Page 19 of One Moment in Time
The memory made her smile more than it should. It was a few months before the divorce. Before everything happened. Before she’d found out what he’d been up to. In hindsight, the clues about his latest antics had all been there. Selfies? That alone should have started the alarm bells ringing. There he was, posing like an absolute eejit in front of swanky yachts and then sending the photos to his mates. At least, that’s what she’d thought he was doing. Turns out the truth was very different.
An involuntary shiver ran down her spine and she shook it off. Why was she thinking about that waste of space now when her son was on the phone planning something wonderful? Excitement pushed the dreaded memories out of the way and took centre stage again. With a bit of jazz hands for extra effect. This was going to be sen-fricking-sational.
‘Can I get back to you on the destination, Mom? Here’s the thing, I want it to be a surprise, so I just need you to trust me.’
She definitely did. Even if the very thought of that made her inner control freak – the one that found life after she was forced to pick up the pieces after her divorce – want to lie down in a dark room.
‘Fine by me, son. I’m just happy to be getting the chance to do this.’
‘Me too, Mom. It’s going to be great. I have to go just now – plans to make and things to arrange.’
‘Okay. Dinner this week some time?’
‘Sure. I’ll come over Wednesday. I’ll bring some wings. The Lakers game is on at eight, so we can catch that.’
That had always been their thing. No gender stereotypes in their house. She was the one who’d always watched sport with him, gone to games, made it a priority to be involved in the stuff that interested him. Dinner this week and then a trip with her son. Her smile was making her cheeks hurt.
She picked up her cell and texted Trevon.
Change of plan. On way to gym. See you there.
The Holiday, The ProposalandHow To Lose A Guy In 10 Dayscould wait. Life wasn’t so bad after all.
9
ZARA
16 May 2023
The minivan they’d ordered to take them to the airport turned up bang on time. At the shop window, Zara gave a cheer as she watched it coming down the street at 8 a.m. – mostly because, at the very same time, a taxi was arriving containing her sister.
Zara wrenched open the front door. ‘I swear to God, you’re going to give me a heart attack. I was leaving without you,’ she told Millie, watching as she pulled herself out of the cab, still in the bright red minidress she’d worn to go out the night before. Although, it now appeared to be partially covered by a man’s shirt that was tied at her waist, and she was wearing hotel slippers on her feet. Her fake tan, eyelash extensions and dark wavy weave were still, however, looking spectacular.
‘You worry too much,’ Millie told her, blowing her a kiss as she passed her at the door. The only consolation was that Zara had insisted her sister fully pack the night before, so Millie’s cases were sitting, ready, waiting to be loaded into the van. ‘Let me just go brush my teeth. I’ve showered, so I promise I’m peachy fresh. And then I’ve got the best story to tell you. I think I’m in love.’
Zara was already multitasking, pushing cases out of the door to the minivan driver while discussing Millie’s romantic life. ‘With the same guy you were in love with last week?’
‘Nope. I’m over that one. He wears socks with small animals on them.’
In fairness to the van driver, he didn’t bat an eyelid at this information.
Zara got the van loaded, taking extra-special care of the case containing Gran’s dress. It was one of those folded-over suit-carrier thingies and she was taking that in her hand luggage. The very thought of it going in a suitcase that could potentially get lost made her stomach lurch. Millie said she felt the same about the bag containing her make-up.
‘I’m back. How do I smell?’ Millie asked her, before exhaling in her face.
‘Minty,’ Zara confirmed, relieved to see that Millie had also lost the red dress and slippers and changed into cream leggings, a matching crop top, white trainers and a sexy long oatmeal cardigan. On mere mortals, cream was a brave colour choice for travelling, but Millie liked to stand out. Zara couldn’t help but compare it to her own travel wear: jeans, black boots and a navy blazer over a white T-shirt. Unremarkable, bordering on boring. Sometimes she was fairly convinced that she and her sister had never shared a womb.
Zara stopped Millie at the door of the van. ‘Passport?’
‘Yes.’
‘Purse?’
‘Yes.’
‘Phone?’
‘Yes. I’ve also got an uptight sister who keeps checking stuff. Do I get extra points for that?’
