With a final ruffle of her hair she made her way to Departures. It wasn’t likely she’d catch him before he went through Customs, but she hadn’t come this far to let a little thing like that stop her.
And then, unbelievably, she saw him just leaving the check-in for his flight.
She froze in her tracks. As if in slow motion, she watched him pause and then turn around. For endless seconds they just stared at each other across the busy terminal before both moved at once.
Oh God, it was definitely a good sign. It had to be. But her stomach pitched and she had the urgent need to use the bathroom. She’d never been so nervous about anything before in her life.
“Willow?” There was a note of disbelief in his voice, as if he couldn’t believe his eyes. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be getting ready for tonight?”
She cleared her throat. “There’s plenty of time before the girls arrive. But I wanted to catch you before you left.”
“I think we’ve said everything.”
He wasn’t going to make this easy for her. She didn’t blame him. She took a deep breath and plunged into the deep end. “I’m sorry. You’re right. We do need to talk about what happened nine years ago.”
“Why?”
Why? She resisted the urge to squirm on the spot and instead gripped her fingers together for added courage. “Because it stands in the way of us having a future together.”
He didn’t answer straight away, which was unnerving. Finally he folded his arms in a classic posture of defence. “Do we have a future together?”
She thought of the phoenix and dragon he’d specially commissioned. Of the significance behind the gifts. She remembered all the times during the last three years when Seb had been there for her. And didn’t want to think of a future he didn’t share with her.
“I hope so.” She chanced taking a step towards him. He didn’t retreat. “You’re the only one I’ve ever wanted, Seb. The last three days have been the best days of my life.”
“I want it all, Willow.” There was no softening of his features. “I don’t want to be your bit on the side, the one you’re ashamed to be seen with in public. Can you handle that?”
She gripped his arm and shook him. “Yes. I want all that and more. I don’t care about what happened all those years ago. And just for the record, I’ve never been ashamed to be seen with you. I’ve just been ashamed of my own stupid hang-ups. The truth is I love you. I’ve always loved you.”
He pulled her into his arms so suddenly she gasped. “You’ve no idea how long I’ve waited to hear you say that.” His voice was muffled against her hair. He gave a half laugh and released her just enough so he could look into her eyes. “I fell so hard for you that first day we met. I even introduced myself as Seb, when everyone else called me Wallis, just because I wanted something different with you. When I found out who you were—fuck, it just about killed me. Even though I finished things with Amber as soon as you left, I couldn’t face seeing you again even though I couldn’t get you out of my head.”
Wait. He had finished things with her mother? She stared at up him, frowning. “But I thought she ended it with you, a week later.” That’s what her mother had told her. So dreadfully immature, she’d sniffed, despite the fact that since Willow’s dad had remarried a girl half his age, all of Amber’s hook ups had been in their early twenties.
Seb shrugged. “Look, I might have been a clueless dick back then, but there was no way I could carry on seeing her after I’d met you. Amber getting me fired from the job was the best thing that could’ve happened to me. It made me focus on something I never would’ve before.”
Willow felt her face heat. Her mother had got Seb fired just because he had dumped her?
“I’m so sorry. I had no idea she did that.”
“It doesn’t matter.” He gave her a contemplative look. “Haven’t you ever wondered why I wrote my first book?”
“Hmm, because you’re a brilliant writer?”
“Yeah, that’s a given.” He laughed and tugged gently on her hair. “It was you who inspired me. That day we talked you were so interested in everything that I’d always taken for granted. I’d never really thought twice about my mum’s clairvoyant gifts or our alternate lifestyle. You made me see it through fresh eyes.”
His revelation enchanted her. “You mean I was your muse?”
“You could say that. Never thought it would all take off the way it did, though. Funny how things turn out.”
She didn’t want to have to wait a couple of weeks to see Seb again. She wanted to get him alone and show him just how much she loved him. But his flight was imminent, and she had the Double D’s tonight.
