“Reya,” said Samuel, reaching out as though to take my hand. I stiffened and he pulled back. I was happy that they’d come, but that didn’t mean I was ready to hold hands. Clearing his throat, he continued, “We want to . . . no, we need to apologise for what you suffered at the hands of our parents. We’re ashamed that we stood by and stayed silent. We’d like a chance to make amends, but do understand if you won’t accept that. Us.”
I sat very still, hardly able to comprehend what I was hearing. For so many years I’d imagined this moment. It felt entirely too surreal that they were here, and I knew it was no small thing. Their presence meant they were taking a stand. It meant they’d finally listened to their consciences and chosen me over our parents’ iron fist. A surge of validation ran through me, even if it was eight years too late.
“What about Mamá and Papá?” I asked, needing to address the most pertinent issue. “Do they know you’re here?”
Paula and Samuel shared a glance, then Paula answered, “After you ended our phone call today, I confronted them both. I told them I wanted to see you, and needless to say, we fought. Samuel stuck up for me and they eventually said that if we wanted to see you there was nothing they could do to stop us, but they’d never approve of it.”
That sounded like my parents all right. “And I bet they pissed their pants when you walked out the door tonight,” I said wryly.
Paula covered her mouth as she let out a surprised laugh. She was almost seven years older than me, but she still possessed certain childlike traits because my parents kept her so sheltered. Like, the fact that I just referred to them pissing their pants would be pretty scandalous to her.
Samuel’s lips twitched in a smile. “Something like that.”
I smiled at both of them. “Well, in that case, let’s start getting reacquainted, shall we? I want to see Mamá retire to her fainting couch before the week is through.”
We sat at that table for almost two hours talking. I learned that Samuel’s wife just gave birth to their third son and Paula was taking a secretarial course in the city. They offered to drive me back to the apartment, and we parted with a promise to stay in touch. Paula and I were even going to go for manicures when we got back to London.
Life was so bloody weird.
I strolled into the building on a high, smiling to myself all the while. I’d been so angry at Trev for tricking me into seeing my family, but it turned out he was right. If it weren’t for him being selfless and risking our tentative reunion, something he’d obviously yearned for, tonight never would’ve happened. I never would’ve made the first step to reconciling with my siblings.
I thought he was being careless, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. By taking that risk he might’ve lost me, but he did it anyway because he cared about me finding peace more than he did his own happiness.
Everybody was asleep when I got in and I quietly crawled into bed. Part of me was disappointed I couldn’t share my joy with Trev, but I didn’t want to wake him up.
The following day we travelled to Barcelona, the final destination of our three-week stint. Everything was a crazy rush, so I didn’t get a chance to speak with Trev and tell him the good news. The train was at full capacity so Neil and I had to take seats on a separate carriage to everyone else.
Almost as soon as we arrived in the city the group started filming. We made our way to Park Güell, with its crazy, surreal explosion of colour and unusual shapes. I’d seen it in pictures and films, but being there in real life felt like I’d fallen asleep and woken up in a sunny dreamland.
There were so many places for the group to run and show off, and I felt a little sorry for Trev because he couldn’t take full advantage due to his wrist. I watched from the sideline, leaning over the edge of a mosaic wall, as he gestured with his good hand, explaining to Isaac how he wanted him to climb a giant lizard statue and backflip to the ground.
I gasped in surprise when someone grabbed me from behind, my heart hammering as I turned around to find Alexis beaming at me. She wore the biggest smile and I squealed as I pulled her into a hug. Lee, Karla and King were just a few yards behind.
“You guys. Oh my goodness, it’s so good to see you.”
“And you,” Alexis replied giddily, hugging me back as Karla joined in and I heard Lee chuckle.
“You ladies got room for one more?” he asked as he came and joined our group hug. King stood off to the side, an amused smile gracing his handsome features, the sun glinting off his long blond hair. He wasn’t the group-hug type. After a minute I stepped back, and my heart filled with joy. Tears pricked at my eyes but I endeavoured to blink them away.
“Really,” I went on. “You have no idea how good it feels to see some familiar faces.”
Karla, ever the perceptive one, drew her brows together in concern. “Has everything been all right?”
“Everything is fine, it’s just . . . it’s a long story, one that requires a bottle of wine and a good meal.”
“Well, we were planning on hitting up a restaurant to grab dinner,” said Lee. “Who’s in the mood for an aperol spritz?”
Karla rolled her eyes. “How many times do I have to tell you? You can only get those in Italy.”
Lee’s disappointed frown was comical. “But I thought they were a Mediterranean thing? Fucking hell, those drinks are half the reason I planned this trip.”
King shot me an exasperated look. “You think he’s joking, but it’s the truth. He’s obsessed with those disgusting cocktails.”
“I agree. They’re the devil’s nectar,” said Karla.
“Why is everyone ganging up on me?” Lee complained with a dramatic pout. He reminded me so much of Trev in that instant it was eerie.
“If you ask for a spritz on our vineyard tours, I’m pretending I don’t know you,” said King. He sounded serious.
Alexis groaned. “Oh God, why are you lot so intent on torturing me? It’s a sick joke to take a pregnant woman to a vineyard.”
My mouth fell open in shock. “Hold up. You’re pregnant?”
She turned to me with a big smile. “Yep. Up the duff again. There’s no stopping these slutty ovaries. All they seem to want to do is make babies.”
King shot her an amused glance as I pulled her into another hug and squeezed her tight. “That’s amazing, Lexie. Congratulations,” I glanced at King, “to both of you.”
“Thanks,” said King. “We’re over the moon.”
“This’ll be our only break before the baby’s born, so King’s mum offered to mind Oliver while we’re away,” Alexis went on.
“Oh, that’s great. Although I’m sad I won’t get to see him this week. He’s such a cutie-pie.”
Lee rubbed his hands together. “So, this is the plan. We’re going to go say hello to Trev then head for food. You in?”
I glanced over to where Trev was still directing Isaac. He hadn’t yet noticed our visitors. “I’m not sure if we’ll be able to leave yet. There’s another two hours left of filming.”
“Not a problem, we can wait.”
“Oh, no we can’t,” Alexis argued, rubbing her stomach—which I now noticed was slightly more rounded than usual.
“We’ll get you an ice cream to keep you going,” said Lee.