Page 15 of Played By the Fool

Ciarán: Please say yes to spending time together today

Emilia: Yes. Did you have somewhere you wanted to go?

Ciarán: Nope, wherever you want to go is fine with us. Everyone is excited to see you

I don’t know why I can’t just say I want to see her. I know it’s what I feel. But I don’t want to scare her off.

Emilia: We could do a tour at the Grape Expectations Winery. And then have lunch at Big Bob's Barbecue

Ciarán: That sounds perfect. Should we come and pick you up? We have two rental cars

Emilia: Sure, whatever is easier. We can always meet you at the winery

Ciarán: We’ll come and pick you three up. What time?

Emilia: In an hour? That will give us enough time to get ready

Ciarán: We’ll see you in an hour

“We need to pick them up in an hour. Is that enough time for everyone?” I ask.

Everyone agrees and finishes eating. We’re out the door in forty-five minutes. Great timing considering there’s eight of us.

Chapter Seven

Ciarán

It’s been a week since I left Starlight Bay and the love of my life. We agreed to keep seeing each other even though I had to leave. Being away from Emilia is hard and I just want to be back with her. We video chat everyday and she’s already met my Lake Renegade family. We’re making plans for her to come here before we leave so that she can meet everyone in person.

The drive to Lake Renegade took us two days. And again, Aisling insisted we make snacks to take with us. She asked Frank if she could use his kitchen to make us sandwiches and pizza puffs. Frank laughed and took the time to teach her how to make the best pizza puffs. He shared his family’s recipe for the dough and even used his homemade sausage in it.

Meeting my da’s sister, Caitríona and her family has been a dream. They’ve welcomed us into their extended family, and it’s a big family. The family is made up of three other families, the Mancinis, the Athanasious and the Nikolaidises. They all live on one big property and I’ve never seen anything like it. But I love it. I love how they’re all around to help each other.

I’ve been watching my da since we’ve been here and it’s like he’s a whole new person. He’s smiling more than he ever has, even my mam has commented on how happy he is.

Lake Renegade is the perfect small town. It has everything you could need or want. The one thing I see it’s missing is a dentist. We’re talking about opening one. My sisters think I should be the one to stay and run it. I agree, mostly because then I get to be with my Emilia. My next step will be to get her to move here with me and be my wife.

When I was talking to Emilia yesterday, it felt like something was wrong. I asked her about it, but she said everything was okay. I know she’s sad because Courtney went home today. But Kali is staying for another couple of weeks. So at least she’s not alone.

I have a bad feeling about John. Someone like him who put so much effort into deceiving both women doesn’t just give them up and walk away. I hope I’m wrong.

Emilia

I can’t believe how much I miss Ciarán, we only got to spend a couple of days together. But it felt like a lifetime and now I hate being away from him. Two days ago, I started to feel like I was being followed. Kali said she thought that too when she went to the store. But we haven’t seen anyone.

Unknown: You should pay more attention when you’re walking around. You never know what could happen

Emilia: I think you have the wrong number

Unknown: Nope. I’m watching you. EMILIA

My first thought is that it’s John. But I don’t know how to trace an unknown number. And I don’t want Ciarán to worry. And why would John be threatening me? There’s no reason for him to come after me.

“Did you get a weird text from an unknown number?” Kali asks as she walks into the kitchen.

“I did.” I show her my text.

Kali got the same text that I did.

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