With a glint of amusement in her eyes, Ms. Leighton nodded. “Kel is more than she appears. As are we all, I suppose.”
Letting out a low whistle, Ruthi shook her head in disbelief. “She mentioned she was a screenwriter, and I knew she was sharp, but—God. This is… I didn’t see it coming.” She looked down at the notebook, running a thumb along the edge. “It’s all connected, isn’t it? The island. The fantasies. Madeline’s secondact. Kel’s voice. Even me, finding something worth feeling again.”
With an almost maternal sense of satisfaction, Ms. Leighton’s smile softened. “That’s precisely the point of this place, Ruthi. To give you what you truly need, even if you didn’t know you needed it. Sometimes, that’s a second chance. Sometimes, it’s a story. Sometimes, it’s permission to want more.”
Ruthi’s eyes shone, but she didn’t look away. “I want this, Ms. Leighton. I want to direct it. I want to do it right.”
“That will be up to Kel, I think,” Ms. Leighton said. “But for the record, I think you’re the only one who would do it justice.” A beat passed, the room holding the weight of possibility. Then Ms. Leighton tilted her head. “And your own fantasy, Ruthi? Has the island delivered?”
The question clearly caught Ruthi off guard, but she didn’t shy from it. She straightened, a small, real smile breaking through her usual reserve. “I thought I was coming here to scratch an itch. To play at surrender. But it’s more than that. Eve… she’s teaching me how to trust again. How to let go.” She swallowed. “For the first time in a long time, I feel happy. I feel seen. I’m not sure I deserve it, but I want to try.”
“That’s all any of us can do, Ruthi. Try. The island gives you the chance. The rest is up to you.”
Nodding, Ruthi held the script tightly in her hands. “Thank you. For everything.”
As Ruthi left, Ms. Leighton watched her go, a sense of quiet satisfaction blooming in her chest. The fantasies were working, the stories spinning out in ways she had only dared hope for. The island continued to do what it always did. Changing lives, one brave choice at a time.
19
As the day’s late afternoon shadows grew longer, Kel walked hand in hand with Madeline along the winding path bordering the lagoon. The air was thick with the scent of hibiscus and salt, and the hush of the water lapping against stone. For Kel, every step felt both impossibly light and heavy, like she was floating and sinking at the same time. Madeline’s hand was warm in hers with her thumb tracing lazy circles over Kel’s knuckles, and for a minute, Kel let herself believe the moment was forever. That the island and its magic might follow them home.
But tomorrow, we leave, she thought. The reality was like a stone in Kel’s gut. “I can’t believe we’re really going,” she said, trying to keep her tone light. “I keep expecting someone to say there’s been a mix-up, that we get another week.”
Madeline squeezed her hand, a wistful smile on her face. “I know. It feels like we barely got here,” she said. “Like everything started making sense and now… poof. Back to reality.”
Kel forced a laugh. “Yeah, reality. LA traffic. Coffee runs. My apartment that smells like burnt toast, even though I don’t own a toaster.”
With a laugh, Madeline bumped her shoulder. “I’ve never been to your apartment, but when I do, I’ll bring you a toaster.”
Smiling, Kel’s heart hammered. She wanted to ask, wanted to blurt out the question inside her.Is this real to you?But she held her tongue. Time would tell if it was only the island and the fairytale lights. Then she would know if the way Madeline looked at her here would last when they were back home, with bills and scripts and the grind of days that weren’t made of magic.And if I wake up tomorrow and Madeline doesn’t look at me like I’m the only person in the world, she thought.Will I survive it?
Courage gathering in her chest, she opened her mouth to tell Madeline her worries, but before she said a word, a familiar silhouette appeared ahead on the path—shoulders squared and stride purposeful. Ruthi Shay.Of course, Kel thought as she stifled a groan, but Madeline just squeezed her hand reassuringly. Ruthi spotted them and slowed, her gaze flicking from Madeline to Kel, then settling on Kel with an intensity that made Kel’s stomach twist.
“There you are,” Ruthi said, clearly focused on business but not harsh. “I’ve been looking for you.”
Kel straightened, bracing herself. “Hey, Ruthi. Everything okay?”
Ruthi’s lips quirked into almost a smile. “More than okay. I just finished your script. Four times.” She looked at Madeline, then back at Kel. “It’s brilliant. And I don’t say that lightly. I want to direct it. I need to direct it. I haven’t felt like this about a project in a long time.”
Madeline’s eyes went wide, and Kel felt the world tilt. She didn’t even know Ruthi had received a copy of the script.Island magic?she wondered.Is that possible?She cleared her throat, forcing herself to meet Ruthi’s gaze. “That means a lot,” she said. “But there’s something you should know. I wrote it for Madeline.She’s the only one I want to see play Victoria. No Madeline, no deal.”
Ruthi hesitated, the briefest flicker of something crossing her face. For a second, Kel’s heart thudded, afraid Ruthi would walk away, that the dream would shatter before it even began. Then Ruthi nodded decisively. “You drive a hard bargain, Lehman. But you’re right. The part is Madeline’s. To be honest, after this week, I can’t imagine anyone else. She’s perfect for it.”
The relief Kel felt was so sharp it almost hurt. Madeline let out a sound. Something like a half-laugh, half-sob, and she covered her mouth, eyes shining. Ruthi looked between them, a rare softness in her expression. “I’ll be in touch. We’ll make this happen. Thank you, Kel. For trusting me with this.”
“Thank you,” Kel whispered, still a little in shock.
“Now, if you’ll excuse me,” Ruthi said. “There’s something else I need to do tonight.” She gave Madeline a nod, then slipped away down the path, already pulling out her phone, all business again. As soon as she was gone, Madeline turned to Kel. Tears spilled down her cheeks, and her whole body trembled with joy. “Kel, I—” Overwhelmed, her words broke. “I can’t believe this is real. I can’t believe you… I love you so much.”
Kel pulled her close, holding her as Madeline cried, feeling happy and grateful. This moment, this opportunity, was everything she had ever wanted to give her. She pressed her lips to Madeline’s hair, her own eyes wet. “It is real,” she whispered fiercely. “You’re real. We’re real. And we’re going to do this.” The island shimmered around them, the lagoon sparkling in the sun. For the first time, Kel let herself believe all the island’s magic might follow her home.
Nervous,Ruthi opened the door of her suite at the knock and saw Eve standing at the entrance. “Thank you for coming,”she said softly. “Please come in.” When Eve walked in, Ruthi hesitated, unsure what to do next. “Would you like a drink or something?”
As they moved further into the room, the beautiful Domme’s words halted her in her tracks. “Ruthi. I only accepted your text invitation out of courtesy, but I’m not going to stay.”
Eve’s voice was gentle but firm. Ruthi looked at her, disconcerted by the barely-disguised note of resignation she heard in her words.This is not how Eve usually sounds,Ruthi thought, but before she responded, Eve continued.
“You asked to see me one last time tonight so we can say goodbye without anyone else around, which I didn’t think was a bad idea. All the island guests are heading back to their regular lives in the morning, including us.” Eve smiled wryly. “Given your particular fantasy, I assumed it would be far more comfortable for you and me to exchange last words in private and outside of my dungeon.”
