Chapter 55: Company at last

"Uncle James!" Carol exclaimed, wondering if she was seeing an apparition.

"Carol my dear. You looked so shocked, why is that?" Mr. James asked, extending his arms for a brief hug, which Carol quickly gave and then pulled back, still surprised. Fast on the heels of her surprise came dismay. She and Sebastian were supposed to be on this vacation together, playing the perfect couple for Mr. James's benefit, but he was not even here.

"Well, I didn't know that you would be here."

"I know. My wife and I wanted to take you and my boy by surprise. Our wedding anniversary is in a week's time, and we wanted to celebrate it with you guys. That was why I asked you to pick where we would vacation." He finished, laughing a little at what he deemed to be his own cleverness.

"Oh." Was all Carol could say.