by Dara Girard
“I was—”
“Stop thinking about yourself, and truly look at what you’ve done. You dug up Kelli’s painful past and almost had me arrest her.”
“I knew you’d find out the truth, and I’m sure she’s glad she can now heal.”
“And H.C. was jailed, and Rachelle—”
“And he are going to get married and start a new life together. That wouldn’t have happened without me.”
“So you’re not sorry at all, are you? You have no regrets.” Aaron threw his hands up in frustration, knowing he’d never be able to convince Candace that what she’d done was wrong. “I knew you two were up to something. Did Mum even really hurt herself in Switzerland?”
His sister’s coy smile said it all. “Is it wrong to try to create the happy ending I think my little brother deserves?”
“I can’t keep this from Rebecca.”
“You have to.”
“Why?”
“Because you might face losing her again, this time for good.”
Aaron stared at his sister for a long moment, weighing his options. “What am I supposed to say to her now?”
“Tell her that she’s safe, and that you know who the culprit is, and she has nothing to worry about anymore, then—”
“Then?” he pressed, when she suddenly stopped.
“Then you can put chocolates on her pillow and candles around the bathroom, and spend one more special night together.”
Aaron folded his arms, irritated that he liked the idea of spending more time with Rebecca before she left. “I’ll make you pay for this, but not tonight.”
Chapter 18
The day of the show, Rebecca didn’t stand still, energized by the hot night she had spent with Aaron. She was up early and had a full breakfast before heading off to the exhibit hall to meet with Melanie. She was happy, and she didn’t have to worry about Aaron following her around now that the mystery was solved, but she missed his presence. After meeting with Melanie, she walked through every step of the show, checking all the outfits and making sure they were arranged in the proper order. She then met with several of the seamstresses on hand who were responsible for on-the-spot repairs, such as sewing on or replacing loose or missing buttons and zippers, and then met with several of the volunteers to make sure that all the props needed by the models were marked and in their proper location. Several heels needed to be repaired at the last minute, and a few large straw handbags had to be replaced, as they had mysteriously gone missing.
They were later found hidden in the trunk of one of the models, who wanted to take them home as holiday gifts. Then Rebecca met with the makeup artists and hairdressers to discuss any issues they had. Everything looked chaotic, with half-naked models running here and there, and floor staff darting to and fro, creating a cacophony of noise. But what may have looked like pandemonium to an outsider was what the fashion world was all about. There were only two minor disturbances. One happened when one of her models threw a small tantrum when she couldn’t locate her favorite hairspray. Rebecca came to the rescue, offering use of her own private supply. The other involved two male models who got in an argument over who would wear a pair of fitted leather pants. Rebecca assigned another male model, and ended the spat. Last, Rebecca met with H.C. to go over the script for the event, and to make sure of his pacing.
“You don’t need to have too much flair. The clothes will speak for themselves, but you will need to be aware of what’s going on.” She went over in detail how important it was for the announcer to keep an eye on the models, and the sequence of the show, just in case the wrong outfit turned up on stage and he needed to improvise. H.C. assured her he was ready, and let her know he and Rachelle had spent many hours going over the script. He said he felt as prepared as he could be. Rebecca walked the exhibit hall one last time and said a silent prayer that everything would go well.
She still didn’t like the backdrop Aaron had designed as a replacement, but there had been no time to create a brand-new set of colorful designs in time for the show. She exited the hall and returned to the villa to get changed for the evening. After a hot shower, she spent time curling and styling her hair, which she decorated with a thin, colorful scarf. She then stepped into one of her hand-painted silk pantsuits that hugged and emphasized her figure. She didn’t want to overshadow her own show, but knew she wanted to capture the attention of one person.
The night of the show, Melanie’s words proved prophetic. Rebecca saw Aaron’s genius. He had turned her fashion show into an extravaganza larger than she could have ever dreamed. While Rebecca had found the surroundings to be stark in comparison to the elaborate and colorful set design she had initially created, she was blown away by what she saw. Aaron had hired a leading set designer to use an infusion of color using the latest technology to deliver a series of digitally manipulated images that interacted with the stage and models, and adapted based on the clothing being shown. Just like his dioramas, a series of electrifying scenes were skillfully created on stage, not upstaging the fashions being shown, but instead emphasizing the colors and ingenious designs.
At the end of the three-hour event, Rebecca was swarmed by photographers and reporters, but she wished to be with only one person.
* * *
A few yards away, Aaron watched her, knowing this meant the end.
“My little brother, the hero,” Candace said, kissing her brother on the cheek at the end of the show.
Aaron playfully pushed her away. “Cut it out.”
“I knew I could trust you.” She looked at Rebecca talking to a news reporter. “You’ve taken her to a whole new level.”
“I just didn’t want to see her fail.”
“You did more than that.”
“Why didn’t you tell me she was Becca from all those years ago?”
