Chapter 18

Chapter Eighteen

Luke

I was making my way across to the guest rooms. I hoped to get all the way there without running into my mom. I managed to avoid her, but unfortunately, my dad spotted me as he was heading to his office, no doubt to take a fortifying sip of brandy before having to converse with guests again. My dad much preferred to spend his days in solitude in his office or out on his putting green. These kinds of events were strictly for my mom.

“Lucas, just realized we haven’t spoken yet. Pop into my office, would you?”

“I’m in a hurry, but all right.” I stepped into his office. It was one of those dark, pompous spaces with floor-to-ceiling wood paneling, a mahogany desk fit for a king and dark curtains drawn over the window. Even as adults, his office was off-limits unless we were invited in. Not that any of us had any interest in stepping into his office. It always smelled heavily of tobacco and whatever cologne my dad was wearing.

As predicted, he walked straight to his brandy cart and put a splash in a sifter. “I’d offer you a drink, but I know you don’t like brandy.” He took a sip. “Just a little fortification. Your mother is very distraught about this young woman you brought to the wedding. She seems sweet and pretty enough, but really Luke, it’s time you thought about something more serious, more long term. Miss Carlton seems like quite the catch.”

“Yes, and you’re an expert on that because you set your own daughter up with a dry piece of cardboard. Seriously, Dad, what were you thinking?”

He took another sip of brandy. “David has all the right family connections and money, and he’s easy-going, the opposite of your sister. They’re well suited for each other.”

“So, love plays no part in marriage then?”

He chuckled. I could count on one hand the number of times I’d heard my dad laugh. Hazel insisted, as a boy, he was quite the trickster and loved to horse around. I only wish I’d gotten to see that side of him. “You’re not telling me that you’re in love with that little blonde? I can see she has attributes that most men would find appealing?—”

“My god, listen to yourself. It sounds like you’re talking about a new car. Isla is funny and smart and has more compassion and kindness in her pinky finger than all of us Greysons put together.” I was surprised just how upset this conversation was making me. Normally, whatever Dad said rolled off my back. He had his ways and I had mine, and we never saw eye-to-eye on anything, but the way he was talking about Isla had triggered my temper.

“That might be the case, but compassion and kindness don’t get you ahead in life.”

“Maybe it should. I’ve got to go. Isla is expecting me.”

“I’m not through yet, son.” He spluttered the words, stunned and angry that I was walking out on his useless lecture.

“You might not be, but I am.” I walked out of the office. Rachel better not get married more than once because this one weekend was more than enough.

My temper hadn’t cooled by the time I reached the door, and I knocked too hard. Isla pulled open the door, and her smile instantly made me relax. But she sensed something was up. She was incredibly intuitive, and sometimes it felt as if we’d known each other forever instead of a few days.

Her smile faded. “Is the movie date cancelled?”

“No. I just had a chat with my dad, and this is the face I usually wear after talking to him.”

Even her grimace was adorable. “I’m sorry to hear that. Nothing too important, I hope.”

I shook my head and realized it was important to me, but I’d never let her know that she was the topic. “Just boring business stuff. Ready for the movie?”

Isla’s smile returned. “Ready.”

I held out my arm for her to take. She raised a brow at the gesture. “In case we get ambushed by you-know-who,” I explained.

Isla shivered. I stopped and turned to her with a chuckle. “Did you just shiver at the mention of my mom?”

Her hand flew to her face. “I’m so embarrassed. It was like this weird instinctual thing—fight or flight. I guess I’ve been in the midst of both of those all weekend whenever your mom is near. I’m sorry.”

“Sorry about what? I don’t blame you, and frankly, you’re tough as nails when it comes to my mom. Very admirable.”

“It does feel a little like combat.”

We passed several guests on the way to the elevator and got past them with just a few smiles and quick greetings. Once inside the elevator, I heard Isla release a breath. We’d made it through the house without running into my mom. We both considered that a victory.

“I’m excited. This might be the best part of the whole weekend, second only to that bathtub.”

The doors slid open. “I’m looking forward to it, too.” I waved her out.

“Do you think she’ll be exceptional?” Isla asked.

“Who?”

“Alexandria. She had years of professional voice lessons.” We turned down the hallway to the theater.

“I have no idea. I’m looking forward to hearing you though.”

“Well, set your sights and expectations lower there, darling. By the way, what did ya think of that one— darling ?”

“Didn’t mind it. Especially when it was followed up by a kiss.” I glanced over to see her blush, and it didn’t disappoint.

“How was she at riding?” Isla asked as I held the theater door for her. “I mean, that’ll give me some indication about her singing talent. I assume she had years of equestrian training, too.”

“Probably, but I don’t think she rode any better than the rest of us. She just looks better doing it.”

“I imagine she looks better doing just about anything compared to the rest of us. She’s probably even gorgeous brushing her teeth.”

