PRINCE CHARMING: A Stepbrother Secret Baby Romance(99)

“That may be the case, but we have already paid to be somewhere else,” Claire countered.

“Don’t you like it here?” Amy asked.

“I thought you didn’t even want to go to St. Lucia,” Willow pointed out as she rejoined the conversation. “We aren’t really losing if we are on a private island getting royal treatment. But…you wouldn’t know because you haven’t done anything.”

“Exactly!” Amy said. “Claire, the purpose of this trip is to get your mind off of…you know…”

“That’s exactly why I am staying away from people, especially men,” she said to Amy. “I can’t seem to do anything without thinking of Trent. Even taking a shower is a reminder, and I am not too keen on being with another man for one night just to get him off my mind. As a matter of fact, if I thought that would work, I would do it, but it won’t so that would be a dumb mistake on my part.”

“I’m not saying you should hook up with some random man, Claire,” Amy said. “We’re saying you can’t stay holed up in your room, and what you are doing now is a perfect indication of what will happen in St. Lucia.”

“I don’t need you two breathing down my neck,” Claire seethed, her temper getting hot. “I will deal with this in my own time and in my own way. You can’t force me.”

“Okay,” Willow grumbled as she threw her hands in the air in defeat. “I’m not trying to force you into anything, Claire.”

“Whatever. And you, Mom, I saw the way that man was touching you.”

“Oh, that’s Bryan. After you girls wandered off, I got bored and decided to stretch my legs. He approached me, and he wasn’t hard on the eyes, either,” she said.

“Bryan, is it?” Amy teased.

“Amy, don’t make me come over there,” she threatened with a laugh. “I saw you with that man yesterday, and just now out there. What’s that about?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “He keeps inviting me, but when I’m with him I sense he is unavailable. I’m not sure what’s going on there. He seems to be messed up.”

“Which brings me to my point,” Claire interjected. “You don’t even know these people. The plane made an emergency landing, and right away you two are trying to hook up with strangers.”

“All friends were once strangers,” Willow pointed out. “You just have to take that leap sometime.”

“Well, I hope it works out for the both of you,” Claire said. “I’m off to bed.”

“At least we agree on that. It has been a long day,” Willow said.

“Me too,” Amy added and slipped out of her sandals.

Before long they were all curled up on the king sized bed, and the billowy softness of the spread was enough to transport them easily into the land of dreams.

***

When they woke the next morning, they could hear the hustling and bustling taking place outside their door. Claire got up and peeked into the hallway. “What’s going on?” she asked a woman she recognized from the plane.

“The weather has cleared. The captain has asked us to return to the airstrip. We will be leaving in an hour or so.”

“Thanks,” Claire said. “Mom! Amy! We gotta go!” she said as she walked over to the bed and yanked the covers off them.

“What? Go where?” Willow asked, sleep still clinging to her eyes. “I’m not ready to leave.”

“The weather has cleared, and the captain has given us instructions to get back to the airstrip.”

“So soon?” Willow asked, obviously disappointed.

“Don’t worry, Mom. I’m sure you will meet him again,” she said.

One hour later, the passengers were boarding the plane to St. Lucia. Only Willow and Amy sported long faces as they thought of the men they were leaving behind.

The flight to St. Lucia was turbulence-free, and Willow stared out the window the entire time. Amy buried herself in her tablet, and Claire, like she wanted, was left alone to the tortures of her own mind.

“I told him where we were headed,” Willow said after a long while.

“You think he will follow you?” Claire asked. She knew her mother was lonely after spending so many years without a single date. Claire had pried her from her work to take her out sometimes, so in truth, she shouldn’t be blocking a relationship. But she didn’t think a relationship could develop after meeting a man, any man, while stuck on an island overnight.

“That wouldn’t be the worst thing,” Willow said.

“No, it wouldn’t,” Claire said. “But I wouldn’t count on it.”

“Why must you be so negative?” Willow grouched. “Just because you’re miserable doesn’t mean everyone else has to be!” she snapped. She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry,” she sighed and wiped her hand down her face. “I’m just…”

“You’re right,” Claire sighed. “I am in no position to decide for anyone who is best for them. Look what my own choice produced.”

“Claire, I didn’t mean…” Willow started apologizing.

“It’s alright, Mom,” she said sadly. “There’s no need to apologize.”