Author Note: this chapter will be divided into two parts

Isabella is excited about her birthday party and spends the afternoon avidly sharpening her piano skills. Aimee tries to concentrate on her task, but Liam's kiss still lingers on her thoughts. Her head shifts with the slightest sound, searching for him, only to be disappointed.

"Why do you keep looking at the door?" Izzie asks.

Aimee pales at Izzie's observation. "Nothing." she lies. "Your timing is slow. Pick it up."

Izzie nods and hammers the keyboards repeatedly.

"Hello, girls." Eva's voice is heard. "I hear you've been driving everyone in the house mad with all the practising."

Aimee chuckles, "Practice makes perfect."

Eva grazes Isabella's forehead with a gentle kiss and pats Aimee on her shoulder amicably. "Couldn't agree more." She drops her Louis Vuitton bag on the sofa. "It's going to be just the three of us for dinner. Maybe we can grab a bite to eat outside?" Aimee nods and devotes her attention back to the piano. "Great, I'll just change quickly."

"What about uncle Liam?" Izzie asks. Aimee looks up at his mention. "He's not coming home tonight?"

"No sweetie. He's gone to Sydney." Eva heads towards the stairs. Aimee lowers her eyes back to the piano. The lingering kiss now tastes bittersweet.

"Sydney? Again? So, he won't be here for my birthday?" Izzie pouts.

Eva stands on the third step. "He'll be back for your birthday. Let me change quickly. Poor Aimee here must be starving." Eva shoots a curious look at Aimee, that stands silently glaring at the keyboard. "Aimee?"

Aimee looks up. "Yes?"

"You're with us?" Eva asks with a warm smile.

"Yes, of course. I'm starving." She offers a reassuring smile. "Enough practise for today."

Isabella nods and starts gathering the music sheet and tidying each page neatly. Aimee gets up and walks over to the courtyard. She convinces herself that it's good that is away in Sydney, and that she won't need to obsess with every little sound she hears around the house. How did she go from hating his guts to obsessing with his presence around her?

Eva takes them to a small sushi place on the high street. They sit at a small corner table facing the window and order their food. "I think we got most of Izzie's party planned out. Invitations have gone today in the mail."

Aimee eyes Izzie and hints at her to speak out, but Izzie avoids Aimee's stare and focuses on the plate of sushi in front of her.

Eva notices the exchange. "What's happening?"

Aimee stares at Izzie, whom has decided to not bulge. "She would like to invite some of her friends over, and while the adults are having a party upstairs, they could have their party down near the pool."

"Is that what you want, my love?"

Izzie shrugs, "I don't have any friends."

"That's not true. What about Annie or Jacob?" Aimee says. Izzie shrugs again and looks to the floor.

"I don't know... they going to be down there unsupervised?" Eva asks while poking a California roll into a container with soy sauce.

Aimee takes a sip from a carrot juice bottle. "I'll supervise them. I'll hang down there, making sure I keep the mischief contained."

"I don't want you to be working on her birthday. We invited you as family."

Aimee blushes at the thought and for a moment considers if she refers to her and Liam. "I won't be working. I'll be hanging out with Silent Bob here."

Izzie chuckles.

"Besides, I'm not really comfortable hanging out with rich, snooty people... Sorry."

Eva dismisses her words with a smile. "I completely get it. I also am not comfortable with rich, snooty people. Especially when they are family."

Izzie laughs at her mother's comment.

"Now, she giggles." Aimee retorts.

Eva gets inexplicably emotional and wipes a stubborn tear that spills down her cheek. "Are you ok, mom?"

"I'm fine. Just thinking of how grown up my baby girl is. The only thing that remains now is your birthday present."

Izzie jumps excitedly. "I know what I want!"

Eva shakes her head, "Not BlueFest... You're too young. Next year we'll talk."

Aimee frowns, "BlueFest?"

"It's a music festival. Our family is always there on opening night. You should come."

"I need to save money for New Zealand. Music festivals are awesome, but pretty expensive."

Eva ignores her comment and takes her mobile phone from her purse and places a phone call. "Darling, how many tickets can you give to Aimee for the festival?"

Charlie's voice can be heard from the other side.

"Fantastic. Yes, send them directly there in her name. Will you be much longer?"

Aimee stares at her plate, embarrassedly.

"We're just finishing dinner. I'll drop Aimee at the farmhouse and head home. Love you." She hangs up. "Three tickets for you, Callum and Josie. And, before you say anything, Charlie told me on the phone he already had them sorted for you three."

Izzie coughs, "Four."

"Nice try but three." Eva laughs.

"Next year..." Aimee reassures the fourteen-year-old.

Izzie pouts, "You won't be here next year..."

Eva places the mobile phone back in her purse and gestures to the waitress for the check, "You never know, my love, where life takes us."