part0031

Kitty’s outfit for the occasion was aquamarine. Silk blouse, short skirt, and ballerinas, it all matched. King wasn’t feeling well today and was sleeping in the suite. The vet had noted dehydration. It was warm outside, and the little dog hadn’t been drinking enough. But King was already starting to feel better, so Kitty was in good spirits.

Isabella hugged her grandma before sitting down with her at the outdoor seating. She ordered a glass of white wine. It was evening, but still light. The sun was low in the sky, bathing in yellow-orange waves. The shadows were starting to get longer. Most of the tables were taken. After the culinary class, the restaurant had gained a lot of new customers, and the terrace was becoming a beloved place for romantic couples. This was the place to enjoy the sunset, tasty food, and each other.

“You should be spending time with the hot kitchen manager, not an old lady like me,” Kitty said and sipped her Baileys. “I know there’s something between you two.”

“It’s very nice sitting here with you.” She hadn’t seen her grandma enough lately. Everything had been so hectic. Nothing was more important than family, so she’d decided to spend more time with the ones she loved.

“Don’t change the subject.”

Isabella smiled. “We’re just friends. He wants something more, but he’s not even divorced from his wife yet.”

“Sounds like a bad excuse.” Kitty said it like it was. “How do you know that, by the way?”

She grabbed some peanuts from the bowl on the table. “He left her this spring. He hardly gets special treatment because he’s famous. Everything takes time.”

“Not everything can be measured in time. What does your heart tell you?”

Kitty was annoyingly curious, but a warm and intelligent person. She’d lived a long and rich life, and she’d experienced a lot. Her advice was taken seriously, as she was full of wisdom.

“I like him,” Isabella said.

“Like? Well, I suppose we all do. Especially after having tasted his food.” Kitty ate some nuts and waited for a better answer.

“Fine. I care for him. A little.”

“More than a little.” She’d admitted enough.

“Life is precious. You have to grab the opportunities you get. You never know if they’ll ever come back.”

Isabella thought about her grandma’s words of wisdom. Remy’s heart attack had made her appreciate how short life could be. Nothing could be taken for granted. And no one knew what tomorrow would bring.

“It’s about time you find true love. I didn’t like your last boyfriend. He should be locked up after everything he did to you. I’ve seen him around the hotel the last few nights. I’d like to know what he’s up to. Isn’t the cooking class over?” Kitty asked.

Isabella looked at her, alarmed. “Bob is still here? I haven’t seen him. He’s kept away from me after what happened at the police station.”

“He’s up to something. Just wait and see.”

Isabella shuddered and pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders. “Let’s talk about something nicer. Did you hear about the beautiful wedding last weekend?”

They kept chatting until late at night, when Kitty wanted to check on King. She wasn’t used to being away from her dog for so long.

The sun was about to set, and the sky had changed to a palette of pink and orange. It changed from minute to minute, and they had the best view from the terrace.

A couple came strolling toward the beach, holding hands. They were watching the sunset but were even more interested in each other. The man wrapped his arms around his girlfriend and buried his face in her hair. The behavior was inappropriate in front of the restaurant, where everyone was watching them, Isabella thought. People ought to be more discreet.

“Doesn’t that lovesick man down there look like your guy?” Kitty asked and stared at the couple entranced by each other.

“Remy?” Isabella stared in disbelief.

“Huh?” She studied the keen man. Kitty was right. He did look like Bob. But what was he doing here now? And with whom?

“Is he trying to make you jealous?”

“It takes more than that. Let’s get closer.” Isabella stood, and they went down the stairs to the sea. “Who is he with?” Could it be Dinah? That would solve all their problems. They were a good match and scheming, both of them.

Isabella and Kitty were getting closer to the beach. The couple was flirting, heedless of the other people around. Isabella gasped and quickly covered her mouth. “It’s Fiona!”

“Doesn’t look like it.” It dawned on her that Bob had never visited the shop. He preferred surprising her when she was home alone. He’d attended the cooking class, but Fiona had never been there. They’d never crossed paths.

Isabella had given Fiona as little information as possible about Bob and never mentioned his name. How stupid of her, at least in retrospect. But there had never been a reason to bring up a complicated relationship that had ended a long time ago. A relationship she’d finally been able to put behind her. She regretted it now.

“We have to stop them,” Kitty said.

“Of course. I’m just trying to think how, and what I’m going to say.” They were getting closer to the couple.

Suddenly, they heard the sound of high heels behind them. They turned around and saw Dinah running down the hill toward them. She seemed very upset but ignored them completely. She had only one goal: the lovebirds. With a panicky movement, she took hold of Bob’s hair and dragged him away from Fiona.

