Authors: Anita Hughes
Island in the Sea (31 page)
How could Juliet forgive him if he never said he was sorry? He ran upstairs and put on a Paul Smith patterned shirt and tan slacks. He slipped on Gucci loafers and grabbed a blue blazer. He raced out the door and walked all the way to Hotel Salvia.
Now he entered the lobby and approached the concierge desk.
“I am looking for Juliet Lyman,” he said. “Could you tell her someone is here to see her?”
“You're Lionel Harding,” the man replied. “I let you into her room, I was afraid she would be furious but she seemed pleased. Thank you for the U2 tickets, my wife is thrilled.”
“I'm glad she likes them,” Lionel said impatiently. “Could you please tell Juliet I'm here?”
“She checked out an hour ago,” the concierge replied.
“Checked out?” Lionel repeated.
“She's on her way to the airport.” The concierge nodded. “I'll miss her, she was a delightful guest.”
*Â Â Â *Â Â Â *
Lionel raced up the path to Casa Rosa and took a deep breath. He would drive to Palma airport and tell her he made a mistake. She had to forgive him; he had been a fool and he was terribly sorry.
The front door was open and he saw a red leather purse on the marble end table. Juliet stood in the living room, gazing out the window at the turquoise swimming pool.
He studied her glossy brown hair and slender neck and felt a pain deep inside him. He had never thought he would feel like this again and now he had thrown it all away. He treated her like a child when she was the most beautiful woman he'd ever seen.
“The door was open,” Juliet stammered. She wore a red linen dress and beige slingbacks. Her cheeks were dusted with powder and she wore a gold necklace.
“I'm leaving and I wanted to return the earrings. You said you won't have an income for a while, and I thought you might be able to sell them.”
“Actually I sold an album of new songs.” Lionel poured a glass of scotch. “And I've been promised double my last advance on my next contract.”
“Whom did you sell the songs to?” Juliet asked.
“I met Gabriella at the outdoor market yesterday,” Lionel began. “She mentioned she's going to Paris and not accepting Gideon's offer. I couldn't let you lose your job, so I sat down and wrote a dozen new songs.
“People wonder why artists drink but something has to help you stay up all night staring at an empty notebook. But when you finally hit the groove and the words come faster than you can write, you feel like Harrison Ford or David Beckham.
“And when it's five o'clock in the morning and your mouth tastes like cigarettes and you can't keep you eyes open, you read what you've written and realize you're a bloody genius.
“I sent the songs to Gideon, and he loved them.” Lionel sipped his scotch. “He even invited me to Sylvie's wedding, JayZ is going to perform.”
“That was very kind of you.” Juliet walked to the door. “I have to go, I'll miss my flight.”
“I ran all the way back from Hotel Salvia.” Lionel stopped her. “I shouldn't have asked Henry to go out with you, but I didn't tell you the real reason. The minute you walked through the door the first day, I knew you were special. You are intelligent and beautiful and passionate about what you do, I couldn't help falling in love with you.
“But I drink too much and smoke too many cigarettes and leave chocolate wrappers all over the living room.” He smiled. “Even Dominique couldn't put up with me and I was earning a paycheck. I couldn't risk you falling in love with me and ruining your life. You deserve someone with a bright future who expects life to give them a family and a lovely home and three weeks vacation in the Maldives.” He paused. “Not someone who keeps his scotch glass next to his toothpaste.”
“Like Henry,” Juliet murmured.
“I thought you'd make the perfect couple. He's a star athlete and a genuinely nice guy.” Lionel stopped. “I wanted you to be happy.
“But I realize what I did was wrong, you are a mature woman and can make your own decisions,” he continued. “If you want to throw your life away on an aging British songwriter who reads dead poets and can't go to bed without a cup of Ovaltine that's up to you.” He paused and touched her arm. “But what's worse is I didn't apologize. I would give my signed
White Album
to hear you forgive me and I didn't even say I was sorry.
“I broke your trust and I'll never do it again,” Lionel finished. “I need a chance to show you how much I love you.”
Juliet walked to the French doors and gazed at the turquoise swimming pool. She turned around and Lionel saw her cheeks were flushed and her eyes glistened.
“I love you too,” Juliet whispered.
He crossed the room and kissed her softly on the lips. He put his arms around her waist and drew her toward him. She kissed him back and he inhaled her scent of jasmine and vanilla.
“You have a signed
White Album
?” She smiled, pulling away.
“I bought it at an auction at Elton John's Princess Diana fundraiser,” Lionel said. “George and Ringo and Paul all signed it, and John wrote in purple pen.” He tucked a stray hair behind her ear. “I can't wait to show it to you, it hangs on my bedroom wall in Chelsea.”
“I really have to go.” Juliet fiddled with her gold necklace. “I'll miss my flight.”
“I'll call Gideon and tell him to book you on a flight tomorrow,” he continued. “He owes me, the new songs are going to make him bloody millions. You can help me log onto a computer and find a place to rent in Los Angeles. Maybe I'll get a house in the Hollywood Hills, the lush foliage and ocean views remind me of Majorca.”
