Page 122 of One Time in Paris
They left the room and headed through the small rancher toward the front of the house. “Thanks again for letting me stay here on such short notice,” Isla said as they reached the front door.
Megan held the door for her, and Isla squinted into the bright, sunny day. Perfect crystalline sky. The scent of cherry trees blossoming in the air. Connecticut shone in May.
Dad climbed out of his idling BMW and hurried over, taking the suitcase from Megan. “Let me get that. All set to go?”
“Think so,” Isla said, handing him her carry-on. She turned toward Megan as Dad wheeled her luggage toward the trunk.
“I wish you could come back here and watch the premiere of your show with us tomorrow night,” Megan said. “We’ll all be watching. The Squad wants to throw you and Davy a watch party when you guys have a chance.”
“It’s just the first episode on YouTube. The next one won’t drop for a few more weeks—I’m sure the editing team in London is still working on it.”
“Either way, it would have been fun to see it with you.”
“Ugh.” Isla laughed. “I make it a habit to never watch myself in anything. I can’t stand the way I sound. Makes me shudder.” Besides, Megan was acting like the premiere was some sort of big deal. The episode would be releasing to the YouTube Channel and hadn’t even managed to snag a spot on the cable lineup—which wasn’t great for Davy—but Isla doubted many people would be watching.
“Text me from Maine,” Megan said with another hug. “And let me know what’s happening with Aiden. I won’t ask, but obviously, I’m dying to know.”
Isla’s throat clenched, and she nodded, smiling sadly. “I will.”
She climbed into the passenger seat, running her hands over the soft leather. Her father always had a thing for BMWs. Now they reminded her of him, no matter where she was.
“Diana couldn’t join us?” Isla asked, hiding a smile as Dad climbed inside. “What, did she have an unbreakable spa appointment?”
He shook his head. “You’re terrible, you know that?” But he smiled anyway, light blue eyes twinkling with laughter. “Dog grooming appointment, actually. She told me to tell you how crushed she was over the conflict in schedule.”
Isla laughed as her father pulled out of the driveway. “Long as she makes you happy, Dad.”
Dad shrugged. “Happiness is a state of mind. She suits me, I suppose. We’re both content to let each other live the lives we want to live. She never wanted to be a mother, and I guess I took it for granted that you would still want to come visit me once you got older with her around.”
Maybe when she was younger, it had bothered Isla more, but what could any of them do about it now? Her father carried enough guilt about it.
Isla leaned over and squeezed his hand. “It’s all right, Dad. Honestly, I have enough mothering from Mum. The woman has called me five times a day since I left London. I think she’s worried I’m not going back to Costa Rica in a few days like I promised.”
Dad gave her a look of surprise. “I thought you still had to go to France after you film this coming episode?”
“I do, but not for another couple of weeks. We’ve got a short break in the schedule with the show premiering tomorrow, so I’m heading home in the meantime.” She set her hands on her lap and scanned the passing buildings. “Where are we heading?”
“The house, actually. I had Carla make tiramisu and fix those caprese sandwiches you like so much. And I want to give you something while Diana’s out.” Dad scratched the scruff of his jawline as though he hadn’t shaved this morning. Her father had always been clean-shaven. His sandy-blond hair had long since gone white, and he wore glasses now. Callum got his height from him.
Both of them had inherited his blue eyes, much to Mum’s delight. Her own father had had blue eyes.
Isla gave him a curious look. “You secretly handing me the deed to the house?”
Her father laughed. “No, nothing like that. Though, I already told you, I’m more than willing to loan you whatever you need if you need it. Or pay for a good lawyer for this mess you’re tangled in with Aiden. I gave Arthur an earful about it, you know. It’s one thing for you two to quietly annul something like that when it wasn’t splashed around publicly. But for him to soil your reputation and walk away?—”
“I don’t want Aiden’s money, Dad,” Isla said more seriously, dread pooling in her stomach. “And it’s hardly a real marriage. I’m still fine with an annulment.”
Saying that, though, was the farthest thing from the truth.
She wasn’t fine with an annulment. Not anymore. Not after what she and Aiden had discussed.
But telling her family that?
This, perhaps, had been the worst part of what Aiden had done by leaving her to explain everything to their families. And it hadn’t just been that night, after the party—when she’d had to sit up with Dad, Mum, Liddy, and Callum and make explanations—but the next day too, to the Camdens. Aiden hadn’t even bothered returning their calls.
Telling her family about Vegas was humiliating enough—buthis?
And then explaining that when Aiden called her his wife, it was only in the technical sense? That had infuriated Callum, of course. Dad, too. Didn’t help that they’d been sleeping together, which for some reason became the focal point for the parents as they discussed—aloud—whether consummating a legal marriage would have an impact on the possibility of annulment.