“I wanted you to find out for yourself. You know I like to keep up with all the current fashion trends. I made it a point to follow Rebecca’s career and jumped at the opportunity to host her show here.”
He nodded, annoyed. “Right, that was part of your little scheme.”
“It wasn’t a scheme,” she said, lowering her voice. “It was a plan. I wanted you to see what an amazing woman she’d become, and not just see her as the nineteen-year-old whose feelings you hurt.”
“Hmm.”
“You didn’t do all this just out of guilt, right?”
“What do you think?”
“I’m never quite sure with you. She’s leaving tomorrow.”
“I know.”
“What are you going to do about it?”
“Nothing.”
“You can’t just let her leave after all that I’ve done.”
“Why not? You and I both know she doesn’t belong here.” He shot her a glance. “And it would serve you right.”
“H.C. is going to marry her sister.”
“I’m not H.C.”
“I didn’t say you were, but—”
“But what? You think a couple of days would make me forget why Ina left me? Why my last several relationships have failed? I can’t pretend that we don’t live very different lives, that we’re two very different people.”
“You’re not as different as you think. When are you going to realize that you married Ina on the rebound?”
“I know I made a mistake.”
“That’s not what I mean. When you met her in Paris, you thought you were getting a second chance with Rebecca. Ina was Rebecca’s replacement.”
“I didn’t think of her that way.”
“Your mind may not have, because you thought she was too young, but your heart did. I guarantee you, if you hadn’t met Rebecca first, you would have seen how flashy and fake Ina was. Rebecca is the one for you. The fashion and the fame are all just trimmings.
At the core, you’re very much alike. Look at this. You’re good, and you made her clothes look amazing. Not just any man could do that.”
“I was glad to see her and help, but there’s nothing more to it.”
“You don’t mean that. I know you want more.”
“What I want and what I can get are two different things. Look at how beautiful and happy she is. She doesn’t need me anymore.”
“But look at all the trouble I went through to...”
“To what? Find me true love? Don’t flatter yourself,” he said, then left.
* * *
The balmy night air kissed her skin as Rebecca leaned against the balcony railing and listened to the sound of the ocean in the distance. Their last night together had been as sizzling as a summer storm, and she hated the thought of saying goodbye.
She felt his arms slide around her waist. “What are you doing out here?”
“Trying to will the night to never end.”
“I know the feeling.”
She turned and looked up at him. “But no matter how much I wish for that, I must face the dawn and accept the truth.”
“The truth?”
“I’ve been waiting for you to ask me to stay.”
“I’m not going to do that. I know your life isn’t here. That would be selfish.”
She kissed his chin and winked. “Selfish can be fun. You can start now.”
“It’s wrong.”
“Why are you making that decision for me? Let me choose.”
“You once compared yourself to a dragonfly, and you’re right. You need to be free.”
“With you I am free. I’m free to be myself. I love this island and you and Brandon. Why won’t you—”
“Because the novelty will fade.”
“What?”
“One day, the constant sunshine will wear on you. You’ll miss the changing of the seasons. You’ll miss the sound of rush-hour traffic and the crush of crowds, going to a Broadway show or gallery.”
“So what?”
“And one day you’ll look at me in the same way. The way you feel about me is because of what happened. Because I helped you during a dangerous time. But when the danger’s gone and days blend into others, you’ll realize I’m not a hero, just an ordinary businessman. And it will weigh on you. The monotony will drag you down.”
“You poor thing. You don’t understand me at all. I don’t love you because you rescued me. I don’t love you because you protected me or because you’re rich. I love you because you make me feel like no one else. Because I like your company, and I did from that night ten years ago, and I can imagine growing old with you. What others might find boring, I find endearing. But I can’t force you to ask me to stay if you don’t want me to. Just remember this. I love you. Come to me when you’re ready to believe that.”
* * *
“I don’t know how to thank you,” Rebecca said to H.C. as the taxi driver closed the trunk to drive her to the airport.
“I just did my job,” he said in a humble tone.
“You did more than that.”
“I’m sorry Wethers couldn’t be here.”
“That’s okay, we already said our goodbyes.”
“Give him time. He’ll come to his senses.”
“Maybe.”
“Don’t forget about the festival,” H.C. said suddenly as she got settled in the backseat.
She looked up at him, startled. “What?”
“Our festival. If you ever want to come back and visit, it’s worth seeing.”
“I’d love to.”
“There’s more information on our website. You’d always have a place to stay. Just let me know.”
She waved goodbye, then stared out the window, remembering the last time she’d left the island. She’d been near tears then, too. She’d be back to see her sister and grandmother, but never for him. That chapter of her life had ended. She closed her eyes against tears and listened to the sound of the radio, wanting it to crowd out her painful thoughts.
“Rebecca?”
