Page 90 of All the Drama from New York

“Have you given any thought as to how you’re going to break the news to Mama and Papa?”

She’d given that little problem some thought; and decided it was something she and Ryan should share with her parents, but only when they were face to face with one another.

“I was thinking Ryan, and I might make a trip home to Paris once fashion week is finished here.”

When they were talking earlier, Ryan had made it clear that the sooner he met her parents the better. He’d shifted into protective father-to-be mode very quickly.

Her twin nervously scratched her chin. Camille knew that move only too well. Sophie was also hiding something, that she was desperate to share.

“What is it?”

Sophie clasped her hands together. “I was told to keep this a secret, but since you’ve just shared your big news. I feel I have to do the same.”

“Sophie,” growled Camile.

“Oh alright. Well you know that I’m coming to New York for fashion week. But Mama let it slip that she and Papa are also planning to come. They didn’t want you to know until after they’d arrived.”

Camille’s stomach which had been mercifully quiet for a couple of hours did a sudden loop the loop. Her parents were coming to New York.

To see my runway show.

Bile rose in her throat. “I’ll call you back.”

She barely made it to the bathroom. She dropped to her knees and promptly lost the contents of her stomach into the toilet bowl. Her arms were still draped over the cold porcelain when Ryan found her a half hour later.

“Are you ok?” he asked.

“No,” muttered Camille. “I just spoke to Sophie, and my parents are planning a surprise visit to New York for fashion week. I can’t think which is worse—feeling like death warmed up, or having to face my parents.”

CHAPTER FIFTY

The Really Big Space

New York Fashion Week

Mid-September

Camille was certain that whoever had come up with the phrase ‘morning sickness’ had never been pregnant. She felt green around the gills from the time she woke each morning, only finally coming good late in the day. By that time fatigue would take hold and she would be asleep on the couch by seven o’clock. Without Ryan, who had shown himself to be a jack of all trades, and a skillful master of some, she didn’t know what she’d have done.

Her lack of energy stood in stark contrast to his never ending ability to keep going. As she watched him hustling and bustling all around the Cinderella in the City runway set, Camille had a sneaky feeling. His efforts had as much to do with François and Martina’s impending ‘surprise’ visit as it did the actual fashion collection.

The show was scheduled for tomorrow afternoon, and Bryce had called a little earlier giving them the heads up that Camille’sparents had arrived from France. They were staying with Edward and Alice Royal at their private estate in Armonk, New York.

Her parents still hadn’t called her.

She was in two minds about that. On the one hand, she was grateful they hadn’t just turned up on her doorstep—not that they would ever do something so crass—while on the other hand, she was more than a little put out by their lack of communication.

“What’s with the giant taxi posters?” asked a familiar voice.

Camille spun round to find Sophie standing a few feet away. Her sister dropped her large tote bag, and rushed to greet her. They hugged one another for the longest minute. “I’ve missed you so much,” said a tearful Sophie, when they finally parted.

“You have no idea how good it is to see you. Now that you are finally here, it feels like my runway show is really happening,” gushed an equally emotional Camille.

She glanced behind her sister, half expecting her parents to suddenly appear. “No Mama or Papa?”

“No. Thank heavens for small mercies. I told them I was going clubbing. One of the Royal Resorts drivers dropped me off out front of the building.”

Sophie turned and pointed at Liam Collins. Liam who was standing a few feet away, was busy messing with his camera. “And that cute guy let me follow him through the door and into the elevator.”

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