Page 25 of The Island Villa

She’d found it harder and harder to give her readers that simple happy ending they expected. Real life didn’t come with the ends tied in a neat bow.

So with this book she’d looked at a different side of life. A darker side, but one no less valid. She’d done her research. She’d read several murder cases that had kept her up at night for weeks, then used those as inspiration for her story.

“I’m going to send it to Daphne and see what she says.”

She knew what Daphne would say. Daphne would tell her to stick with what she knew. Daphne would tell her it was fine to be number three. She’d remind Catherine that some women found a happy ending in their lives, and there was no reason to focus on the ones who didn’t.

But Catherine was ready for something different. She increasingly wanted to write a story for all the women out there whose lives didn’t end with their future tied up in a neat bow.

“A new direction to your career, and a wedding.” Andrew squeezed her hand. “This really is a fresh start.”

Not really, Catherine thought. You never really started fresh, because whatever you did, you still had to drag the past along with you.

“I can’t believe the wedding is only two weeks away. And the girls are arriving in a few days.”

“I know.” Andrew watched as a tiny bird swooped in and skimmed along the surface of the swimming pool. “You’re sure you don’t want to tell them about me before they arrive?”

“Not until they’re on the island. Some things are better handled face-to-face.”

He reached across and took her hand. “Why are you so afraid to tell them?”

“I’m not afraid. I think it’s fair to say that the girls are going to love you.” She leaned across to kiss him. It was going to be fine.

Was it going to be fine? She hoped so.

Andrew didn’t seem convinced. “They can still leave, you know.”

“Cassie wouldn’t leave.” She thought about her youngest daughter, always so warm and loving and supportive. You’re the best mother on the planet. I love you.

“But you think Adeline might?”

Adeline? You’re the worst mother on the planet. I hate you.

“I think that once she has met you, she’ll be thrilled.”

She hoped she was right. Hoped that this marriage was going to change everything for the better. That it would finally bring her family together.

It was what she wanted more than anything. Even more than she wanted a reboot of her career.

She wanted to mend things with Adeline.

7

Adeline

Adeline layered her neatly folded clothes into the suitcase. Dread was curled in a tight ball in her stomach. “I don’t want to do this.”

Mark glanced up from his phone, impatient. “Then why are you doing it?”

His reply upset her, possibly because she’d been asking herself the same question. “A little sympathy would be nice.”

“Sympathy for what?” Mark looked genuinely puzzled. “I don’t understand why you’d expect sympathy for something you’re inflicting on yourself. You’ve made a choice. If you don’t want to go, then make a different choice. Tell her no. You need to establish boundaries, Adeline. It’s pretty simple.”

It wasn’t simple at all, and it frustrated her that he couldn’t see that.

She didn’t rely on him emotionally—she didn’t rely on anyone emotionally—but that didn’t mean she wouldn’t have welcomed a trace of empathy.

“She’s my mother.”

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