She heard Aaron say her name, and she opened her eyes. She glanced at the stocky driver and shook her head. Aaron was nowhere around. Had she dreamed it?
“Rebecca. I hope you’re listening to this.”
She stared at the radio, her heart racing.
“I don’t know why it’s taken me so long to admit this, and I know I made an idiot of myself ten years ago over the radio, but I had to let you know. I want you to stay, and I love you. I love you so much. You asked me to come to you when I’m ready to believe that you love me, but that’s not the answer. I married too quickly and was reckless. That’s what I don’t want to do again. I told you I hate to wait, but I’m willing to wait for you...if you’ll do the same. I want you to leave. I want you to live your life for a year. If you’re still interested, I’m not going anywhere. That’s how I’ll know that this isn’t just a novelty, but something more.”
* * *
Over the next several weeks, Aaron kept his distance from his sister because he was still angered by her deception. When they did meet each other, he tried to be cordial.
“I need to talk to you about our entry in the Feast of the Saints parade,” Candace said, coming into his office and taking a seat.
“Do what we always do,” he said, keeping his gaze on his laptop screen.
“H.C. and I were thinking of doing something a little different.”
“Why?” He wasn’t in the mood for anything out of the ordinary.
“We... I mean Rebecca’s sister, Rachelle, has offered to help us come up with a new design.”
“What’s wrong with the old one? We always win.” He hadn’t heard Rebecca’s name for a while.
“I know, but we just want to tr—”
“Fine, go ahead,” he said. “But don’t try to do anything too extravagant, and keep it within budget.” Candace jumped out of her seat, ran around his desk and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
“Thank you. You won’t be sorry.”
As he watched her go, Aaron wasn’t sure he had done the right thing, but saying yes was at least the beginning of him forgiving her for what she had done. Since Rebecca left, Aaron had punished Candace by reducing her salary by half and forcing her to work in the hospitality division, and she had been remorseful and had tried, on several occasions, to let him know how sorry she was for her deception and for putting other people’s lives at risk.
Chapter 19
A firework lit the sky in a brilliant array of color. Costumed figures paraded the streets to the sound of drums and horns. Aaron looked on with amusement.
“I still can’t believe you gave her a year. An entire year. Why did you have to make it so long?” Candace said, standing next to him. She was dressed as the Queen of Sheba, wearing an elaborate shimmering gold costume and expensive jewelry.
Aaron sighed and rolled his eyes. “So you’ve been saying for the past three months.”
“Yes, and I bet it’s felt like three years to you.”
He didn’t want to admit that he regretted his terms. He wanted to give Rebecca her freedom, but he missed her more each day. He remembered when Brandon’s teacher called him for a conference.
“What’s the problem?”
“No problem. I just wanted to know the secret.”
“Secret?”
“Your son’s grades have improved in a way I’ve never seen before, especially in math. He went from failing to passing with flying colors, and he’s even helping the other students.”
“I see.”
“He can’t stop talking about Miss Rebecca. I wish I’d had the chance to meet her.”
He’d left the school with a reluctant grin, remembering Rebecca
telling him she was helping Brandon with his ‘surprise.’ It certainly was. He had known about Brandon’s struggle with math, but didn’t want to embarrass him, and wanted him to ask for help if and when he needed it. He’d had to stop himself from calling her.
“She’s perfect for you,” Candace went on with a sigh. “Rebec—”
Aaron nudged her, sending a glance to his son, who watched the crowd in delight. He wore a pirate’s outfit, complete with a black eye patch and a bag filled with fake money and jewels. “Quiet, it took me nearly a month to get him to forget about her.”
“He hasn’t forgotten her. He just doesn’t tell you anymore. It’s true,” she added when he gave her a look. “He still tells me about what they did together. He even thinks she’ll show up.”
“When?”
“Tonight.”
“Why would he think that?”
Candace shrugged. “I don’t know, but that’s what he told me.”
“I’d wondered why he was especially eager this morning. You should have told me.”
“Why?”
“So he won’t be disappointed. And—” He stopped when he saw an extraordinary float that looked like an exact replica of one of his dioramas. It was of an island princess surrounded by nature. He heard his sister gasp beside him.
“Do you see it?”
He couldn’t nod or even make a sound. He couldn’t believe the sight before him.
“Dad! Dad! She came!” Brandon said, jumping up and down. “I knew she wouldn’t miss the festival. And isn’t she beautiful?”
“Yes, she is.”
Aaron followed the float to the end of the parade route, then when it stopped, he jumped on board.
Rebecca stared at him, unsure. “Don’t be angry. I couldn’t wait a year.”
His resulting kiss let her know that he couldn’t wait, either. “There’s something I have to tell you.”
“No, you don’t.”
“Yes, it’s important. I don’t want any secrets or lies between us.”
She covered his mouth. “If it’s about your sister, I already know. She told me.”