Sophia raced out the backdoor and down the path. As she ran, tears falling left and right, she felt a squish beneath her shoes; incidentally, no one had cleaned up the pile of feces from the night before. Feeling that smush made the tears increase, as it further reminded her of her father's accusations.

She continued to run down the path to a small stone bench; it was on the bald rocky cliffs looking out towards the Phoque King Light. Certainly not the most beautiful spot on the island but it was private and solitary, which was just the type of place Sophia desired to be.

She sat down and buried her head into her hands as she cried. How could her father think she had caused his young wife to hurt herself? How could he think she was making any of this up? She knew what she had seen- the sealman was real. Minnie may have seen it too. But her father would not accept it. Sophia let out another sorrowful sob.

"Sophia...?" a voice gently exclaimed. Sophia sat up and looked to her side. It was Albert, her cousin, looking sympathetically at her as he approached the bench. She turned away again.

"Albert, please leave me alone," she sniffled, "I want to be alone."

Albert froze. He hated to see Sophia upset and wanted to comfort her, but she had stated her wishes not to be bothered. He was always so nervous and unsure around her- in part because of his uncertain feelings for her. She was, afterall, his cousin. But not biologically- and perhaps because of that, romantic thoughts entered his mind often. What if he were to tell Sophia how much he cared? Would she be taken aback? Or would she return his affections?

"Albert, please..." Sophia said again, "I...I...I don't want you seeing me like this."

"S-sorry," Albert stuttered, "I just wanted t-to make sure you were all right."

Sophia turned back to look at Albert. "How can I be all right? My father has made such awful accusations of me! Of my actions! Of my character!"

"I-I think your father is wrong," Albert said, "h-h-he shouldn't be blaming you for this." It was true, he did think William wrong; however, like everyone else, he had no explanation for what really could be going on.

But his words seemed to reach Sophia. She sniffled a little. "So, then...then you really do believe me?"

Albert swallowed hard. He wanted to believe Sophia. He at least knew deep down all that was happening had not been her doing.

"Y-y-yes," he slowly answered, but said nothing further. But he didn't need to- Sophia emotionally rose to her feet and rushed into his arms, hugging him tightly as the tears flowed. Albert was caught off-guard and, with her physical contact, turned bright red.

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"Oh, Albert," she exclaimed as she snuggled into him, "I'm so glad to hear that. You don't know how happy that makes me."

She remained hugging him; Albert wanted to wrap his arms around her too, yet he hesitated; was that appropriate? Or was this a brief outburst and she would be offended by anything further?

"I...I always want to make you happy, Sophia..." he replied.

Sophia seemed to pause at that. She looked up at her cousin's beet red face. "Why...why do you say that, Albert?"

Albert again swallowed hard. What could he say? Was this the moment for him to confess his affections?

"B-B-Because I love..." he began, but as he stared into Sophia's eyes he could not tell what she was thinking. Was this what she wanted to hear right now, or would it make their relationship weird? There was a wave of doubt and fear that rushed through him as well- he was a shy man and making bold gestures just were not his nature.

"...I love that when you're happy you spread that joy to all of us," he continued, steering away from his initial meaning. Sophia seemed to blink at his words but she remained holding him. Albert assumed he had not offended her, at least.

"I doubt I will be happy as long as I am on Sharpy Island," she sighed, lowering her head. "I am sorry I will not spread that joy anytime soon."

Before Albert could think of anything to say, another voice called out from behind them.

"What's going on here?" the voice asked, almost offended. The pair turned to see- it was Menelaus Winslow Groat, the Phoque King lighthouse keeper. Where exactly he came from was unclear.

Sophia leaned in closer to Albert and gripped him tight. Albert froze- his fear that he was behaving innapropriately, though Sophia had made the first move, filled him again.

"N-nothing! Nothing!" Albert exclaimed quickly, but it seemed to make Sophia grip all the more.

"My cousin was being a gentleman and comforting me in a time of need," Sophia replied, though it was through clenched teeth. It seemed to Albert she did not like seeing the other man.

Menelaus let out a relieved sigh as a leery smile returned to his face. "Right, of course, he's your cousin. Nothing unbecoming happening here. Just familial concern. Wholesome. Sweet."

Albert looked down disappointedly and muttered to himself "we're not genetically related...", but no one could hear.

Sophia stared at Menelaus with an intensity. "What are you doing here, Mr. Groat?"

"Why, I was out on my beach when I heard what sounded like a woman's scream, then saw some commotion, thought something might have happened. I figured I should row on over and see if I could be any help." He paused, his smile growing larger. "Then I saw you, lovely yet distressed, alone up here and thought I'd see if it was your scream I had heard. I was not aware your cousin was already here."

"It wasn't Sophia's scream," Albert spit out in an unexpected surge of confidence.

Menelaus crossed his arms and was silent a moment. "Oh ho, it was that other pretty lady, then? Well, that's certainly unfortunate." He did not sound sincere.

He slapped a hand on his knee suddenly. "Right, let me see her, if there's anything I can do to assist the poor girl."

"My father doesn't want strangers here uninvited-" Sophia began but Menelaus seemed to pay her no mind. He was already halfway down the back path approaching the Dilly mansion, whistling a jaunty tune as he walked.