Page 74 of The Island Villa

What would that mean for her? No more long lazy weeks at the villa, just her and her mother, chatting about everything. No more messaging late at night. The shape of her life was going to change, and she wasn’t sure where she fit. And how did Andrew feel about her, really? Her mother expected everyone to live happily-ever-after but was that possible given who she was?

Adeline stood up. “I am going to take a shower, write my Dr. Swift column, and then go and talk to our mother.”

Her tone suggested she wasn’t looking forward to it.

“Do you want me to come with you? Moral support?”

Adeline’s expression softened. “No, but thank you for offering. She messaged me to say we’d all be having dinner together again tonight. A second attempt at a celebration.”

“Right. And I am not going to run off, or tread on Achilles, or have a single drama moment. We are going to have a peaceful, civilized evening and no matter what they say, I’m not going to get upset.” Cassie flicked away an insect that was hovering. “I will drink water, so that I don’t say something I’m later going to regret.”

“Water it is,” Adeline said. “Sounds like a plan.”

Cassie decided that however difficult this was, it did have an upside. She and her sister had connected in a way they never had before.

“I’m glad you’re going to be there.” Immediately, she felt embarrassed for being so effusive. “Go and write your column. Someone, somewhere, is probably desperate and hoping you’ll choose to answer their question. And wear one of your friend’s choices tonight because it’s cruelty to dresses of that quality to keep them shut in a closet. They should be living an exciting life.”

“You sound uncannily like Mia.” With a shake of her head, Adeline headed into the villa and Cassie picked up her phone and sent a message to Oliver.

Hope you’re having lots of great sex with someone who deserves you x

His reply came moments later.

Working hard. Too tired for sex.

She grinned and messaged back.

Wimp.

She was waiting for his reply when her phone rang.

The call display said New York.

New York? She didn’t know anyone in New York.

The phone was on its third ring when she realized that she did know someone in New York. Her agent.

Obviously, she was calling to say she hadn’t been able to sell Cassie’s book. Everyone thought it was rubbish. She’d decided she no longer wanted to be Cassie’s agent and was going to advise that Cassie consider a different job.

But if that was the case, wouldn’t she simply have sent an email? Maybe she’d decided that bad news was better delivered by phone than email.

Hands shaking, she answered her phone.

“Hello?”

“Cassie?” Madeleine (“call me Maddy”) was crisp and businesslike. “I hope you’re sitting down.”

“I’m sitting down. I’m in Corfu, staying with my mother and currently gazing at a stunning view.”

“That’s perfect, because you’re going to remember this moment forever.”

Cassie’s heart started to thud. “I am?”

“Yes. And the fact that you’re with your mother is also good, because you’ll be able to celebrate together.”

“Celebrate?” As well as her hands, Cassie’s legs were now shaking too. “I have something to celebrate? Are you saying a publisher is interested in my book?”

“More than interested.”

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