Lilavati sighs. “Anything else you need to confess?”
I’ve learnt my lesson. “Your spa day?”
“Let me guess. The body scrub and the cocoon were on you?”
I nod. Our legs tangle, and her expression tells me what I need to know, but as I said, I’ve learnt my lesson. Everything out on the table.
“Oh, and that stuff about learning about Hawaii on the internet?”
Lil snorts. “Yeah, I didn’t think so. When were you here?”
“Remember I said I had a gap year after school?” Lil nods. “I spent three months in Hawaii learning to shape boards.”
“You’re deeper than you look, Ant Stevens.”
Her eyes are warmer than the Hawaiian sun. Her heart as open as a wild hibiscus. And it’s all for me.
“Are you mad I didn’t tell you?”
She flips back to floating and grabs my hand again.
“Furious.” But her smile says otherwise. “I mean, who gets angry over spa treatments and an upgrade? Not the new Lilavati Gordon, that’s for sure.” Which brings a frown to her face. “You know, maybe I’ll change my name back to Cooper,” she muses.
“Hmm. I think Lilavati Stevens has a nice ring to it.” I laugh as she splutters. “One day.”
It’s way too soon for that. Well, a little at least. But I want to be clear about where my head is at.
Her fingers squeeze mine. “Thank you, Ant. For everything you’ve done for Mum. And for me. I don’t know how we’d have got through this without you.”
“I’d do anything for you, Lil.” The only words I’ve ever meant more are when I told her I love her. “You wanna hear some gossip?”
She’s going to love this.
“Bigger gossip than my mother leaving Warren?”
“Well, no. But funnier. I ran into Louise in the foyer, who wants to see you today, by the way. Anyway, she said some of the guests kicked on after the wedding. Miles apparently tried to hook up with some woman he met in the nightclub. Turns out she’s an undercover cop, and he got done for solicitation. Spent the night in the lockup, and Julian had to leave his blushing bride to go and bail him out.”
She laughs so hard she starts to sink, but I’ve got her. I’ll always have her.
I pull her upright, into my arms.
“You really dodged a bullet there, Sparky.”
“Yep. I think it might be true to say that Miles is not a nice boy!”
Epilogue
Lilavati
London
I put the finishing touches on my lipstick and glare at myself in the full-length bathroom mirror. I’m still unsure if the floral linen dress is the right choice.
“Are you sure this looks alright? It’s not too short? Maybe I should go with the blue one?”
Ant stands behind me, pushes my hair aside and kisses my exposed neck.
“It’s not too short; it’s touching your knees. And you look stunning, as always. Although I do have a sentimental fondness for those green scrubs …”
