It was a large faded white mansion that sat high on bald cliffs, staring down at the rocky beach below like an owl watching a desperate field mouse try to outrun its sharp talons in the dark night.

Sure, a bit of a dramatic first impression, supposed Sophia Dilly as she looked up at the house from the island's lone dock, but the young woman had always been one for strong emotions. She had watched the mansion come into clearer view as their boat had approached the remote island, hoping desperately what she thought she saw was just because of a strange angle. But now that she had disembarked and was right beneath the structure she could do nothing but let out a sigh. It was a sizable yet horrible looking place.

"Well, Sophia," exclaimed her father, stepping off of the boat behind her, "what do you think? Charming house, isn't it?"

Incidentally, he was much more taken with the mansion that she was.

Sophia forced a warm smile. "It certainly has character," she replied.

"And a splendid view," the man crossed his arms as he too observed the large home. "Yes, we should be able to see the ocean well this summer. And really get a chance to rest and relax. I'm looking forward to it."

"William!" a shrill voice called out from on the boat. Sophia did not bother turning to look. It was, after all, Minnie, her father's young second wife.

"William!" Minnie called again, with more force.

"Yes, yes, what is it my dove?" Her father quickly rushed to his wife's side, a near slave to her beck and call, much to his grown daughter's chagrin.

"Look at how contently little Horace is sleeping now!" Minnie said, holding up their infant son. The baby was well lost in his slumbers, not at all disturbed by world around him.

"A little angel," William smiled.

"Yes," Minnie replied, "the rocking of the sea must have calmed him. Or perhaps it is just a sign of how gentle a mother I am that he sleeps so well!"

"Or perhaps it's a sign you've given him more than enough morphine that he hasn't yet awoke to bother you," muttered Sophia, though loud enough to be heard. She had seen her step-mother that morning with the medicine bottle right before their departure from Portland.

Regardless of whether or not Sophia was right, Minnie let out a theatrical gasp, almost as if she had been shot by an arrow.

"William!" She exclaimed with such fervor, "did you hear that? How can you let your daughter speak that way about me with such disrespect?" She shot a stern glance at her husband.

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"Sophia, dear," William sighed, "apologize to your step-mother."

Sophia remained staring at the house and did not dare cast her eyes in the woman's direction. "Sorry, Minnie. Meant no disrespect," she remarked disingenuously.

"Don't call me 'Minnie'!" the woman commanded as her hapless husband bowed his head, "I am your father's wife! The mother of his only son! You should show me more reverence!"

"You're not even ten years older than me," countered Sophia.

"Ladies, please," William held up his hands, "we've only just arrived to Sharpy Island. We have all summer to quarrel, though I hope us all being here will bring us to better understand and appreciate one another."

"Hmph!" huffed Minnie, and again turned to her husband, "William, you know how hard I try with Sophia, but she just doesn't want anything to do with me!"

"Minnie, dear," William began, "what did I just say about not quarreling-"

"-Even now, she won't make eye contact with me when I talk to her!"

"My dear..."

"-What's all this racket, now?" an older female voice called out. Sophia was relieved- it was her aunt Augusta, and she approached with her cousin Albert. Both tended to side with Sophia in family matters. The pair walked passed Minnie and unconscious baby Horace to disembark the boat. They similarly avoided eye contact.

"Albert here was assisting the servants as they gathered some of the luggage," volunteered Augusta with pride, "that's my boy, always helpful!"

"I...I didn't do much, mother," the shy young man blushed, looking down. His mother lovingly elbowed him.

"Nonsense! You heard the butler, erm, what is his name, William?"

"Jerome," replied William, glad the conversation was taking another direction, "Jerome Jones."

"Yes, Jerome. You heard Jerome, Albert. He said thank you to you for your assistance! Your helpfulness was appreciated!"

"He'd say that to anyone," Albert remarked, "he was just being polite."

His mother's gaze, however, was now on the house, just as Sophia's still remained. "So this is to be our summer home on Sharpy Island, William?"

"Yes! Wonderful, isn't it?" William beamed, "when I heard the island and its contents were for sale I of course knew we'd have to have such a fine piece of property. We are the great Dilly family, after all!"

Augusta remained quiet. "Frankly, it looks a bit ominous, William," she finally confessed. Sophia smiled slightly. Once again, Aunt Augusta was on her side.

Minnie, however, noting her husband's enthusiasm, held the baby tight in her arms as she finally marched off the boat. "Well, I think it's lovely, William! You're right, an excellent purchase!"

William smiled at his young wife as Sophia rolled her eyes.

"Thank you, my dove," he replied, "I knew you'd like it."

"Frankly," Minnie continued, "no one was forced to come here. If this house is not to their liking the boat is waiting. They can feel free to get back on."

Augusta shot a sideways glance at the young woman. "Oh, I merely said that I found the property ominous, not that we were leaving." She looked over to her son. "We've been looking forward to a summer on a private island away from the hustle and bustle of the city, haven't we, Albert?"

Her son nodded, looking slightly over in Sophia's direction.

"I too am glad to take a break from the city for a little while," Sophia said, as if it was expected she speak.

"Well, then, marvelous!" William clapped his hands together. "As you can see, down here is the beach and the dock. That lighthouse over there on that nearby island is called Phoque King Light. And over here are the stairs up from the beach to the residence."

He motioned invitingly. "Shall we? I really do think you're going to love the view."

The party departed the dock and ascended up the aforementioned staircase. The Dilly family summer at Sharpy Island had begun.