad, isn’t it?”
Michael said, “I promised Sebastian to take good care of you when he’s not around.”
At his answer, Sakura smiled. “Well, he is still around, isn’t he? I mean, he’s not here right now, but he’s still in the house.”
Michael nodded in agreement. “That’s true. But I’m still walking you to your room.”
Sakura sighed. “All right, then. Do as you please.”
The boy smiled with glee, and the two headed toward her bedroom. Once they were there, Sakura said, “I’m here now, safe and sound.” She chuckled. “See you later, then?”
Michael said, “I’ll come and get you in thirty minutes. Be ready by then.”
God, he sounded like the Princeton brothers, and she had no doubt the boy would grow up to be like them, considering how much time they had spent together, especially with Michael following Nicolas around like a lost little duckling and idolizing the man.