“Like I said, no harm, no foul.”
“Cal! Come on, we need everyone for this next shot,” Trev called, looking surprised to see us both sitting together. I shot him a look that said I found it just as weird as he did. Callum wasn’t exactly the type to seek others out, and he’d never taken much of an interest in me in general.
He blew out a breath and stood, dusting off his trousers. “Well, good talk. I better get over there.”
“Sure. And think about what I said, yeah?” I replied, looking up at him with a kind expression.
He nodded and started making his way across the park. I sat in thought for a little while, wondering if things ever would work out with him and Leanne. There was certainly a lot of feelings there, on both ends, but they were that couple who seemed more inclined to self-destruct than reach an understanding.
A few minutes later my phone rang and I pulled it from my bag, thinking it was Karla calling with the good news about the upcoming trip. But when I looked at the screen I didn’t recognise the number. I answered it warily.
“Hello?”
“Reya?”
I sucked in a deep, shocked breath when I recognised the voice. “Paula?”
There was a long silence and I heard a door snick shut. Her voice was hushed when she replied, “Goodness, I’m so sorry about yesterday. You came all this way and how Mamá spoke to you . . .” She drifted off and every muscle in my body tightened. This was the first time we’d talked in years and it felt surreal.
“I didn’t come all this way just for you. I’ve been travelling and happened to be in Madrid . . .”
“Oh,” Paula breathed. “Well, again, I truly feel awful. There’s just no making her see sense sometimes.”
I scoffed at that. “Have you ever tried? I swear, Paula, you’re so scared of our parents they might as well be a pair of culebre.”
Her voice was remorseful. “You know what they’re like.”
“They’re weak,” I spat. “And you’re even weaker for letting them rule your life. When Mamá asked if you wanted to talk to me, I knew you wanted to say yes, but you just told her what she wanted to hear.”
It suddenly struck me that I was glad to be the outcast. If I could choose between my life and Paula’s, even with all the suffering I’d endured, I’d still choose my own every time. The thought was oddly liberating. I never wanted to be the kind of daughter it took to keep my parents happy. I’d rather be free and have no family, than have them and be shackled.
“That’s why I’m calling you now, to make up for it. Samuel feels awful about the whole thing, too,” Paula replied. Wow, was she finally growing a backbone? Then I remembered the sound of the door closing and mentally rolled my eyes.
“So you’re not hiding behind a closed door whispering in case anybody hears you?” I challenged.
I knew I was talking too loud when a couple crewmembers eating lunch a few yards away shot me curious looks. Paula didn’t say anything, but I could hear her anxious breathing on the other end of the line.
I decided there was no point arguing. After all, I’d wanted this for years. I wanted her to get in touch, even though I found her lack of courage, her inability to stand up for what was right, deeply abhorrent. “Look, I’m playing a gig at La Cortina tonight. If you really want to talk, come see me play.”
“I’m not sure if I—”
“Paula, either come or don’t, but this is the only chance you’re going to get.”
With that I hung up, my heart pounding wildly in my chest. I talked a good talk, but deep down I hoped like hell she came. I wanted to know my sister again, even if she was a coward when it came to our parents. Maybe I could teach her how to branch out on her own.
Across the way, I saw the group had started filming again. Isaac climbed to the top of a streetlamp then spun effortlessly to the ground. I smiled, thinking of how far he’d come in such little time. I’d eat my hat if Barry didn’t offer him a full-time part on the show next season. He was young, handsome, a skilled free runner, not to mention he had the most amazing accent. They’d be fools not to take him on. Plus, everyone in the group seemed to love him.
For the rest of the day I barely ate a thing. I couldn’t stop fretting about Paula and whether she was going to come to my gig. On stage at the small club where I was playing, I sat down at my keyboard and clumsily worked my way through each song, messing up so many times I was surprised the manager didn’t kick me out. I couldn’t take my eyes off the entrance all through my set, anxious to see Paula walk through.
But she never showed.
I’d resigned myself to the fact that she wasn’t coming when I introduced my final song of the night. I closed my eyes and played so softly, you’d swear I was trying to imitate a feather hitting the piano keys. Then something tugged at my senses. I felt someone’s attention and opened my eyes to see both Paula and my brother, Samuel, standing just inside the venue. They saw me sing and play piano on countless occasions growing up, but now they looked at me like it was the first time. In awe.
I sang louder. I closed my eyes and played better than ever. I sang like it was the last time I would. I wanted them to see that this was me. This was the sister they’d shunned, the one they’d left out in the cold, called a liar, made feel worthless. Guilty.
I opened my eyes, refusing to close them any longer. Trev was right. I closed my eyes in shame, feeling I was doing something wrong. Now? I refused to feel that way anymore. I refused to hide. I refused to let my family believe I didn’t exist.
Paula and Samuel took seats at a table just a few feet from the stage. When I finished my set, I thanked the audience and stepped down to join them. Both stood when I approached, but I gestured for them to sit back down as I took a seat on the other side of the table.
“You came,” I said, still having a hard time believing they were here, not just Paula, but Samuel, too.
“Yes, we wanted to come. Both of us,” said Paula, her hands fidgeting nervously in her lap.
“I’m so sorry about yesterday,” Samuel added. “It was a surprise for all of us when you showed up.”
I arched a brow. “I bet.”
“You sang wonderfully just now. I remember you writing your own songs growing up, but seeing you play for an audience was so different. You’re very talented,” Paula gushed, and I felt a flush of pleasure at the compliment.
“Thank you,” I replied quietly.