I took her hand before she could hurry over to the candy counter. She stared at our two clasped hands before lifting her blue gaze. There was that magnetic crash and pull. It caught me off guard every time. “Alex isn’t anything special. Really, Isla. I’m looking at the most unique, interesting, smartest person I’ve met in a long time. She’s here, standing right in front of me.” I chuckled. “And even as I’m saying this, she’s thinking about that Almond Joy bar. And I like her even more for it.”

Isla laughed. “Could you see that blue and white wrapper sparkling in my eyes?”

I circled around to the back of the candy counter.

“M&M’s too, please. I’ll see if I can find us two seats together.” She laughed as she wandered down the aisle to the front row.

“Do you want popcorn?” I called.

“What kind of glutton do you think I am?” She sat down, looked up at the screen and then hopped back up to try a different seat. “Actually, a small bucket maybe. It’ll be a nice contrast to the sweet candy.”

“One small bucket, coming up.” I walked over to the popcorn cart. “Butter?”

“Who do you think I am, a barbarian? Of course, butter. And salt.” She hopped into another seat, looked up at the screen and leaned the chair back. “Found our seats.”

Minutes later the entire theater was filled with the smell of popcorn. I walked to the control panel, did a search for the movie and grabbed the remote to take with me to our seats. I scooped some popcorn into a bucket, grabbed two water bottles from the cooler and joined Isla. The massive leather chair practically swallowed her up.

“Rachel, Bryan and I used to have a race to see who could hop over the seats from the top row to the bottom. Sometimes we spent more time playing in this room than watching movies. In fact, sitting in here brings up one significant childhood memory.”

We settled back comfortably. Isla’s head was resting back against the seat, but she was turned my direction, listening with interest.

“It was Rachel’s eighth birthday. There was a big birthday party, of course. My mom hired a bunch of people to run it, so all she did was stay tucked inside gossiping with her friends. I don’t even remember her stepping out for the candle blowing. After everyone left, Rachel decided to ride her new pony.”

“A new pony,” Isla said dreamily. “What little girl didn’t want a pony? Although I was more a bicycle type, but Layla begged for a pony every year.”

“Well, this pony was a stinker. He came with a big pedigree and famous parentage, but he was ornery as a bucking bronco.”

Isla sat up slightly. “Did she get thrown?”

I nodded. “I was hanging on the side of the arena watching. Rachel went straight up in the air and landed on her right arm.”

Isla flinched and even brought her right arm closer.

“She broke her arm in two places. That night, after the doctor left?—”

Isla sat up and turned toward me. “The doctor came to the house? You have got to be kidding me!”

“Sometimes I wish I were. After he left, my parents took off for a late-night dinner party. Rachel was so upset, and she was in pain, and frankly, she was shaken from the whole thing. I wasn’t entirely sure she’d get back on a horse again after that. Our nighttime nanny at that time was a grizzled, stern woman who didn’t have a sympathetic bone in her body. She gave Rachel a glass of milk and told her she’d feel better in the morning. I waited for the nanny to go to bed, and I collected all of Rachel’s favorite stuffed animals and blankets, and we snuck down here to the theater. We huddled together, eating as much candy as we could hold down and watching an all-night Disney movie marathon. Rachel fell asleep with her head on my shoulder and hugging her favorite stuffed unicorn with her good arm.”

“Oh my gosh, that story earns five gold stars for cuteness.” She rested back. “I’m glad you had each other.”

“Yeah, me too. Well, are we ready to fire up this classic?”

Isla patted the popcorn bucket in the holder and the candy bars tucked in the tray next to her. “I’m ready.” Her phone beeped. “Oops, let me silence my phone.” She pulled it out and glanced at it. “Oh wow, I would not want to meet up with the leprechaun under this toadstool.”

Before I could ask what on earth she was talking about, she held her phone in front of me. A young woman wearing a straw hat and wading boots was holding a massive mushroom. She had black hair and beautiful green eyes. “Only need one of those for stroganoff. I take it that’s the sister on the fungus-finding mission.”

“Yep, that’s Ava. She’s the adventure sister. She has a big world map up in the bedroom we share, and she sticks pins in the places she’s been. That poster is covered with pins.”

“How about you?” I asked. “Are any of those pins yours?”

“My sisters and I did travel to North Carolina one summer. Ella was dying to see the Biltmore and Aria had Ocracoke Island on her bucket list. She’s strangely enamored with pirate lore. Honestly, I think I’d miss Whisper Cove too much if I traveled too far away from it.” Isla silenced the phone, pushed it into her pocket and turned to me. “Luke, thank you for taking the time to do this with me. I know it’s kind of cheesy, but I’ve never done anything like this.”

I looked over at her. The light sconces on the walls put a soft glow over the whole room and her pretty face. “I don’t think this is cheesy at all. In fact, thank you for asking to do this. Sometimes, my world races past, and I forget to take time to enjoy it.”

“Then I’m glad. Now fire that sucker up. I’m ready to be completely immersed in the world of Dr. Frederick von Fronkensteen .”