Page 124 of One Time in Paris
Dad sighed. “Listen, Isla. I know you have a great deal on your mind, but I hope you’ll think long and hard before you decide about Aiden. You havehistoryto consider. Memories. Be a pity to throw it all away.”
What is he saying?
She gave him a baffled look. “You want me to stay married to him?”
“It’s worth considering.”
She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. Of all the people, she never would have expected her serious, practical father to propose this. Mum had wanted her to get the annulmentyesterday.
“Dad, you do realize that we only got married on a whim, under the influence, and neither of us remembers it? That’s hardly the start of a marriage, let alone apartnershiprequiring a lifetime commitment.”
“Can I be frank?” he asked.
She smiled despite herself. The pun had always amused her. “Go ahead,Frank.”
He shook his head at the joke. Then he sobered and went on, “I never wanted a divorce, but your mother gave me no choice. And, goodness, but I loved her. Loved her laughter. Her joy. The way she drew everyone in the room to her. She put feeling into my veins.”
“And you think that’s what Aiden does to me?” He did make her feel alive, but that was beside the point. She wouldn’t be admitting it, and Dadcertainlycouldn’t say he’d seen any sort of interaction between them that gave that impression about how she felt about him.
“No, I’m saying that’s whatyoudo to Aiden.”
She stilled.
Dad held her gaze. “I was close enough to hear a lot of what happened at Callum’s party. And Callum may be too angry to see it, but I’m not. The man is clearly in love with you. I’m not sure if you feel the same for him, but if there’s a chance that you do, it’s worth considering that the way he loves you is extraordinary. Trust me. I know a thing or two about falling head over heels for a fiery woman who might not be good for you.”
She looked away, blinking rapidly.
Dad looked down at his hands. “When your mum left, it took years to feel anything again. Not because she was cruel but because I’d never known anyone like her. She made me feel...alive. I see the way Aiden looks at you, and I think he’s in danger of the same kind of loss . . . if you leave.”
If this was a case of history repeating itself, then that would make Islaher mother—the woman who didn’t quite know what she wanted. Who was willing to betray her marriage when she figured it out.
Yet, somehow, I do feel like Mum.
Adrift. Unsure. Unable to fully commit to any of the worlds I’m in.
Her dad probably hadn’t meant to extend the comparison tothat, but there it was.
And I have no idea how to move forward. With anything.
“Thanks, Dad,” she said at last, then reached across the table and squeezed his hand. “It’s something to think about, for sure.”
“Well.” Dad released a sad sigh. “Let’s eat. You have a plane to catch...and maybe a future to decide.”
38
AIDEN
ISLE OF SKYE, SCOTLAND
Sweat drippedoff Aiden’s brow as he leaned down by the cottage gate, trying to unwedge a pebble from the tread of his trainers. He’d pushed himself hard this morning, running over twelve kilometers down the country roads and back again to the small cottage he’d bought a few years earlier.
Meant to be a place to escape to, it had sat mostly empty since the day he’d bought the damned thing on an impulse. He’d hired a local gardener to look after it, make sure that it remained cared for, but the truth was, he’d only actually come out here three times since purchasing the damn place.
He dug the pebble out, then straightened, squinting from the glare of the morning sun. Then he frowned.
A Range Rover Sport was parked beside his at the cottage.
Wiping his face with his shirt, he started toward the cottage, then stopped mid-step as the doors to the car opened.
