Holly’s Island: The Complete Collection Read Online Free Page A

disarray and neglect. When the Second World War
broke out he joined the Navy and headed off to fight the Nazi U-Boats, leaving
his wife and young son, which would be me, to look after the town.  When
he returned he once again started trying to encourage tourism on the island,
offering charted fishing trips, access to swimming and snorkeling, guided trips
into the rainforest.  And his vision of a bustling town and an island
filled with tourists staying in his hotels, taking fishing trips on his boats,
buying his merchandise, and basking in the glow of the unique properties of his
island just might have come true, if it weren't for the discovery of several
exotic and very endangered species of plants and animals that called the island
their only home. It was big news, even stateside, at the time the island was called
the Galapagos of the Caribbean and in 1951 it was set aside as a
preserve.  That killed dad's dream, as it prohibited any new building or
development on the island.  Those who owned property on the island were
grandfathered in and could continue living there as long as the property
remained within the family.  But you couldn't sell your property anymore,
those who left, forfeited their lands back to the island.  That's one of
the reasons why Caleb wanted you to come here. He hopes you'll fall in love with
it like he has and carry on his family's heritage.  His piece of land,
that big old lodge you guys live in, well, that is his birthright.  If he
left, if he died without an heir, it would be gone forever.”
     
    Holly thought about that for a long while on the walk back
home. Caleb had tried to explain it to her so many times, but hearing it from
Sam finally made it sink in. That was why he kept bringing up his desire to
adopt her even though she was already eighteen years old and legally an adult.
It made her feel sad that she had been so hard on him, how she had only thought
of herself and her troubles. For the first time she put herself in his shoes.
It must be tough on him too, she thought, not only does he lose two close
friends but he also gained a teenager that has been nothing but angry, bitter,
and sullen to him since she got here. He had a nice life living on his own in a
peaceful paradise; he didn't need to take on the responsibility of giving room
and board to an ungrateful girl.
     
    By the time she got back to the house she was nearly in
tears.
     
    “Hey, Holly, you getting hungry, I've got … oh, honey, what's
wrong?”  Caleb asked when he noticed her lips quivering and her eyes
welling up with tears.
     
    Holly burst out crying and ran over to Caleb and hugged him
for the first time ever.  After much reassurance from Caleb, Holly finally
started to settle down and they had their first real conversation since she
came to the island.  She apologized for her dreadful attitude, all the
moping and grumpiness, and promised to make more of an effort.  He assured
her that he was in this for the long haul and that as long as she wanted or
needed to stay with him he would be there for her.  This was the turning
point in their relationship and they would just grow closer as the months and
years went by.
     

 
    Several weeks later, Holly was hunting through the boxes of
books that were stored in the old warehouse in back of Sam's shop.  He
would save everything that went unwanted or unclaimed on the island which meant
he had all sorts of books lying around, from old science texts donated by the
research station, to the latest romance novels left behind by some rich lady
visiting the resort beaches. Sam had given her free reign to take whatever she
wanted and she often loaded up several boxes onto her little bike cart to take
home with her.  Today, however, she had found something completely
different, something exciting and in her mind taboo, yet she was drawn to it
like nothing else. 
     
    On the outside it looked like an old wooden box. It just was
sitting there; resting on top of a