Chapter four: The boy who wasn't going home.

*:･°✧* 𓆝 𓇼 ⋆｡˚ 𓆝 ˚｡⋆ 𓇼𓆟 *✧*:･°

The next time Wayne opened his eyes, a young boy was before him.

“Mom…” the boy yelled. “There is an injured, homeless, old man lying here.”

Wayne blinked against the harsh sunlight as he sat upright.

The boy’s mother hurried over and pulled him closer. Her gaze fell on Wayne’s sand-covered body, and her expression changed. “Excuse me. Are you okay?”

Wayne parted his lips to speak, but a sharp pain shot through his skull, causing a cry to escape instead. He clutched his injured head. The area around the cut was swollen, and the blood covering it had dried.

“W…where am I?”

“You are at Galeport. What happened to you? Did you get into an accident or something?”

“Galeport?” Wayne’s gaze shot up. “I’m supposed to be at Davenport.”

“Young man, that’s the other way across the island.”

Wayne tried to remember how he got here, but the pain in his head made it difficult for him to think. He tried to keep his eyes open, but the world tilted around him.

“We need to get you to a hospital.” She wrapped a hand around his waist, helping him upright.

“Thank you, ma’am,” Wayne rasped, wincing as another throb pulsed through his skull. “One more thing. You need to teach your son some manners.”

The woman stared at him. “I beg your pardon?”

“Calling someone old is absurd.”

She scoffed. “With that mouth on you, I’m pretty sure you are fine.” She released him. “You can walk to the hospital yourself.”

Wayne raised a hand. “No. Wait. Please…my whole body hurts. Please help me,” he pleaded, dramatically.

She held his gaze for a bit, almost like she was contemplating. “Okay. Fine. I’ll help you.” She finally said, as she and her son helped him toward a nearby hospital.

When he got to the hopsital, he was taken care of. And when a nurse asked him what happened, he told her what he remembered. The boat. Fishing. The wave. Nessa. But beyond that, everything was foggy.

His family was contacted, and about an hour later, Elizabeth, Duncan, and Nessa arrived.

“Where is my boy?” Elizabeth roared into the ward. “Where is my Wayne?”

She swung the room door open and the moment she caught sight of him, tears of joy streamed down. “Wayne.” She reached for a hug. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?”

“Grandma, you are here? Why are you crying?” He gently wiped her tears.

“We’ve been searching for you for three days.”

“Three days?” His expression fell. “I’ve been gone that long?”

“Yes.” Duncan stepped into the room, followed by Nessa. Then he turned to the doctor. “How is his condition?”

“He was slightly dehydrated when he was brought in, and he had a small injury on his head, which has been treated. He also has a mild concussion, and partial memory loss. Aside from that, he’s doing well.”

“Memory loss?” Elizabeth asked in shock.

“That’s common with a concussion. Memory gaps around the injury are normal, and they usually clear up on their own.” The doctor shrugged. “Or they don’t. The brain decides what it wants to keep.”

Wayne frowned. That wasn’t entirely comforting.

“Does that mean he can go home?” Elizabeth asked.

“Yes. His injuries aren’t severe. He just needs food, rest, and someone to keep an eye on him.”

“Oh, thank the heavens.” She wiped the tears off her face while the doctor excused himself.

Wayne’s chest lifted. From the way his grandmother was worried, he was sure he would probably be leaving the island. 

She turned to him, and smacked him on the back. “You stupid boy. How dare you go off to sea when you know you can’t swim. Don’t you know how dangerous it is?”

Wayne opened his mouth, ready to defend himself, but shut it due to the pain from the slap.

“You almost gave me a heart attack. Do you know how worried we all were?”

Wayne looked at them. He remembered how Nessa had cried his name during the storm. He pictured strangers out in the dark, shouting his name over the waves for three days, and his chest felt uncomfortably heavy. But he quickly shoved the thought aside. They were probably just worried about losing free labor.

Nessa stepped forward. “I’m sorry, ma’am. It’s my fault.” She paused. “I knew the sea was dangerous, but I still took him along.”

Duncan straightened beside her. “She’s right. Nessa should have known better. I take full responsibility as her grandfather.”

Wayne glanced at Nessa. Her head was lowered, her fingers twisting together.

“Duncan…” Elizabeth started. “You don’t have to take the blame. I know Wayne and exactly how he can be.” She reached for his ear and pinched it.

“Ow! It hurts.”

“When will you ever learn?” She released him.

“Why are you still scolding me? You heard them. They already took the blame,” he complained, rubbing his ears. 

After confirming with the doctor everything was in order, Wayne was discharged and he drove off with his grandmother.

