Absent in the Spring (The Shakespeare Sisters 3)

Every time he said something like that he made her heart clatter against her ribcage. It wasn’t fear, though, it was anticipation, and the knowledge that this gorgeous man really wanted her. He’d touched her scars and he thought them beautiful – even the invisible ones.

‘Our kids?’ she repeated, unable to take the smile off her face. ‘We’re having children?’

‘Right after we get married.’

‘I love the way you’ve got it all worked out.’ She rolled her eyes at her sisters, but the two of them were grinning back at her. Kitty pretended to do a mock-swoon. It felt so good to have her sisters near her. All except one.

‘Are you okay?’ Lachlan asked her, sliding his arm around her slender waist. He must have noticed her change in expression.

‘I was just thinking about Juliet,’ she told him. ‘How I wish she could be here, too.’

‘She’s so upset she couldn’t make it,’ Cesca agreed, her expression as downcast as Lucy’s. ‘But right now she can’t do anything to rile Thomas up, not until their divorce is settled.’

In the past few months, things between Juliet and Thomas had become irreconcilable. The sisters had spent long hours on the telephone or computer, talking about her options, and how he was using their daughter, Poppy, as a pawn to control Juliet. Lucy had wanted to fly over to Maryland to beat her brother-in-law up; not only had he broken Juliet’s heart, but he was breaking her spirit, too.

‘I wish she’d let us help,’ Cesca said, her voice quiet. ‘That place she’s renting is tiny, and needs so much work doing on it. But she won’t accept a penny.’

‘Look who’s talking,’ Kitty said. ‘You’re the one who refused any help when you were hopping from apartment to apartment in London.’

‘And you’re the one who refused any help from me or Sam when you were looking for an internship in LA,’ Cesca pointed out.

‘I think we can agree we’re all as stubborn as mules,’ Lucy said.

‘Yep, I can agree with that.’ Lachlan winked, and she rolled her eyes at him. ‘But that’s the way I like you all. Strong willed and full of pride. That’s the Shakespeare sisters all over.’

He meant it as a compliment, Lucy knew that much. He’d told her enough times it was one of the things he loved about her. The way she never let things bring her down, the way she tackled life head-on. She was a fighter, she didn’t give up, no matter what twists and turns she encountered.

‘Hopefully things will be sorted with Juliet soon,’ Kitty said.

‘They will,’ Lucy said firmly.

From the corner of her eye, she could see Sam and Adam walking towards them, both holding a pint of beer in their hands.

Sam walked up behind Cesca and slid his arm around her. ‘Everything okay?’ he asked.

‘It is,’ Cesca said, her face lighting up as soon as she heard his voice. ‘I was just wondering if we could get married here. It feels like the perfect place.’

Lucy felt the excitement grip her. ‘Would you want to?’ she asked. ‘There’s a gorgeous little chapel in the village, and the lodge is perfect for a reception. Or it will be, just as soon as they get the renovations done. And it’s remote, too. Lots of privacy.’

‘When will they be done?’ Sam asked.

‘It’s going to take at least six months,’ Lachlan said. ‘Why don’t we talk to Alistair in the morning?’

Cesca turned in Sam’s arm. ‘Do you think you could wait?’ she asked him. ‘It would be easy to keep the paparazzi away if we did it here. Between Lucy and Lachlan, they’d pretty much scare them off.’

Lucy laughed. ‘Don’t be rude.’

‘I can wait if you can,’ Sam whispered, caressing Cesca’s face with his fingers. ‘Whatever makes you happy, baby.’

‘Maybe by that point Juliet’

s divorce will be final, too,’ Lucy said, ‘and she and Poppy could be here for the wedding.’

‘That would be wonderful,’ Kitty agreed. ‘It would be so nice to have all of us together for once. Video calls just aren’t as good.’

‘When was the last time you were all in the same place?’ Lachlan asked her.

‘It was at my wrap party,’ Kitty said. ‘The day Adam asked me to move in with him.’