All of it ended when Carlos died. Corina understood that. She endured the same pain as her parents. What was her birthday without her twin, her best friend? What were holiday traditions with part of her heart missing?
Yet how could she survive without the laughter, love, and affection? Without new memories and new traditions. She tried for five years and nearly lost her soul.
However, she didn’t fly up here just to remember what had been. She came forthedress. The Luciana Diamatia. Perfect for a royal movie premier. For reminding Stephen of the love they shared.
She stooped to gather her luggage when a short horn blast caused her to glance around. Daisy Blackwell. She’d recognize that horn toot anywhere.
“Well, as I live and breathe, Corina Del Rey,” Daisy said, pulling her Mercedes SUV alongside Corina.
“Daisy Blackwell, as I live and breathe.” Corina forced a bit of cheer in her words as the lovely, tan, and fit Daisy slipped from behind the wheel. She was southern from the top of her blond head to the tips of her pedicured toes.
“Why didn’t you tell a body you were coming?” Daisy wrapped Corina in a great hug, the fragrance of Chanel chasing around them.
“I’m only here for a few hours. I’m flying out tonight.” Seeing her old friend tied another knot in her tangled emotions.
How many hours they’d spent up in her room giggling, dreaming, getting ready for cheer practice, football and basketball games, homecoming, prom, Saturday night dates, and their first pageant? Thousands of hours. Thousands of blessings.
“I swear to goodness it’s been a coon’s age since I’ve seen you. Girls”—Daisy leaned into the driver’s side open window—“you remember your Aunt Corina, Mama’s best friend in high school.”
Corina peeked inside and waved at towheaded little girls buckled into car seats. “Hey, Anna.” She was four and cuter than a speckled pup. “And hi, Betsy,” Corina said. At two, the younger of Daisy’s daughters was the image of her beauty. “They’re gorgeous, Daisy.”
“I know.” She sighed, turning to Corina, arms folded. Dressed like every upperclass Georgia belle, in her pleated shorts and matching top, wearing bedazzled sandals, Daisy was everything she had dreamed of being. A country club wife with a lawyer husband. And a mom of two. “But they’ll be the death of me. Travis says we just have to get themtocollege. Then they’re on their own.” Her chortle flirted with the breeze. “So, how’s life with the great Gigi Beaumont?”
“Crazy as usual. She’s sending me to Brighton on assignment.”
“Well, lucky you. I love Brighton. Wish I could get Travis to go, but he hates long trips with the girls. And he won’t go so far away without them. They’re so young. If anything were to happen . . .” Daisy raised her blue eyes to Corina. “I’m sorry, I forget sometimes.”
“I wish I could forget.” More and more, Corina craved speaking the truth. She drank up honest conversation. Mama refused to talk about Carlos. And Daddy never seemed to be around. “You’re allowed to talk about your life, Daisy. It makes sense you’d not want to leave the girls.” If she had two beauties like Anna and Betsy, Corina wouldn’t let them out of her sight.
“So, you’ve returned to the dark plantation.” Daisy glanced toward the house. “Your Mama still hasn’t been to a Daughters of Dixie meeting. And Daddy said your daddy has yet to hit the golf course or attend a church meeting.” Daisy bit her lower lip. “I’m sorry, I know it’s all so painful, but we miss your parents around here.”
“You know it’s why I had to leave. They can’t get out of mourning.” Corina scooped her hair off of her neck, releasing the Georgia heat trapped next to her skin. “I’ve come to grips that life will never be the same.”
“But you’re the Del Reys. The best family in town. Y’all will come around, I’m sure of it. Horatia will show up at a Dixies meeting one day with an agenda a mile long. Ole Donald will be on the golf course with my daddy and Reverend Pike, ready to talk a new church addition.” Daisy squeezed Corina’s arm as if she could infuse her with the same enthusiasm.
“You’re a bigger dreamer than I am.”
“No one will argue with you there.” Daisy’s laugh brought Corina around the bend, closer to her journey home. “So tell me what’s in Brighton? And why did you come home first?”
What’s in Brighton? Perhaps true love. “I came for the Luciano Diamatia.”
Daisy slapped her hand to her heart. “Be still. Oh, Ilooovethat dress.” Then she cocked an eyebrow at her friend. “What sort of event needs the Diamatia? I mean, really Corina, it has to be one of the world’s rarest and, may I say, least-worn designer gowns.”
“Not my fault he didn’t finish it in time for my debut. I’m wearing it to a movie premier.King Stephen I.”
“Oh girl, you have all the luck.” Daisy shoved her slender hand through her hair. “We saw the trailer last night and it looks fantastic. Braveheart meets King Arthur. And Clive Boston . . .” Daisy closed her eyes and exhaled. “A more gorgeous man never lived.”
“I’m interviewing him.” Well, supposedly, if he shows, but this was the most fun Corina had had in a while, so why spoil it?
“Get out.” Daisy shoved Corina’s shoulder. “You’re interviewing Clive Boston? Remember when you met him a few years ago at that indie film fest? He was such a snob, but oh, who cares? I could just stare at him for hours.”
Corina laughed, unhindered by the hiccup of grief. “He was downright rude until he found out Daddy was one of the film backers. Then he was all like, ‘Miss Del Rey, can I call you Corina?’ ”
The friends laughed in harmony, like they used to, when they held the tiger of life by the tail. The breeze moseyed between them as the Georgia sun eavesdropped through the summer leaves.
Daisy sobered. “I miss you.”
“I miss me too.”