Every time the car curved along the road close to the sea, Wayne’s body stiffened slightly. He shut his eyes, but the memory of the wave slamming into him flashed through his mind.

It was fine. He was alive and going back home and that was all that mattered. As the luxurious Black Bentley glided to a halt in front of the diner. Wayne’s face twisted into a frown as he spotted the familiar sign. “You are really leaving me here? After everything?”

“Yes Wayne. I’m leaving you, so you can learn and grow.”

“But I can learn and grow back home, back at Westmere."

“One year.” Her gaze stayed fixed on the tinted car window. “You have one year to prove to me that you are a different person. If you show me that you have grown and learnt how to be responsible, then I’ll take you back.”

Wayne sat up straight. “Really?”

“Yes.” She finally looked at him. “But Duncan will have to attest to it. And Nessa. And the others at Davenport, basically anyone who has had to deal with you.” She gave a pointed look. “You have one year. Make it count.”

Anyone one who had to deal with him? His mind flicked through the faces he remembered poorly interacting with. Butter, whom he told to mind his business. Cupcake, whom he practically ignored. The workers, who laughed while he butchered that fish. Lastly, Nessa, whom he had dared. He rolled his shoulders back. He had been charming his whole life. All he had to do was make them like him. How hard could it be?

He stared at his grandmother for a beat. “Okay. I’ll do it. I’ll prove it to you, and I’ll do it in less than a year.”

“I hope so.” She reached into her purse and handed him a phone. “In case you need to contact me.” Wayne turned it over in his hands as she continued.“And I also sent some of your belongings to the cabin. I ordered it to be cleaned up. But not too much, Duncan says I spoil you.”

His eyes lit up. “Grandma, you are the best.”

“Don’t get too excited now, you still have work to do. And one more thing,” Elizabeth added. “I opened a bank account for you and transferred some money into it. It should last you for a while.”

“How much?”

“Just enough. Spend it wisely. I won’t send any more. You’ll have to wait till Duncan pays you.”

He placed a hand over his chest. “Don’t worry, I won’t let you down.”

“We’ll see about that.”

Wayne stepped out of the car. As soon as the Bentley disappeared around the corner, he pulled out his phone and opened his bank app. His smile vanished. A thousand dollars. That was it? He read the number twice, like it might change but it didn’t. He had spent more than that on a single bottle in Monaco. And now he had to live on it for God knows how long. Unbelievable. 

“What’s with that face?” Nessa called. He jumped, his heart nearly leaving his body. “Relax. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Easy for you to say. You’re not the one who escaped the clutches of death and now getting crept up on by someone,” he said, staring back disheartenedly at his bank balance.

Nessa hesitated. “About that, I wanted to apologize for putting your life in danger. I’m sorry.”

“You don’t have to blame yourself. I was partially at fault. But if you still insist on saying sorry, then I accept.”

A smile appeared on her face. “Okay.” She held out her hand. “I hope from now, we can get along.”

He scoffed, then took her hand. Once Duncan and everyone else convinced his grandmother that he’d changed, he was getting the hell out of Davenport.

“Oh, and the bet's off, by the way. Nobody won."

Wayne’s lips curved slightly. “I was catching up.”

She laughed. Before she could say another word, Duncan walked over.

“Wayne. You need to go home and rest like the doctor said so.”

“There’s no need for that. I’m fine. Meanwhile I’ve been absent for three days, so it’s better I catch up now.”

Duncan studied him for a moment. “A few days ago you were complaining about how disgusting this place was.”

He didn’t respond immediately. If Duncan and Nessa had to vouch for him, then the fastest way off this island was to look like a model employee. He’d be the most responsible man Davenport had ever seen.

“I’ve decided to take things seriously,” Wayne said. “So what do you want me to do, boss?”

Duncan’s lips curved. “All right, then. Since you don’t want to go home, how about you treat everyone here to a drink?”

Wayne’s expression dropped. “What?”

Nessa laughed. “Actually, that’s a good idea. We were all out looking for you for three days. You owe us.”

Wayne looked between them, curling his fingers into a fist. Fine. It was for the greater good. A few drinks couldn’t hurt.

“Okay. I’ll treat you both.”

“Both?” Duncan raised a brow. “Not just us. everyone.”

“Everyone?”

Duncan turned towards the workers at the fish market. “Everyone, Wayne is treating us for drinks tonight.” His voice rang as cheers erupted all around.

Wayne’s jaw dropped. He looked around. Ten. Twenty. Thirty people. He was buying drinks for thirty people? He stared at the crowd in disbelief, before forcing a smile. These were the people who would decide his future, so it’s best to get it over with.