“What are you doing with my daughter? Are you out of your mind?” Dinah snarled.

Bob’s face was innocent, but Fiona was red as a boiled lobster.

“Mom, I can explain,” she started.

“You bet.” Dinah tugged her arm and pulled her away. Her daughter followed reluctantly.

Isabella watched them disappear up to the hotel. She turned to Bob. “That wasn’t very smart of you. Besides, you’re not allowed to be this close to me,” she said and felt uneasy.

“You were the one who contacted me, not the other way around,” Bob said, “so don’t blame me.” He looked maliciously at her and winked. “As you can see, I’ve found greener pastures.” He gave a curt nod goodbye.

Isabella looked at Kitty and didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

“You do know how to keep me entertained,” Kitty said. “This was almost too much, even for me.”

Isabella linked arms with her grandma. “Poor Fiona. I hope she hasn’t fallen for Bob. It’s easily done at that age.”

“Or that he hasn’t done other naughty things,” Kitty said and gave her granddaughter a telling look.

“Grandma. She’s only sixteen.”

“I did things with my dear Freddy when I was younger than that.”

Isabella didn’t doubt it. “Where do you think Dinah came from? I didn’t see her at the outdoor seating.”

“Could be from her balcony in the suite. They walked right past her.”

“You’re right. It’s late and time to go home. I’ll call Remy to let him know what happened. See you tomorrow, Kitty.”

“It’ll work out. Don’t worry.”

They hugged each other, and Isabella started walking home. She called Remy on her way.

“How was your night with Kitty?”

“Oh? Did I miss out on anything?”

“That’s one way of putting it.” She told him about the incident at the beach in the moonlight.

It went quiet, but she could hear him breathing heavily.

“Relax, Remy. You have to think of your heart. I don’t think Fiona will have anything to do with Bob after this. Not after Dinah is done with her. I didn’t know she was that hot-tempered.”

“It happens when she gets furious.”

“I don’t think you should call Fiona tonight. Let her calm down, and talk with her tomorrow instead,” Isabella suggested. “Then you’ll both be rested and have thought things through.”

“You may be right.”

“Fiona doesn’t know who Bob is, but Dinah has made sure she knows it now.”

“One positive thing has come out of this. I’m pretty sure Bob will never try to get in touch with me again. This is his way of getting revenge, on both Dinah and me. He knows how much Fiona means to all of us.”

“I hope you’re right, and that the relationship is fairly new. Dinah mentioned yesterday that Fiona had a boyfriend. But they might’ve started it a long time before she decided to tell Dinah.”

Isabella was unsure. “She may be more involved than I feared.”

“I don’t think so. We’ll talk in the morning. Thanks for calling.”

“I’m so sorry,” Fiona said. Her voice was sincere but choked up, and her eyes were red. She, Isabella and Remy were in the back room talking about what had happened. “I had no idea he was your ex-boyfriend, Isabella.”

She’d told them about Bob and their turbulent relationship, and about everything she’d been through since moving there. “It’s my fault, Fiona. If I’d been open and told you this when you started working here, it would’ve been avoided.”

“No, Isabella. These are old, personal things. No one expects you to bring up that kind of stuff with new employees,” Remy said determinedly.

“Maybe not, but I still regret it.”

“How did the conversation with your mother go last night?” Remy looked at his daughter.

“Not well. She’s outraged.”

“Dinah wasn’t upset because you’d met someone, but because of who he is,” Isabella said. “And because he’s twelve years older than you.” Dinah had refrained from telling Fiona about the boycott of the restaurant and their cooperation. But Fiona had overheard them in the suite and asked what was going on, so Remy had to tell her what they’d done. He’d tried not to make a big deal out of it. Still, the matter was serious enough, and Fiona was sad and disappointed in her mother. Isabella hoped this would not weaken the relationship between mother and daughter.

“He’s very charming and handsome,” Fiona said, sniffling. “He was the one coming on to me.”

“I’m sure he was,” Isabella said. “That’s his specialty.”

“You’re done with Bob, right?” Remy asked his daughter.

Fiona nodded. “Especially after what he did to you.”

“And you promise not to see him again?”

“Yes, Dad. It was just fun to get so much attention.”

“In that case, we’ll consider this matter closed,” Remy said.

Isabella heard Dinah’s voice from the shop. Everyone looked at each other.

“Too late,” Remy mumbled.

The door was flung open. “There you are.” Dinah glared at her daughter. “Are you ready to go?”

