by Heather Beck
“So, will I see you at Artista tomorrow morning?” Rowan asked, a hopeful expression on his face.
“Bright and early.” Isabelle paused before adding, “I just hope our rental car gets here in time. The receptionist at the company didn’t speak the best English, but I think she said it should be here sometime this morning.”
“Well, if there are any issues and you need a ride, you can always call me,” Rowan offered, giving her another one of his wide smiles. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Isabelle. Bye, girls.”
“Bye,” Isabelle said, Ava and Tessa echoing her.
After Rowan had driven away, Isabelle closed the door and turned to her daughters. “Why don’t you two choose your rooms and start unpacking? I have to make a list of everything we couldn’t bring, everything that we’ll need to buy here. I’ll come up in a bit, okay?”
“Sure, Mom.” Tessa grabbed her luggage and headed up the stairs. “I call dibs on the biggest room!”
“No chance,” Ava said, following closely behind.
They went from bedroom to bedroom, trying to see which one was the best, but they were all the same size, each with a big walk-in closet and an amazing view of the Caribbean Sea.
“I can take this one,” Ava said, choosing a room that was painted a cool, calming turquoise color.
“Good, because I wanted the room at the end of the hall,” Tessa said, sticking her tongue out.
Ava shook her head playfully at her sister. “Real mature.” She put her luggage on the floor and then headed to the window, staring out at the water that sparkled in the sun and the palm trees that swayed gently in the breeze. “I could live here forever,” she muttered.
“Don’t get too cozy,” Tessa advised, breaking Ava from her reverie. “We probably won’t be here for too long.”
“I thought you were going to give Mexico a chance,” Ava said, turning around and beginning to unpack.
“I am, but I also have to be realistic. This isn’t our home – no matter what Mom says.” She tossed herself onto Ava’s bed and then stared at the ceiling. “Speaking of Mom, what do you think is going on between her and Rowan?”
“Um, nothing. Mom would never cheat on Dad.”
“You seriously don’t find it weird that Rowan showed up at the airport? That he took us out for breakfast and practically helped us move in here? I mean, we never even knew the guy existed before today.”
Ava was silent for a moment. “Yeah, okay, so maybe it is a little weird, but he’s probably just a really nice guy.”
“A really nice guy – a really hot guy – who only has eyes for our mom.”
“Don’t go there, Tess.” Ava’s voice was gentle but firm.
“Fine,” Tessa said with a sigh. “I don’t really think Mom would cheat on Dad, either, but that doesn’t mean I’m wrong about Rowan. He’s so into her.” She sat up in bed, a wide smile suddenly spreading across her face. “I know someone who’s single and ready to mingle, though.”
“Reel it in, Tess. I don’t want you going wild just because we’re in a foreign country.”
“I wasn’t talking about me. I totally saw the way you were staring at Javier.” She accentuated his name, copying his deep, sexy voice.
Much to her annoyance, Ava felt herself blush.
“Oh my gosh, you do like him.”
“No, I don’t,” Ava said, trying to convince herself. “How could I? I don’t even know him.”
“Then get to know him. That’s the fun part, silly.”
“I’m not sure he’d want to get to know me. I did bodycheck him in front of the whole restaurant, remember?”
“Oh, don’t worry about that,” Tessa said with a careless wave of her hand, trying to make Ava feel better about it. “If anything, it got his attention, and it was so funny to see the absolute horror on Britney’s face when she realized her top was ruined.”
“Which brings me to my next point – Britney. She’s obviously his girlfriend.”
“Puh-leeze. That’s an easily fixed problem.”
“Tessa!”
“Okay, fine. You don’t like him. It wouldn’t work. Blah, blah, blah.” She rolled her eyes, not believing Ava. “I just hope you know that he would be lucky to have a girlfriend like you. You’re a gazillion times better than the bitch of a one he has now. Not to mention you’re so much prettier than her.” She paused, looking thoughtful, and then cast her sister a mischievous smile. “Maybe I shouldn’t be encouraging you, though. Maybe I should be the one going after him. He is super delicious.”
