Page 108 of The Oscar Escape
“Speaking of Etta, I just saw her. There may be a few issues,” Del said, putting on a cheery face, but worry flashed in his eyes.
“Issues?” Aria asked, coming to her feet as the thrum of helicopter blades beat in the distance.
Del shifted his stance. “Something with the press, a concern over boats docking on the other side of the island, another viral video, and a problem with the rental chairs,” the man rattled off.
The knot in her belly tightened. What if they’d garnered too much attention? What if the festival was a colossal failure because she’d pushed her plan onto the residents?
Oscar came to her side. “We’ll take care of it, Del. Something always comes up when it comes to large-scale events. Aria and I can handle it.”
“Can I go with Del? Please, please, please?” Ivy begged.
Oscar ran his hands through his hair, then patted the pocket of his hoodie. Was he subconsciously feeling for cigarettes? Was he that stressed?
“Did you make your bed?” he asked, his mind clearly somewhere else.
“Yes.”
“And you ate breakfast?” Aria asked.
Ivy released a pained breath. “I had oatmeal with the lobstermen. Sheesh, you guys are worse than my mom and dad.”
Oscar patted his sister’s shoulder. “Yes, you can go.”
Aria smoothed a few errant wisps of the girl’s hair. “Wear your life jacket—a new one, not one of the moldy ones from the dawn of time.”
“I will. I promise.” The little girl started to leave the room with Del but turned on her heel and bolted back into the bedroom.
“Whoa!” Aria cried as Ivy wrapped her little arms around her.
“I’m glad Oscar married you. I always loved you a lot, but now I get to love you like a sister,” Ivy whispered.
“I love you like a sister, too, Ives. Have fun on the boat with Del.” Aria grinned at the girl, hoping Ivy couldn’t sense her nervousness.
“I can stay and help,” Ivy offered, worry clouding her gaze.
Dammit, the kid could read her like a book.
“No, we’ll be fine. Enjoy the boat ride. Your brother and I have a lot to do before the festival starts. Normal last-minute event stuff. You don’t need to be concerned.”
“Adults usually say stuff like that when they’re worried,” Ivy countered.
Aria’s mouth opened and closed like a flounder. “Um . . .”
“Give me a hug, Ives,” Oscar said, jumping in. “We’ll see you in a bit.”
Del and Ivy left the cottage, and a heavy silence swallowed the room.
“We should check with Etta,” Oscar said, slight irritation laced into his words as he turned away from her to put on his shoes.
She followed suit and got her boots. “Yeah, I’m sure there are only a few hiccups.”
He was feeling the weight of the day, too.
The beat of helicopter blades drew closer. Or was that a second helicopter?
She went to the dresser and grabbed her Havenmatch Island ball cap and a pair of sunglasses Georgia had lent her. Going for incognito, she put on the dark glasses and pulled the cap down low. She swished her wavy hair over her shoulders to further obscure her face. The plan was for her to stay in the background and work behind the scenes. Georgia could conduct the musicians for the concert at the amphitheater. As the mastermind of the PR plan, none of the islanders seemed to think it was out of the ordinary for her to play this behind-the-scenes role. Her identity had and would remain a secret. She had to make it one more day. She’d come clean after her concert in Denver. Sure, her new island friends might be surprised when they learned her identity, but they’d understand. At least, she hoped they would. A glint caught her eye. She stared at her ring, and the familiar questions that needled at her heart broke into her consciousness.
Where did she fit into this world? What legacy would her parents want her to uphold?