He took her hand and led her to the piano. He gazed at her blue eyes and small pink mouth and felt like he had been given an incredible gift.
“First I want to play you my new song. It's called âJuliet.'”
J
ULIET STROLLED THROUGH THE PLAZA
and gazed at the narrow buildings with their green shutters and lacquered window boxes. She saw elegant boutiques filled with brightly colored dresses and fruit stands selling baskets of figs and melons.
She had spent the night at Lionel's, and they ate eggs Benedict and waffles on the terrace. She drank Gloria's milky coffee and listened to his new songs.
Now she bought a magazine and a packet of Life Savers for the plane. Her flight left in a few hours and Lionel was going to drive her to the airport.
She walked back to Casa Rosa and admired the beds of pink azaleas and white hibiscus. She saw the bright citrus trees and tall birds of paradise. She turned and gazed at the sparkling Mediterranean and thought she didn't know one could feel so happy
She pictured Lydia and thought she would invite her to Los Angeles. They would go shopping at Hermès and eat California burgers at the Beverly Hills Hotel. She thought about Gabriella's high, clear voice and sighed.
She remembered what Gabriella said about love and finally understood how she felt. She opened the door of Lionel's green Mini and waited for him to join her.
Lionel ran down the front steps carrying a black leather Tumi overnight bag. He wore a Ralph Lauren shirt and beige slacks. His sunglasses were propped on his forehead and his cheeks glistened with aftershave.
“Why do you have a suitcase?” she asked. “You're dropping me off at the airport.”
“I just got a call from the Beverly Hills Hotel.” Lionel backed the car out of the driveway. “They named a drink after me to celebrate the twenty-third anniversary of âGoing to Catalina''s release. It's going to be called
THE LIONEL
, black cherry vodka with lime juice and agave syrup. They offered me five free nights in the Paul Williams Suite if I came and signed the first glass.”
“It sounds delicious.” Juliet grinned. “I've had artists stay at the Beverly Hills Hotel. They renovated the bungalows and the spa does deep tissue massage.”
“I've never liked massages.” Lionel bristled. “Why would I want a stranger prodding my naked flesh while I listen to Yanni over the loudspeakers? I do remember the beds have the finest down comforters and their spinach egg-white omelet is delicious.” He leaned over and kissed her gently on the mouth. “Maybe I can convince you to join me.”
The car swerved and narrowly missed a white Fiat. Juliet straightened her skirt and laughed.
“Keep your eyes on the road, so we get to the airport in one piece.”
“You didn't answer my question.” Lionel clutched the steering wheel.
Juliet gazed out the window at the quaint farmhouses and green valley and clear blue Mediterranean. She saw the stone monastery in Valldemossa and the orange wood tram. She turned to Lionel and smiled.
“It sounds wonderful. I can't think of anything I'd like better.”
Thank you to my fantastic agent, Melissa Flashman, and my wonderful editor, Lauren Jablonski, for being such a joy to work with. I am so fortunate to have a tremendous team at St. Martin's Press: Staci Burt, Karen Masnica, and Laura Clark in publicity and marketing, Elsyie Lyons for her wonderful covers, and Jennifer Enderlin, and Jennifer Weis.
Thank you to new and old friends for always being there: Traci Whitney, Pat Hazelton Hull, Laura Narbutas, Andrea Katz, and Christina Adams.
And thank you to my family: my husband, Thomas; and my children, Alex, Andrew, Heather, Madeleine, Thomas; and my daughter-in-law, Lisa, for giving me everything I could wish for.
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1. Working in the music industry has meant that Juliet never had the time or opportunity to fall in love. If you were Juliet, would you have chosen a career more amenable to getting married and starting a family?
2. Gabriella has no interest in being a big starâall she wants is to own a restaurant and start a family with Hugo. Can you understand her choices? What would you do in her position?
3. Do you think Henry really falls in love with Juliet? Give examples of his words or actions that support your position.
4. Lionel finds reading poetry and classic literature to be soothing when he is depressed. What do you do when you are feeling down?
5. What are your feelings about Gabriella's grandmother, Lydia? Do you approve of the choices she has made in her life? How do you feel about her relationship with Gabriella?
6. Juliet and Gabriella are great friends, but Juliet still goes behind Gabriella's back. How does Juliet defend her actions? Do you agree with her?
7. Do you think Juliet is right in giving Lionel a second chance? What would you do if the person you loved lied to you, even if it was for the right reasons?
8. The setting of Majorca plays an important part in the book. Is it somewhere you would like to visit? If so, what attracts you most?
9. What are your feelings about Samantha? Do you think she really loved Lionel, and did she act too hastily?
10. When an author writes a book, often characters evolve and take on traits the author never imagined.
Island in the Sea
has some strong characters. Who is your favorite and why?
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St. Martin's Griffin
also by
anita hughes
ANITA HUGHES
is also the author of
Rome in Love, French Coast, Lake Como, Market Street, and Monarch Beach
. She attended UC Berkeley's Masters in Creative Writing Program. Hughes lives in Dana Point, California, where she is at work on her next novel. You can sign up for email updates
here
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