Chapter 27
After their little talk, Alex steered clear of Lily, and this gave her confidence that he would leave her mother and sister alone.
Perhaps the trip to Queensland wouldn’t be such a disaster after all, and the anticipation of it had already improved Rosie’s and Lydia’s moods.
Meanwhile, Lily threw herself into work.
It was out of necessity, of course, and a good distraction.
As she cleaned, Lily listened to podcasts, caught up on reading via audio books, scrubbed away any residual unpleasant memories from the LA trip, and reset her mind for her visit to Melbourne.
It would be so good to spend time with Aunt Kitty and Hanna.
Maybe they could give her some clarity about what kind of adult life she wanted to pursue.
For the first time in a long time, the beachfront house lay empty.
Lydia and Rosie drove north, while Lily caught a bus south.
She had been to Melbourne only a few times—sometimes by train, or if she and Lydia had saved up, they flew—and she really liked the city.
What it lacked in beautiful beaches and harbor views, it made up for in café culture, art galleries, and shopping.
Whether polished and proper or gritty and grungy, everything and everyone in the city seemed to have style.
Kitty and Hanna lived in an uber-cool yet slightly falling-down two-bedroom terrace house in a trendy part of the inner-city fringe.
Their black, drapey clothes and colorful jewelry fit right in with their eclectic midcentury modern décor.
This time, Lily was the one who looked out of place in her linen pants and hoodie.
She was a beach girl, but with Aunt Kitty she always felt at home.
“You poor darling, in two years you’ve barely had a moment to breathe,” soothed Kitty as she poured a homemade oat milk latte into a handmade ceramic mug. “School, exams, jet-setting, working. While you’re here, I just want you to relax. Okay? Make it all about you.”
“I’ll try!”
“And stop worrying about your future. All we have is now. When you find what it is that you want to do, you’ll know.”
“Thanks, Aunt Kitty.”
“You’re only eighteen! When I was your age, I had no idea. I was a disaster. And your mum was worse.”
“You know she’s—”
“Gone to Queensland with a bunch of kids half her age, I know. I guess she hasn’t changed.”
Lily had to laugh. “That’s what I’m afraid of.”
“Oh my darling, please don’t worry about her. Lydia will do whatever Lydia wants to do. All anyone can do is stand by to pick up the pieces.”
“So I should save my panic for later?”
“Absolutely. And meanwhile, just relax. Sometimes even the biggest disasters turn out all right in the end.”
Lily’s first few days in Melbourne were wonderful, despite the dreary weather.
Kitty and Hanna took her to the exhibition Juliet had loved and they went to the theater to see a dark, incomprehensible play with lots of nudity (it was about the evils of social media).
Lily caught up with a friend from school who’d moved to Melbourne a few years ago and it was nice to talk about old times with someone who knew nothing of the movie stars at Pippi.
But Hollywood’s influence reached everywhere and Lily’s respite from all things Dorian Khan didn’t last very long.
“You’ll never guess what,” said Hanna with a secret smile on her face as they sat down to dinner (homemade vegan dumpling soup). “A friend from uni days just texted me and she is working on Dorian Khan’s new movie! They’re filming just outside Melbourne and she says we can visit the set!”
Lily’s stomach plummeted. How was it even possible that their paths should get so close again so soon? Australia was supposed to be big. Hanna looked eager and Lily tried to twist her face into a smile, but it wasn’t convincing.
“I thought you’d be excited?” Hanna said.
“I know he was a bit standoffish at Pippi,” said Kitty. “But didn’t you see him again in LA?”
“Dorian and I … we’re not friends. He’s a celebrity, it’s hard for him to … have normal friends. It’s a different world …”
Lily knew this wasn’t much of an explanation.
“We don’t have to go if you don’t want to,” Kitty said. Hanna looked a bit disappointed, and Lily was disappointed in herself too.
She felt cowardly. She should have poured out the whole story to them—of course they would be supportive, they would understand—but Lily just couldn’t bear going through it all.
And the thought of facing Dorian himself just made her feel sick.
He’d been such a presumptuous turkey—and she’d called him on it—and then she found out that he most likely wasn’t a turkey at all.
She was the turkey. It was too complicated.
“It would be great to visit a movie set,” said Lily. “But I really don’t want to see him again.”
Kitty sensed there was more to the story that Lily didn’t want to share and so she let it lie. But Hanna didn’t.
“You don’t have to go when he’s there,” Hanna said. “I’ll ask.” She was already pulling out her phone and tapping away.
Kitty looked at Lily with concern in her eyes, but Lily just shook her head.
“Good news!” said Hanna. “He’s not on tomorrow at all. Bronte says they’re doing a stunt with his double—wouldn’t that be so cool, to see a stunt?”
“Yeah, I guess …”
“You don’t have to go if you don’t want to,” assured Kitty again.
“I’ll think about it,” said Lily.
Later, alone in her room, Lily searched “Dor ” and @doriankhan came up straightaway.
She tapped on his profile and sifted through the collection of publicity shots, magazine shoots, and travel photos.
His latest post was a picture of him with a horse in a paddock, film camera equipment behind him, just outside of Melbourne.
Posted three days ago. Lily then tapped on Dorian’s most recent video post: a ragged, rocky beach at sunset.
Aha. He’s gone there for the weekend! Could it be safe to visit his set after all?
Ding. Lily tapped on the notification at the top of her screen. It was Rosie, pictured on a beach in Queensland, smoldering at the camera while her mother adjusted her sarong in the background.
Having fun in the sun. Sucks to be you in dreary Melbourne.
Whether Lily went to the set or not, she definitely wouldn’t tell Rosie or Lydia.
Just then, Kitty knocked on Lily’s door and let herself in. Lily hastily locked her phone.
“You all right?” Kitty asked, sitting down next to her on the bed.
“Yep.”
“Now, you don’t have to tell me anything,” Kitty began. “I’m a cool aunt and it’s your business …”
Lily gave a little laugh.
“But … did anything … happen between you and Dorian in LA?”
“Are you asking if I’m pregnant?”
“No! Unless you are?”
“Of course not!” laughed Lily. “Honestly, there was nothing between us. Just lots of talk—and a bit of bad feeling. I don’t really like him much.”
“I see.”
“And he most definitely doesn’t like me.”
“I find that very difficult to believe, but I take you at your word. In any case, he definitely won’t be there. Hanna and I are going and we’d love for you to come, but absolutely no pressure. Happy either way.”
“Where is it?”
“Somewhere up north.”
Lily paused. The nearest beaches were a couple of hours south and Dorian was at a beach. And when it came down to it, this was a chance she didn’t want to miss. To be on a real live film set!
“Okay,” she said. “Let’s do it!”
“Yay!” said Kitty.
“As long as he won’t be there,” affirmed Lily.
“Of course,” agreed Kitty.