“Neither one of us is going after Javier,” Ava said in her stern, older sister voice – one that didn’t get used very often. “If he wants to be with a girl like that, then that’s his choice.”
Tessa had just opened her mouth to respond when Isabelle poked her head into the bedroom. “The rental car’s been dropped off,” she said, almost as if she was in a hurry. “I’m going to pick up groceries and some of the other stuff we need. Is there anything you girls want me to get?”
“A tub of low-fat frozen yogurt, please,” Tessa piped up. “The Triple Berry Sensation kind. That is, if they even sell it here.”
Isabelle nodded. “I’ll see what I can do.”
“Wait,” Ava said before her mom could leave. “Can’t we come with you? I’m dying to check out the markets.”
“Not today, sweetie. I want to get these errands over with quickly. I have other things I need to deal with today, too.”
“Okay,” Ava said slowly, wondering what else her mom had to do. It’s not like she’d started working at Corazón de Artista yet, and she was positive that everything to do with their visas had already been taken care of. “Can Tessa and I at least go out by ourselves?” she asked. “Like, to the beach, or the markets, or something?”
“That’s fine, but only if you promise to stick together. I don’t want you wandering too far, either.” With that said, Isabelle turned around and left, the sound of her footsteps quickly disappearing down the hallway.
“That was kind of weird,” Ava said, but Tessa only shrugged in response. “So, what do you want to hit up first? The markets? Or what about that pier we passed in the car a couple of miles back? Mom wouldn’t consider that too far, would she?”
Tessa looked thoughtful, but when she caught a glimpse of herself in the bedroom’s full-length mirror, she let out a little eep. “I’m not going anywhere looking like this,” she said, turning quickly away from the mirror, like she’d just seen Medusa. “Not even the best concealer or the world’s largest sunglasses could cover these hideous bags.”
Ava looked at her sister, noticing the big dark bags under her eyes, despite having been picture-perfect when they’d left for the airport this morning. Still, it wasn’t reason enough to stay locked up inside, especially on such a beautiful day. “Come on, you’re being silly,” she said. “It’s not like there are any paparazzi here. No one will see you.”
“Someone is always watching. And in this case, it could be a hot Mexican guy. Sorry, sis.” Tessa cast her a little apologetic smile and then left the room, probably going to unpack her luggage.
Now alone, Ava turned back to her own luggage, taking out her clothes and hanging them up in her closet. Even though she’d hoped to lead a more relaxed, quiet life in Mexico, she didn’t expect it to be this uneventful.
Later that day, Ava headed down the stairs and into the kitchen, where her mom was setting the table for dinner. “Looks like it’s just you and me tonight,” Ava said. “Tessa’s out cold. Not even a mariachi band could wake her up.”
“It’s best to let her sleep. I don’t think she got any rest on the plane,” Isabelle said. She put Tessa’s plate back into the shaker-style cupboard and then got a dish of cannelloni from the oven and placed it on the table. She stifled a yawn as she added, “I know how she feels.”
Ava cast her mom a sympathetic look before sitting down and serving herself two small rolls of cannelloni. She took a bite of it, savoring t
he fresh, rich spices her mom had seasoned it with, likely sourced from a local market.
“How is it?” Isabelle asked, sitting down opposite Ava. She brought with her a bowl of homemade salad and placed it on the table.
“Amazing,” Ava said after chewing and swallowing another bite of cannelloni. “You know I’ve always loved your cooking.”
Isabelle nodded. “It’s nice to have the time to do things like this – for a change.”
“Definitely. But don’t worry, I won’t expect homemade meals every night. I know you’ll have plenty to keep you busy here.”
“What do you mean?” Isabelle asked kind of abruptly, her brow furrowed.
“Nothing,” Ava said, a little taken aback. “Just that I know how much time and energy you put into your volunteer work. And I was only kidding about the dinner thing.”
Isabelle’s expression softened. “Volunteering is important to me but not as important as you and Tessa. You two will always come first no matter what.”
