Page 59 of Three Little Wishes

“Ma.”

“What? Did he not leave you on your own with no money and twobambineto raise, while he followed your sister to Hollywood?”

Willow’s jaw dropped. “Cami had an affair with your husband?”

“No. He thought he was in love with her, but Camilla did nothing to encourage him.” Her mother rubbed her finger along an initial carved into the table. “She came to live with us in New York when she was five months pregnant. Camilla was in a bad way. She was angry and depressed. I tried to get her help but she refused. A month after she had you, my husband encouraged her to consider modeling. He helped put together a portfolio for her, and he’d accompany her on go-sees in hopes of landing himself a job in the industry.”

Carmen nodded. “He used both my daughters.”

“He used Camilla, but he didn’t use me. He didn’t, Ma,” she said when Carmen opened her mouth to argue.

“He saw what you didn’t, Gia. He knew one day your talent, your art, would bring you fame and fortune, and he’d ride on your coattails, just like he did your sister’s.”

“Oh, Ma, please. I wasn’t that good. I’m a mediocre artist at best.”

“Mom! Your paintings are incredible.”

Gia rolled her eyes. “You’re biased, just like your nonna. But we’re not here to talk about me. We’re here to talk about Camilla. And as beautiful as she is now, she was absolutely stunning as a teenager, and the camera loved her. It didn’t surprise me when she landed a lucrative modeling contract in LA, and I encouraged her to take it. I didn’t encourage my husband to follow her to LA, and neither did Camilla, but he did.”

“It sounds like Nonna’s right, and he was aculo. Although I can think of a few other expletives that fit the bill.” Willow smiled at Carmen when she snorted and then said to her mom, “I’m guessing Cami asked you to keep me when she went to LA?”

“I offered before she could ask. The plan was for you to stay with me until she got on her feet. But then a year went by and Camilla rarely checked in anymore, let alone visited, so I asked her for legal custody of you.” She placed her hand over Willow’s. “In my heart, you were mine, and I couldn’t think of giving you up. Sage would’ve been as devastated as I would’ve been.”

It wasn’t until that moment that the fact Sage wasn’t her sister, but her cousin, sank in. Willow briefly closed her eyes, fighting back tears. It didn’t matter, she told herself, just as it didn’t matter that Gia wasn’t her biological mother. They were the mother and sister of her heart, and nothing changed that.

Willow cleared the emotion from her throat. “What did Cami say when you asked for custody of me?”

“She asked for more time. She wasn’t ready to give you up.” Her mother smiled at Carmen. “So I called my mother and asked to come home, and she and Eva arrived at my door seven hours later, helped pack up the house and you girls, and moved us home.”

“You see, this is exactly why I don’t understand how you could cut Cami out of your lives. You guys are always there for one another no matter what.” Willow, Sage, and Lila were the same.

Her mother and grandmother shared a look. Willow was about to call them on it when her phone pinged. She glanced at the text and grimaced. “So, uh, Sage wants to know what’s going on. She’s planning on bringing Cami to the restaurant. We told her you were coming home today.”

Her mother’s lips flattened, and she crossed her arms. “I don’t want to see her.”

“Mom!” Willow looked to her grandmother for help. “Nonna?”

Her grandmother bit her bottom lip, casting a tentative glance at her daughter.

Sensing she might have an ally in Carmen, Willow pushed on, “Whatever happened between you guys was a long time ago. Isn’t it about time you let it go? Don’t you think Cami’s been punished long enough? She doesn’t have anyone, and she loves you. All of you.”

“If Willow can forgive Camilla, maybe it’s time we did too, Gia.”

“She doesn’t kn—” Willow’s mother clamped her mouth shut.

“Mom, Cami has no memories past seventeen. She’s lost and lonely, and she needs her family. All of her family. Please, for me, can’t you just try and remember the sister you once loved?”

“Tell your sister to bring Camilla,” her grandmother said, raising a hand when Gia sputtered a protest. “If you don’t want to be here, that’s fine. But I want to see my daughter.”

“As if I’m going to let you deal with her on your own. Just don’t expect me to fawn all over her. She always got away with everything, and I don’t plan on letting her waltz in here thinking everything is forgiven.”

Chapter Nineteen

Camilla winced as she lifted the queen-size mattress with both hands and then swallowed a celebratory cheer. After her memory had returned three days ago, whenever the opportunity arose—which was rarely—she’d searched every room in the beach house for her phone, positive Riley would have hidden it anywhere but in Camilla’s room. She supposed she had Lucky to thank for finally finding it. He’d barked almost the entire night, covering the sounds of her searching her bedroom.

Lifting her leg, Camilla slid it between the mattress and box spring, reaching for the phone with the tips of her toes. It took several attempts before she managed to pull it to the edge of the mattress. She let the mattress drop back onto the bed and then stuck in her hand and retrieved her phone.

She sat on the bed and made the call she’d been desperate to make for the past three days.