Page 99 of The Forbidden Fling

“Honestly? Yeah. But didn’t you learn anything from Sandy Springs? Life is short. Yeah, I was mad at you, but I think once the shock wore off, I was more angry about all the lies and the secrets. I’m not a kid anymore. I don’t want you to keep things from me.”

“No more.”

“Promise?”

“I promise.”

Molly nodded once, final. “So, what are you going to do then?”

Good question. Her brain had been through the blender in the last ten minutes.

“As much as it weirded me out, you deserve to be happy, Mum.”

“Thanks, love.” She blinked back tears. “I still don’t know what to do, though.”

Molly rolled her eyes. “You do. You’ve just got to listen.”

Diana relaxed the tension in her shoulders, sinking back into the armchair. So many conflicting emotions were wrestling inside her. Relief, apprehension, surprise, doubt, all bouncing around like ping-pong balls.

If Molly could have a change of heart, so could Faye. But maybe it was too late? Even if she did go to Sandy Springs, there was no guarantee that Faye would go at all.

But Molly was right. Deep down, she already knew the answer. So she closed her eyes and focused on her breathing, allowing herself to listen.

Breathe in…breathe out. And there it was. The flutter of wings beating together, starting small, then rising, louder, bigger.

Hope.

She opened her eyes, meeting her daughter’s. “Thank you.”

Molly nodded. “So…” Her mouth curved into a small smile. “Do you want to see Grandma’s pictures?”

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Faye

As she stepped off the wobbly boat onto the soft sand of the island, Faye was exhausted. Not from the journey itself, but from the constant yo-yoing in her mind from what am I doing to I need this.

Everything had ended so abruptly; she needed the closure. But now she was here, the sun and the sea greeting her like an old friend, reality hit her. Closing the book here would make it final.

You need this, she reminded herself, dragging her small suitcase through the sand and onto the canvas walkway. She stepped under the arch of blue and yellow flowers welcoming her back to the island and breathed in the fresh, salty air. It was cooler than the last time she was here, but the October sunshine covered the island in a golden glow. The space hummed with activity. Dozens of people dressed to the nines, with fascinators dotted around like a lost flock of tropical birds, one gust away from disappearing into the North Atlantic. Guests gathered around the buggies, acting as a makeshift taxi rank to transport them further inland.

Faye scanned the colourful scene, looking for a phenomenal pantsuit, her pulse keeping a sturdy rhythm. She couldn’t explain it, but she sensed that Diana was near.

She landed on a pair of kind dark eyes.

“You’re here!” The force knocked the air out of her as Carla scooped her into a big hug. “Dog’s Bollocks! I missed you.”

“I missed you too,” she mumbled into her shoulder, the world passing her in a spinning blur as Carla twirled her round.

Carla put her back on land and studied her appreciatively, letting out a low whistle. “Someone did not come to play, eh?”

Faye struck a little pose, fanning the blush pink dress so that the slit running up her thigh showed even more skin. Her dads and Quin had spent hours shopping with her until they’d found the perfect dress—one that screamed: “Diana, eat your heart out.” The combination of the deep V-neckline and cinched ruched waist, and the smooth, soft fabric flowing over her skin, absolutely nailed the brief.

Carla nudged her. “Come on. You can ride VIP with me.”

Riding VIP with Carla meant sitting at the front, wedged between a suitcase and a box of bottles, while other guests packed into the back. She chatted away as they navigated the island, a bombardment of memories flying at Faye: seeing Diana in the bar, throwing up in the flowers, running after Tiago, kissing Diana in the ruins.

That moment in the courtyard when everything shattered.