“I know that, and so does Tessa. Seriously, Mom, we love how much passion you have for your work. We both find it, well, inspirational.” She cast her mom a curious smile, wondering what had brought all this on. “So, anyway, is that what you were doing on the computer today? Something for Artista?” Ava was referring to this afternoon when, after coming back from running errands, her mom had spent a few hours working on her computer, engrossed in whatever she was doing.
“No, nothing like that. There was some stuff back in Hollywood that I needed to take care of. Rowan’s not that much of a slave driver – working me on my first day here.” She laughed lightly as she reached for the salad, taking a small serving.
“So, speaking of Rowan,” Ava began, breaking the silence that had fallen over them, “he knows about us, right? Like, what we do for a living and why we’re here?”
Isabelle took a long sip of water, almost like she was thinking carefully before answering her daughter’s question. “Yes, he knows about our reality show and who we are,” she said. “He found out when we were in Africa. The non-profit that led the school building project there encouraged us to be open with our fellow volunteers, so I thought it was best to be honest. It’s not like the people in that group really cared about fame and fortune, anyway.”
“No, I’m sure they didn’t.”
“Rowan’s like that, too. He doesn’t care about those things, and that’s why I trust him. He knows we’re trying to keep a low-profile here, but as for the exact reason we’re here…no, he doesn’t know that.”
“Oh,” Ava said simply. She wasn’t sure why, but she was glad her mom hadn’t told Rowan everything.
“So, I know this should probably go without saying, but I don’t want you or Tessa telling anyone about who you really are or why you’re really here.”
“Who would I tell?”
“Well, I’m sure you’ll make some friends here, and I know you wouldn’t want to lie to them, but I’m afraid you’ll have to. And if anyone recognizes you, just try to play it cool.” Isabelle sighed. “I know it’s a lot to ask, and I know I sound like a hypocrite, but I’m doing this to keep you girls safe.”
“And we will be safe – all of us,” Ava said, knowing that it was her mom who needed the reassurance right now.
Isabelle gave Ava a smile, but in her eyes was a flicker of uncertainty, like she had concerns about everything truly being alright. “I’m really tired,” she said, standing up from the table and then placing her dishes in the dishwasher. “I think I’ll take a shower and then have an early night.”
“Already?” Ava asked with a frown. “I was hoping we could go for a walk after dinner. Maybe check out the neighborhood or even the beach.”
“That sounds nice, but I’m afraid we’ll have to save that for another day.” Isabelle put the leftovers in the fridge and then kissed Ava’s forehead. “I’ll see you in the morning, okay, honey?”
“Sure, Mom,” Ava said, trying hard not to show her disappointment. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight,” Isabelle echoed before disappearing up the stairs.
Left alone for the second time that day, Ava finished her dinner, loaded the dishwasher, and then headed into the living room. She plunked herself down on the oversized couch and looked out the window, staring longingly at the lush greenery that blew gently in the breeze and listening to the soothing calls of tropical birds.
Ava let out a sigh. Unlike her mom and sister, she wasn’t the least bit tired. She felt wide awake, her senses stirred by the sights and sounds that were outside her door, waiting to be explored. Unfortunately, the only exploring she’d done since arriving at their villa had been in their fenced backyard. She hated to admit it, but her mom’s insistence that she not leave the villa without having someone with her was starting to feel as suffocating as being trapped in their Hollywood home.
Turning her gaze away from the window, her eyes fell upon a book that lay on the glass coffee table. A Visitor’s Guide to the Yucatán Peninsula, she read silently to herself. On the cover was a montage of images showcasing happy, beautiful people on the beach, at Mayan ruins, snorkeling with colorful fish, and dancing in a vibrant nightclub. Intrigued, Ava opened the book, skipping over the page that said, Compliments of Villas Sol Dorado, and then reading about some of the activities, events, and attractions that the Yucatán Peninsula had to offer. There was so much to see and do that she found it almost painful to stay inside reading about all these wonderful things when she could be out, actually experiencing them.
Unable to resist the urge to go out and explore any longer, Ava tossed the book back on the table and jumped up from the couch. She hurried up the stairs, coming to a stop at the top, and listened. She couldn’t hear the shower running, which meant her mom was already in bed, but to be sure, she called out softly, “Mom, are you awake?” A few seconds passed, but the only response was silence. Satisfied, Ava went back down the stairs, slid into her sandals, and then slipped out the front door, into the warm, gentle Mexican breeze.
