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Tara’s eyebrows shot up. ‘What?’

‘You could see it for yourself,’ Amelia said, her voice gaining strength. ‘You could see what it’s really like from an outsider’s perspective. And then you’d know how to help us present it to Geraldine.’

Tara stared at Amelia, trying to see if this was some sort of joke. ‘You’re serious,’ she said finally.

‘Completely,’ Amelia said, meeting her gaze.

Tara sighed, leaning back into the sofa. ‘It couldn’t happen.’

‘Why?’ Amelia asked, frowning.

‘Because,’ Tara said, gesturing vaguely, ‘I’m a mainlander, an outsider. Don’t you have rules about that?’

Amelia hesitated, but her frown deepened. ‘It’s not impossible. I’d vouch for you.’

Tara pressed her lips together, the conflict building in her chest. ‘OK, assuming I’d even be allowed to set foot on the island… I don’t know how I’d cope with it. I mean, no electricity, no running water…

Amelia’s mouth twitched, almost a smile. ‘You’d survive. Oh, and we do have running water.’

‘You do?’

‘Yes. Our houses were built around the early nineteen hundreds. We have indoor plumbing.’

‘Oh,’ Tara replied, interested to hear more.

But it wasn’t the time to pump Amelia for more info on that. Not with what might well be on the table now. If she agreed to it, she could get everything.

‘You could help us, Tara. I know you could,’ Amelia said so earnestly that it almost broke Tara’s heart.

Tara exhaled slowly. It was extremely daunting. But the thought of being welcomed into the inner workings of Solhaven, of seeing it from the inside…

It was an opportunity that most journalists would kill for. And it had dropped into her lap. Forget The Daily Scoop; this could be a serious exposé. She could write her ticket as an investigative journalist of serious note.

And yet, it wasn’t just the story pulling her in anymore. Amelia needed help. And Tara couldn’t help wanting to give that to her. How could you not? With those big, dark, doe eyes looking at you. They were saucers of sincerity and despite herself, Tara was being pulled into their tractor beams.

Not that she didn’t have a shit ton of questions before she agreed to this mad thing.

‘Is it really as easy as all that?’ Tara asked. ‘You give me your seal of approval, and they break their big rule?’

‘They’ll see what I see,’ Amelia said with conviction. ‘That we need you.’

Tara mulled, frowning.

‘Is your silence a no?’ Amelia asked quietly.

Tara hesitated, her stomach twisting. She wanted to say yes, wanted to see this mysterious island and its people for herself. But this was next-level deception.

Tara was starting to hate how her motives weren’t as pure as Amelia believed.

‘It’s not a no,’ she said finally. ‘It’s a… let’s think about it.’

Amelia nodded. ‘Alright, yes. Of course.’

‘But if I come to that island,’ Tara added, fixing Amelia with a pointed look, ‘I’d better not get thrown in the sea on sight.’

Amelia laughed. But Tara didn’t laugh along. The unease in her chest lingered. Was she going to do this?

If she did, it complicated things. Amelia wanted to let Tara into her world because she believed Tara was a good Samaritan. And she wasn’t that. She was self-interested. Eventually, Amelia was going to find that out.

But what if Tara did help the island maintain its independence? Would it matter much if she got something out of it? She supposed that would depend on what she found when she got there.

Despite how much Tara was coming to like Amelia, her claims that Solhaven was a cute little island full of delightful eccentrics who farmed seaweed didn’t fly.

Amelia seemed sincere to a fault, but if she was brainwashed, she wouldn’t be able to help the lies she was telling. If something was seriously wrong there, Tara couldn’t in good conscience write an application detailing how wholesome and justified the place was.

All in all, it was a moral quandary that Tara couldn’t afford to engage with. Her career would go the way of the dodo if she didn’t do something to stand out. This was her shot.

Amelia was the only thing that made Tara feel truly conflicted. Why couldn’t she have been some twisted weirdo? Was that so much to ask?

‘I’ll go,’ Tara told Amelia.

Amelia leapt across the sofa and grabbed Tara in a hug.

Tara froze, her breath catching as Amelia’s arms wrapped tightly around her. For a split second, all she could focus on was the warmth of Amelia’s body pressed against hers and the faint scent of soap.

‘Thank you,’ Amelia said, her voice muffled against Tara’s shoulder.

Tara’s arms hovered awkwardly in the air before she hesitantly patted Amelia’s back. ‘You’re, uh, welcome.’

Amelia pulled back, her face alight with relief. ‘I knew you’d understand. You’ll see. You’ll love it there.’

Tara swallowed hard, trying to ignore the flush creeping up her neck. ‘I wouldn’t get your hopes up too high.’

‘Why not?’ Amelia asked, tilting her head.

Because this is already more complicated than it should be, Tara thought but didn’t say. Instead, she offered a faint shrug and a crooked smile.

‘Let’s just say I’m not known for my... rustic inclinations.’

Amelia laughed, and the sound was so unexpectedly rich and warm that it made something twist in Tara’s chest. ‘Don’t worry. We’ll teach you.’

The way Amelia was looking at her—bright-eyed and trusting—made Tara feel unmoored. She was struck by how clear and direct Amelia’s gaze was, how there was no guile or guardedness in it. It was unnerving how much she liked that.

‘You’re very optimistic,’ Tara said, her voice quieter than she intended.

‘And you’re very cynical,’ Amelia replied, a teasing edge to her voice.

They stared at each other for a beat too long. Tara felt her pulse quicken, and she looked away first, clearing her throat.

‘Well,’ she said, forcing some levity into her tone, ‘I guess I’d better start packing.’

‘You won’t need much,’ Amelia said, still smiling. ‘Though I might bring some warm clothes. Nights can get a bit chilly. And of course, you’ll need to leave your bits and bobs here.’

‘No phone, no laptop,’ Tara muttered, shaking her head as she stood. ‘Jesus.’

Amelia laughed again, but this time, there was a softness in her expression. ‘You’ll survive.’

Tara raised her eyebrows. ‘We’ll see.’