“Go where? I just started work.” Fiona was confused.

“Well, you have to leave this place. We don’t want anything more to do with Bob.” Dinah flicked her long hair.

“He lives in Oslo. He’ll manage to find us there, too.” Fiona didn’t get her reasoning.

“Exactly. That’s why we’re leaving for Cyprus this afternoon. The tickets are booked and paid for.”

“With my credit card?” Remy looked incredulously at his wife.

“Huh? But I have two weeks left of my summer job,” Fiona said, on the verge of tears again.

“That doesn’t change anything. Isabella will manage. The last two weeks before school starts will be spent on the beaches of Cyprus.” Dinah looked from one to the other.

Isabella was speechless. Fiona had a contract. How could her mother just break it? Without even asking her employer? It was unheard of.

“We’ll go pack now.” Dinah tried pushing Fiona out the door, but she resisted.

“You go. I want to talk to Dad first.”

“Don’t be too long. I don’t want to make the plane wait for us,” her mother said and left.

Isabella rolled her eyes. As if the plane would wait for Dinah. Some people really took themselves too seriously. But this was the last time Isabella would see Dinah, which she didn’t mind.

“What am I supposed to do?” Fiona looked perplexed.

“It depends on Isabella,” Remy answered. “She was counting on your help until the end of summer.”

“I don’t want to go,” Fiona said. “I want to be here and work the last weeks.”

“It’s been nice having you here. And I’m glad I got to know you. But I have Pernille, so I’ll be fine. The wedding is over, so it will be quieter now. I think you should go, Cyprus is a beautiful island. You’ll like it. You can visit me whenever you want once you’re back,” Isabella said. She could tell that Fiona was tempted to go, but didn’t want to let Isabella down.

Isabella embraced her. “Absolutely. Both Remy and I will be here waiting for you. We’re not going anywhere.”

Remy nodded in agreement. “Listen to Isabella.”

Fiona hugged her father. “If you promise. I’ll see you in two weeks. And thanks for giving me the job, Isabella.”

“Didn’t you know about this place?” Remy placed the checkered blanket he’d brought on the grass.

“Some of the other secluded beach coves, but not this one. I don’t think anyone else knows about it, either.”

“It belongs to your property.”

“So I should’ve known, in other words. It’s beautiful here.”

They sat on the grass right by the sea, a short walk from their workplace. There was no one else around, they had the place to themselves.

Remy poured champagne into their glasses. He got out a fresh baguette, several types of cheeses, ham, melon, and strawberries. And a big bowl of salad.

“Looks like you’ve started a new and better life,” she said laughingly.

“Not quite, but I try. The cheeses are high in fat, but it can’t be helped. Food has to be savored. I refuse to become a fanatic. But small changes in my daily routine will help.”

“I’m sure it will. Did they get going?”

“Yes. I got a text from Fiona that they’d arrived at the hotel. Five stars, paid by me.” Remy looked like he was at a loss.

“You may be too kind, but I like that about you,” she said. “Besides, you’ve become better lately at being clear, when it comes to Dinah. Wasn’t that what you said?”

“Yeah, I’ve started setting boundaries, and I’ve contacted a lawyer. That will help Dinah understand that there’s no turning back and that she needs to get a job. It doesn’t seem like the divorce papers were enough. She can’t continue hoping, the way she has.”

Isabella didn’t want to think about Dinah any longer. It was all about her and Remy now. “You know I’m happy in my own company, but I like being with you even more.”

“Does that mean you want to give me a chance?”

“Aren’t chances meant to be taken? That’s what Kitty says.”

“I like your grandma.” He put his arm around her. “So, you don’t think I’m too old for you?”

“The thought has never crossed my mind. Why would a ten-year age difference matter?”

“I’ve never wanted children of my own. How do you feel about that? Are you ready for babies and diapers again?”

“If you don’t want children, that’s fine with me. I love you no matter what you choose, Isabella.”

She looked at him, surprised. Did he love her? She hadn’t expected to hear those words, but she was willing to give love another shot. She’d lain awake last night, after the incident with Bob and Fiona at the beach. So much had happened, and she hadn’t been able to calm down enough to fall asleep. She’d thought for a long time, and it had brought clarity. She’d dealt with her past. She would no longer let the painful time with Bob ruin her happiness. He had ruined enough. She knew what she felt for Remy, and she was ready to share it with him.

She looked into his brown eyes. She had to say it now. It felt so right. “I love you, too. You mean everything to me, Remy.” She placed her hands on his cheeks. His soft lips met hers in a long kiss.