I’ll only be gone for an hour or so, Ava reasoned with herself, pushing aside the twinge of guilt she felt over disobeying her mom. Mom will never know, and what she doesn’t know won’t hurt her.
Ava passed through the iron gates of Villas Sol Dorado and made her way down the street until she came to the beach a few minutes later. She took off her sandals and walked barefooted, the light, powder-like sand surprisingly cool as it squished in between her toes. She took a slow, deep breath, feeling relaxed and relishing in the fact that she didn’t have to worry about being followed by the paparazzi or, worse, Christopher.
Lost in wanderlust and the feeling of being free, Ava wasn’t sure how long she’d been walking when she came across a market that ran parallel with the beach. She put her sandals back on and headed toward the market, the sound of music, of people talking and laughing getting louder the closer she got. There were colorful stalls everywhere, with vendors selling local goods like food, flowers, and especially ice cream, which seemed to be everywhere she turned, but there were also a lot of imported goods – clothing, toys, and religious artifacts – that could be found at American flea markets, too. As Ava browsed through some of the stalls, she knew she’d never be able to see everything that the market had to offer.
“Te gustaría comprar una piñata? La mejor oferta en la ciudad!” a man called to Ava as she passed a stall filled with dozens of colorful piñatas, some of them small, others almost the size of her.
“No, gracias,” Ava said. She couldn’t be sure, but it was likely that he was trying to sell her a piñata.
“Puedo hacer que este se vea como tú,” he spoke again, gesturing at the large piñata he was working on. It was the shape of a girl, likely to become one of the fairy-tale princesses that were everywhere, but at this stage in the process – covered in wet strips of paper – it looked more like a mummy.
Ava shivered. “No speak Española,” she said, moving on quickly before the man could say
anything else.
She wandered through more of the market, admiring some handwoven multi-colored Mexican rugs and even stopping to buy a pretty blue beaded bracelet from a girl much younger than herself. Ava had just slipped the bracelet over her wrist when she heard someone strike a cord on a guitar and then a few cheers. She turned in the direction of the sound, seeing that a small crowd had begun to form around a street performer.
Not wanting to miss a thing, Ava hurried over to the crowd as the performer, who was short, well-built, and probably in his late thirties, got into a fast, upbeat Mexican song. Two teenage girls started to dance, waving their arms in the air and swinging their hips from side to side. More people joined in until almost the whole crowd was dancing to the infectious rhythm. Even Ava couldn’t help but move her hips a little, smiling with all the fun she was having.
“Can you hold my purse while I dance?” a familiar female voice came from nearby, taking Ava out of the moment. She looked over to see that Britney and Javier had just arrived and that Britney didn’t wait for an answer before throwing her purse at him and starting to dance.
It didn’t seem like either of them had seen Ava, so she turned her attention back to the performer, not wanting to go over and say hello after the embarrassing incident at the restaurant this morning. Still, she couldn’t resist sneaking a few peeks at Javier, who somehow looked more gorgeous than ever.
The song came to an end a couple of minutes later, and while most people cheered and tossed money into the performer’s guitar case, Britney let out a loud whine, clearly disappointed that he’d stopped playing. The performer tuned his guitar, getting ready for another set, and Ava suddenly decided that she would stay longer just in case Javier did see her, just in case he wanted to talk to her. But as Britney went back to Javier and started chatting, she knew the chances of him noticing her were slim.
The sound of someone laughing loudly nearby caught Ava’s attention, causing her to turn around and see where it was coming from. She noticed a man and a woman who were probably in their early twenties, walking hand in hand, where the beach met the street. The man said something to the woman, making her shove him playfully and then laugh again. They stood out in the crowd, practically glowing with happiness because they were clearly very much in love. Ava felt that familiar pang – the one she’d experienced when she’d seen Nate and Kourtney together in the hospital. Despite her wonderful family and all her fans, she still got kind of lonely sometimes.