Inspiration struck.
“I’m coming to your book launch. I’ll catch the first flight I can to New York tomorrow.”
He gave his wicked smile, the one that turned her inside out and caused her heart to sigh. “Okay. We can look for engagement rings in Manhattan over the weekend.”
She wound her arms around his neck, relishing the way he held her tight. “You have to ask me first, Sebastian Wallis.”
“Remind me to do that when you arrive.”
She laughed and reluctantly let go of him. “Have a safe flight.”
As she turned and walked away he called her name. She stopped and looked over her shoulder.
“I love you,” he said.
Sienna was the first to arrive that night. Willow had texted her earlier so she knew the basics, but there was nothing like sharing juicy gossip in person.
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me the minute you and Seb slept together.” Sienna fluffed up her immaculate blonde hair and gave Willow a fierce glare. But since they’d known each other all their lives, Sienna’s fierce glares didn’t bother Willow in the slightest.
“I didn’t get the chance. I was a bit tied up.”
Sienna choked on her drink and Willow laughed. It was fantastic to be able to talk about just how much she loved Seb. Sure, Sienna had always known, but it had always been a taboo subject, an unspoken secret between them.
Mrs Duval ushered in Lana and Nella, Sienna’s stepmother. The two women, along with Amber, and Virginia and Darla’s mothers, were the founding members of the Double D Club. And while Willow had never worried that the reserved Nella would gossip about her to Amber, she’d always harboured the fear that the outspoken Lana would.
Oddly, she realised she no longer cared what Lana might or might not tell her mother.
“I won’t breathe a word,” Sienna whispered, widening her eyes and tipping her glass in the direction of the two older women. But as they all air kissed each other and Nella and Lana complimented her on the perfect flower arrangements, Willow realised she didn’t want to keep her relationship with Seb a secret.
Why should she? They were going to get married. Every time she thought about that, which was often, warmth infused her entire body and she couldn’t help smiling to herself.
“I have an announcement,” she said, when there was a lull in the conversation. If her mother’s friends were shocked she was going to marry Amber’s former toy boy, that was their problem. Not hers. “Sebastian Wallis and I are engaged.”
She wasn’t sure what reaction she expected. But Nella actually smiled. “That’s wonderful, Willow. I’m so happy for you both.”
“It’s about time,” Lana said. “That boy’s been in love with you for years.”
She didn’t need their approval. She didn’t need anyone’s approval. But it felt good to know she had it, regardless.
Darla and Virginia arrived and as Willow raised her hand in greeting she saw Darla grab a glass from a waiter. Going by the pained expression on Virginia’s face and the way Darla downed half her cocktail in one long swallow, it looked as though her latest date hadn’t gone too well.
“How did things go with the latest Mr Right?” Sienna asked, as soon as the other women joined them. Much as Willow wanted to share her good news with her friends, she didn�
��t want to rub Darla’s nose in it while she was still so pissed off with her ex.
Darla gave a delicate shudder. “I didn’t think it could be possible, but this one was even vainer than Julian.”
“Wow.” Willow couldn’t believe the bad luck Darla was having with men lately. “That takes some doing.”
“I should have known the night was going to be a disaster when he stopped to admire his reflection in the glass doors as we entered the restaurant.” Darla finished her cocktail. “Can you believe he actually asked for a table by the huge wall mirror? He couldn’t stop looking at himself all night. He even checked his teeth on the cutlery between each course.”
From the corner of her eye she saw Camilla had arrived, and was hovering by the drawing room door looking lost and slightly overwhelmed. “I’ll be right back,” she said to the others before making her way across the room.
Six months ago, when her godfather Drake told her he was getting married, Willow had been staggered. Drake was a confirmed bachelor and her dad’s best friend, outside of his A-list Hollywood circle. And when she’d discovered Drake’s bride was younger than herself, she’d been speechless.
