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“My life had become a circus, Aurelia,” she says, quietly. “Nothing compared to yours, of course, but I put pressure on myself to look and to be a certain way.”
“Well, think of this as an opportunity to re-set. You don’t have to prove yourself to anyone, Mom. You could even back east, you don’t need to stay in L.A.”
She nods. “It’s something to think about.”
I wrap my arms around her and she collapses into me, as though she’s the child who needs mothering. “You’re going to be fine, Mom. We’re all going to get through this, I promise.”
* * *
A few hours later,I’m waving my mother and two sisters off again as they leave for Miami, for the last time. I’ve kept on some of Chuck’s staff to help with the transition and they’ve already made a start packing the family’s belongings. Mom and the girls will head back to L.A. and I will join them in a week or two—however long it takes to rebuild a team.
I’ve given Isaac a few well-deserved days off, so Luca is going to take up residence in the villa. It’s not really necessary anymore. There was no stalker in the first place and the blonde woman is in cuffs at the county jail, but Isaac insisted. He’s adamant that while ever I am on the island and under his watch, nothing is going to come within a mile of me. But, he and I both know that the minute I leave this resort, I will no longer be his to worry about.
I don’t know where he’s going after his team meeting, but he’s packed a bag and loaded it into one of the trucks already. I doubt I’ll see him until he gets back. I’ve turned the kitchen counter into Aurelia Bird, Inc. HQ, with papers everywhere and my grandmother’s lawyer on a permanent open screen. I finally sign off for the evening when there’s a knock at the door. Luca gets it and when he returns he has a huge smile on his face.
“You up for visitors?”
“Of course! Who?” I jump off the bar stool and see Ana and Billy appear. The three of us squeal and join together, fast and furiously, into one heap of hugs.
“Oh my God! What are youdoinghere?” I pant when we finally pull apart.
“Are you kidding?” Billy gasps. “I saw the headlines at five o’clock this morning. I called up Ana—”
“Wokeup Ana…” she corrects.
“And we booked flights there and then.”
“We’re so proud of you, Ray!” Ana gushes, wrapping me up in her arms again and squeezing me fast. “How did you do it all? Who’s idea was it? How did you keep it a secret for so long?”
She releases me and I catch my breath again. “I’ll tell you everything, I promise.” I scoop them both up in another hug. “I can’t believe you’re here! This is so awesome!”
“Shall I get some food sent over?” Luca asks. “You guys might as well make yourselves at home. I’m assuming you’ll be staying here? In this villa?”
They both look at me. “Of course they will. That’s ok, right?”
Their nods and squeals answer my question and we jump up and down, clapping our hands, like kids at Disneyworld.
“Sure thing.” Luca coolly walks away to make the call and I usher my friends out to the deck.
As soon as we sit down, the questions come again, thick and fast.
“Where’s Isaac?”Ana.
“Did he help you?”Billy.
“I knew he was going to be good for you.”Ana.
“Are you guys, like, together?”Billy.
“Did he really save that woman from the sea?”Ana.
“Ok, ok, stop!”That’s me.“Slow down a minute. I’ll answer them one by one.”
They both look back at me.
“Isaac has gone away for a few days. Yes, he helped me get information, but I did all the rest. Yes, he really did save the woman. I watched him do it—it was effortless and it took my breath away. But, no, we’re not together. I would like us to be, but it’s not going to happen. He doesn’t want to leave this place and come with me.”
“Hey,” a voice comes from inside the villa. I turn to see Tawny making her way towards us. “I’m not intruding am I? I just wanted to see how you were doing.”
