Chapter 27 #2
‘It is handed by the men in the family to the woman they love, who in turn hands it down to a male in the next generation to hand it to whoever they fall in love with.’
‘I’m confused.’
Dolly sighs gently. ‘I think the Maestro was saving the locket for his true love but didn’t get the chance to give her it.’
‘Her? Don’t you mean him?’
‘Bernard was his rebound.’
‘Oh, that’s sad. What happened?’
‘She died.’
It’s like a penny dropping. ‘My mother? The Maestro was in love with my mother? For how long?’
‘From the day they met until the day she died.’
‘But what about Bernard?’
‘I think Bernard knew he’d always be second best. That’s probably why he cheated on the Maestro so much. But your mother only ever had eyes for your father.’
‘Poor Maestro. So, he was the one who wanted me to have the locket?’
‘Yes.’
‘So that’s why Luke said it was a family heirloom?’
‘Yes. I have to say, even though Luke charms every woman he meets, he’s been acting very out of character since the day you arrived.’
‘He has? I wondered if it was his spoiled, pampered upbringing. Expecting everyone to be at his beck and call.’
‘The opposite probably. From what I’ve heard.’
‘He’s rich Norwegian royalty,’ I say in a disbelieving tone. ‘How bad can it have been?’
‘He was shipped off to boarding school at a very early age, then more or less left to his own devices until he started to act out. After that, they sent him to Switzerland and palmed him off on Krzystzof who, really, is the only family member to ever take care of him in any meaningful way.’
‘Sounds lonely.’
‘I know. And even now, his mother is always doing charity work while his father is into politics. He barely knows or sees his parents other than at royal engagements. Do you know, they’ve never once been to hear him sing? Makes you wonder why they had him in the first place.’
‘Blimey. It sounds so depressing when you put it like that.’
Dolly laughs. ‘It makes me grateful for the friends and family I have, put it that way. And I know it’s not for me to say…
’ She leaves the sentence hanging before continuing.
‘I know he’s been awful, and Lord knows he has attachment issues, but…
upgrading the hotel, the locket… and I’m pretty sure he must have pulled in some big favours to kill the royal love triangle story.
It’s as though he genuinely has feelings for you. Real feelings.’
‘What are you saying?’
‘I just think… that Luke may be… or at least in his mind… he thinks he is in love with you. Unrequited love seems to run in the family.’
A nauseous feeling swells in my stomach as I remember him asking to marry me and then snorting cocaine like it was going out of fashion. ‘No. It’s a crush. It will pass. He’s into Liberty now anyway.’
‘Well, let’s hope it is a crush and not history repeating itself like Krzystzof. But I know one thing for sure. He’s not after your friend. Luke might be a nice guy underneath it all, but he is ruthless when it comes to breaking hearts. Besides, he’s a sapiosexual.’
‘Christ Almighty. Who isn’t these days?’
‘So unless she has a string of first-class degrees and is on track to win some industry accolades like Luke, you’d best warn her off him.’
My mind flicks to Liberty and her degree in mood management.
I click off the call, no better off. I have no idea how to handle this situation.
Taking the locket from around my neck, I flick the catch open and admire the picture of my mother staring back at me with my eyes.
I marvel at how much I don’t know about her.
Her life before I came into it. Did she know about the Maestro’s unrequited love? How did she handle it?
I place the locket carefully on the console table under the mirror and go off for my run. I need to go through my mental checklist of what needs to happen in Las Vegas for every minute of every day that we are there because the list of additional problems is growing by the second.
* * *
After an hour of running the length of both beaches in Benidorm, I arrive at the Dollz’ villa to find almost everyone around the kitchen table.
‘She’s not come back home,’ states Ged immediately. ‘I say she’s fine and probably with Luke.’
‘She could also be murdered somewhere, stashed behind a bin,’ says Cherry, waving her phone around. ‘That’s why she’s not picking up.’
‘You need to stop listening to those podcasts, hun. You really do.’ Big Sue is shaking her head at Cherry. ‘She’s a big girl. She’ll ring if she’s in any trouble.’
‘Wait. Are you saying Liberty didn’t come home last night?
’ I say, catching up. They all nod at me.
‘Big Sue’s right.’ I shrug my shoulders.
‘Liberty and Luke can do what they like. They’re both consenting adults.
’ There’s a thorny silence while we digest this information.
‘I know it feels off, but I suppose we just have to let them get on with it.’
‘Okay. Let’s not waste the whole day debating whether to track her down. Me and Ged are going to Algar Falls to wash this bloody orange stain off,’ Liam says briskly. ‘Apparently, the waters there contain the same minerals that you find in washing powder.’
Liam and Ged have turned a few shades darker since yesterday. Any more, and they will be undetectable against the terracotta tiles.
‘I’ve always fancied going to the waterfalls up there,’ says Big Mand.
‘Me too,’ agrees Big Sue.
‘Come with us,’ says Ged. ‘The more the merrier.’
Cherry looks green and pale. ‘I’ll skip it if that’s okay. I might rest up so that I’m good for tonight,’ she says. ‘Plus, I need to take up some of the costumes.’
‘And I have so much shopping still to do,’ I say, holding up my hands. ‘Ready for tomorrow and…’
‘LAS VEGAS!’ we all shout together.
‘So that’s settled then,’ sums up Big Sue.
‘Me and Mandeep will take the bridezillas to the waterfall to scrub them clean. Cherry, you do a recon of the costumes and accessories. Connie, we still need a pink sequined suit and pink shirt for the Oscars Ken outfit. We’re short on one white fluffy coat too.
Here’s the list. And Tash, you… Where’s Tash? ’
‘She’s gone back to bed. I heard her throwing up earlier,’ says Big Mand.
‘All the more reason to get out of here,’ yells Ged, already crossing the patio towards the cottage. ‘I can’t afford to catch any pre-moon bugs.’
Cherry and I make eye contact. I can’t believe she and Tash might both be pregnant in the middle of all this chaos.
‘See you tonight, babes,’ says Liam to me, chasing after Ged. The Dollz follow suit and scatter, leaving me alone in the kitchen.
‘Okay,’ I say, unfolding the huge shopping list. ‘I guess I’ll just have to go shopping for a pink sparkly suit and these other impossible-to-get items alone then.’