Her mother, despite never having met Camilla, considered her a grubby little gold-digger. Come to think of it so did Jorja. But Drake had asked her to keep an eye on his young bride, and although at first Willow had seen that as a grisly duty, it hadn’t taken long before she realised her mother had entirely the wrong impression.
“Hi Camilla. Come in. Would you like a cocktail?”
“Oh, hi Willow. Yes, thanks.” Camilla took a glass from the passing waiter and sipped, her glance darting around the room. “Everything looks lovely. You all make it seem so easy.”
Willow smiled at the compliment, but then saw the nervous look Camilla shot her and comprehension dawned. The next Double D would be Camilla’s first time as hostess.
“You’ll be fine, Camilla. The trick is to delegate.” She laughed, because she and Seb were getting engaged and she couldn’t help herself. She had the mad urge to give the whole world big squishy hugs. “But listen. If you want any help just give me a call.”
“I wouldn’t want to impose.”
“You won’t. If I didn’t mean it, I wouldn’t have suggested it. In fact if you don’t want my help you’re going to have to physically kick me out of your house.”
Camilla looked as if she didn’t know whether to be relieved or horrified by the prospect. Willow linked her arm through the younger woman’s. “Come and chat to Nella and Lana. They’re amazing when it comes to organising things.”
Willow
by Christina Phillips
Epilogue
Willow braced her nerves as her mother swept into the living room. For the last month, since she and Seb had become engaged, she’d been dreading this moment. Her mother had booked a flight back from Europe the day Willow had shared her news and had finally arrived in Sydney yesterday morning. Earlier today she’d phoned, informing Willow she was Coming to Visit.
“Darling.” Her mother air kissed her on both cheeks and then ran a critical eye over her. Willow resisted the urge to shuffle. “You’ve lost weight. Nella told me you had.”
Willow doubted Nella had told her mum any such thing. In any case, it wasn’t true. “Hi, Mum.”
Her mother took her hand and scrutinized her engagement ring. There was a pained expression on her perfectly made up face. “You haven’t changed your mind about this.” It wasn’t a question.
Willow managed to free her hand without too much drama. It was all very well for Seb to tell her not to let her mother wind her up, but he wasn’t the one who had to face her. It had been bad enough telling her over the phone that she was engaged to Seb. The silence had spoken volumes. Although Willow had been desperately relieved that her mum hadn’t gone the other way and grilled her for hours.
No. Her mum had been strangely calm. It had been kind of eerie.
“Of course I haven’t changed my mind.” Willow folded her arms and could feel her shoulder muscles tensing. She took a deep breath, but her meditation techniques never quite worked when her mum was around. “We want to get married as soon as possible.”
There. She’d said it. Just so her mum didn’t think this was going to be an endless engagement with no wedding in sight.
Her mother wrinkled her nose. “Darling, you can’t rush into these things. Trust me, I know. I rushed into marriage with your father and look what happened there.”
Willow’s head began to throb. “I’m not pregnant, Mum.”
“I’m glad to hear it. I’m not ready to be a grandmother yet.” She waved her hand at Mrs D to bring lunch outside and Willow followed her mother onto the shady veranda beside the pool. “I suppose you want your father to give you away.”
Willow sat on the edge of one of the recliners and watched her mum adjust her sunglasses before she elegantly draped herself over another recliner. Her dad, unlike her mum, had been very loud in his congratulations when she’d contacted him last month. Within a couple of hours her two little half-sisters had been on Skype, squealing with excitement that they were going to Australia to be her flower girls.
Seb had just laughed when she’d told him. He hadn’t seemed to think her stepmother had crossed any line by jumping the gun. After all, she did want her half-sisters to be involved with her wedding. But that wasn’t the point.
“Yes,” she said in answer to her mother’s question. “He’s just wrapping up his latest movie. We’re going to fit the date in around his schedule.”
Her mother sniffed. “Leave that with me, darling. We’ll give him the date we decide on and then he can make sure he’s free for it.”
From the corner of her eye she saw a shadow approach the French doors from inside the house. Her heart slammed against her ribs. Seb wasn’t supposed to be here. She’d told him this morning she’d call when her mother had left. It was enough of an ordeal facing her mum by herself. She knew the two of them would have to meet again sooner rather than later, but she just wasn’t ready for that confrontation yet.
Seb stepped outside and her stomach fluttered. It had been a whole month since they’d first slept together, but she still got butterflies whenever she saw him.
“Hi, Amber.” He sounded perfectly relaxed. Her mum looked up at him and her mouth tightened very slightly. Willow held her breath. She didn’t want a scene. She really didn’t want—
“Sebastian. How nice of you to join us.” Her mother inclined her head in a regal manner and Willow tried not to sag with relief. She didn’t know why her mum had decided to call him Sebastian, nobody called him that, but at least she wasn’t sending verbally poisoned darts his way.
Seb sat beside Willow and wound his arm around her waist. Although she gave him a welcoming smile, she was rigid with tension. All it took was five minutes in Amber’s company. When would Willow learn she didn’t need her bloody mother’s approval?
At least the first awkward meeting was over with. It’d been hanging over his head like a fucking axe. Not helped by the fact he knew Willow had been dreading it.
“So, Willow,” Amber said as she took the drink Mrs D offered her. “I’ll have a word with one of my friends. He’ll be able to get us a fabulous deal with the Sydney Opera House for the wedding.”
Seb choked on his own drink. “What, the whole Opera House?” He couldn’t stop himself, although he wished he had when he felt Willow shudder next to him.
Amber spared him a pitying glance over the top of her sunnies. “I think this is one area you should leave the women to handle, Sebastian.”
That put him in his place. He helped himself to the fancy lunch Mrs D had prepared and listened to Amber prattle on about flowers and themes and menus. She was clearly in her element.
“Yes, but Mum,” Willow said, when her mother finally paused for breath. “If we have the wedding there we’d probably have to wait a year for an available date. We were thinking of maybe June.”
> “Oh darling, you don’t want a winter wedding. Besides, you need longer than three months to organise everything.”
“You didn’t when you married Dad.”
The silence after Willow’s remark jabbed into his eardrums. He concentrated on his plate of smoked salmon and asparagus farfalle. It didn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out Willow had been on the way before her parents got married but really who cared?
The stony look on Amber’s face suggested she did.
“I’m only trying to help.” There was a note of calculated hurt in Amber’s voice. “Is it so wrong that I want my only daughter to have the wedding of her dreams?”
He shovelled a forkful of pasta in his mouth before he told Amber what he thought of that comment.
“No.” Willow’s leg began to jiggle. “But—”
“We’ll get together with the girls, darling, and sort everything out. Men are simply hopeless in these situations.”
“Seb’s actually really good at organising things.”
He shot Willow a grin but she didn’t smile back. Amber placed her barely touched lunch back on the table and brushed non-existent crumbs from her lap.
“It’s been lovely catching up, darling.” She stood up and Willow leapt to her feet as well. Obviously lunch was over. “You must pop over tomorrow and meet Archie. He insisted on coming back with me from London. I didn’t want to say anything before and spoil your moment, but he asked me to marry him last night. And I accepted.”
Seb dumped his plate on the end of the recliner and stood by Willow for moral support. Talk about timing. Amber sucked at it.
“Archie?” Willow’s voice came out in a high-pitched squeak.
Amber beamed. “Yes, darling. You’re going to have a stepfather. Won’t that be wonderful?”
“My mother is driving me nuts.” Willow buried her face in her hands. Seb had taken her out for the afternoon, and they sat in the shade outside a café by the side of the river. It had been three days since her mum had returned to Sydney. It felt like three years.
“Look on the bright side.” She glanced up to see Seb trying not to laugh. Bastard. “At least your stepfather won’t be younger than you.”
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