"You're here!" Isabella runs towards Aimee and almost knocks her to the ground in a tight embrace.

"Hey, you. How are you?"

"Happy that you're here," she says with a big grin on her face. "Come with me."

"Isabella" her mother scolds her. "Let Aimee get a drink first."

Aimee raises her hand. "No, it's fine." 

Izzie drags Aimee by her right hand. 

"I'll see you in a bit," she says to Josie that nods with a smile before walking in the opposite direction. 

Isabella hooks her arm with Aimee's. "I'm so happy you are here. I invited some friends and we are about to start playing two truths and a lie." 

"Is that so?" Aimee smiles at the young girl that has been the highlight of her trip. 

"You'll play with us?"

"Why not? I can do a couple of rounds and then catch up with your mom and Josie," Aimee glances around the party. Her eyes scan for his dark blonde hair or his sky blue eyes but to no avail. 

Isabella and Aimee reach a small campfire where all the teens are hanging out. Among them is Brian, the boy that Izzie fancies, and that has his eyes glued on her. 

"You invited Brian?" Aimee asks with a smile on her face. 

Izzie blushes slightly, "Actually he asked if he could come and hang out." 

Aimee leans over slightly at her side and elbows her playfully which causes Izzie to release a giggle. 

Both the girls get to the campfire and Brian scoots another girl a bit to his right to give space for Isabella to sit next to him. 

"Daisy, can you scoot a bit to the left, I've brought Aimee." 

The girl named Daisy nods and shifts her body so Aimee can sit down by Izzie's left. 

Isabella exchanges a glance with Brian that shyly smiles at her. 

"Hey," Daisy says to Aimee. 

"Hey" Aimee replies with a smile on her face. "So two truths and a lie?" 

Daisy nods excitedly.

"Who's going to start?" 

*

The girls giggle giddily. Brian has been silent for the last five minutes trying to figure out what to say. Isabella whispers to Aimee and they both giggle. 

"Come on dude!" one of the boys shouts. 

"Ok, ok!" Brian responds. "I am the captain of the rugby team..."

"Pfff, we all know that here. You need to make it more difficult than that..." Daisy rebuts. 

"Well, I didn't know..." Aimee gives him a playful wink. 

Brian smiles appreciatively to Aimee and looks at Isabella before glancing at the sand. 

"I have a crush on someone in our class." 

All the girls holler except Izzie that has her face as red as a tomato. 

Aimee smiles at the cute exchange, "Now that was an easy one..." 

Izzie elbows Aimee and opens her mouth wide in an attempt at scolding her.

"What?" Aimee feigns surprise. 

"And, I've been to London." he glances at Aimee. 

"You haven't been to London!" Daisy giggles. 

"That's definitely the lie!" another girl chirps in. 

The girls start giggling jovially at the boys' inability to lie. 

"So this is where the fun crowd of this party is." His voice is unmistakable to her ears. He looks at some of the girls that whisper and giggle expressing a youthful infatuation for the handsome man. 

"What do you want?" Isabella's curt tone catches Aimee off guard. 

Liam looks at his niece and his eyebrows raise at her companion. "I got you your favourite s'mores" he shows her a packet in his hand.

"Oh cool!" Brian says.

"Thanks, I guess," Isabella says flatly without moving an inch. 

"Do you want to sit with us? We are playing two truths and a lie." Daisy asks.

Liam steals a glance at Aimee that shrugs and smiles politely at him. 

His frame relaxes. "Yeah, I would like that." 

"He's not playing with us," Isabella cuts him off. "Don't sit down."

Liam stares at his niece and gulps dryly. 

"Why not?" Daisy asks. 

"Because I say so." she stares at Liam angrily. 

Aimee leans to Izzie and whispers, "Is, what's gone into you?"

Liam's face falters in disappointment. "Next time then. Have fun guys. Enjoy the s'mores." he hands the bags to the closest body in his proximity and puts his hand in his pockets before heading back to the main party. 

"Izzie!" Aimee reprehends her. "What was that? I've never seen you being nothing but respectful to others. What has gone into you to talk like that with him?" 

"What?" Isabella asks. "I'm doing it for you," she says nonchalantly.

"For me?" Aimee raises her eyebrows. 

"You're leaving because of him. Because you love him, but he doesn't love you back." 

Aimee freezes and recalls the conversation where she was far too blunt with a fifteen-year-old. 

Aimee gets up and shakes the sand from her body. "Isabella, can we talk somewhere?" she grabs Izzie's hand gently to help her up. "You guys start eating your s'mores. Izzie will be back in a bit," 

Aimee walks towards the ocean with Isabella quickly following in her footsteps. When they are far enough from prying eyes and ears, Aimee stands with her arms crossed. "Is, I shouldn't have said what I did about your uncle to you. I'm sorry."

Isabella frowns, "It wasn't true?"

Aimee paces around allowing her feet to soak in the cool water. "Yes, it was the truth but you need to understand that it's complicated. I'm not leaving because of Liam. I'm leaving because I need to leave.  Whatever has happened between us, it cannot affect your relationship with him. I've never asked you that or ever will." 

"But, you are my best friend," she says tearfully. "And, he hurt you."

"And, I love that you are so protective of me but your uncle was here before I ever came into the picture. And, he has not done a single thing to you. Your uncle Liam adores you and you're breaking his heart. I might be leaving, but he is your own flesh and blood and he will still be around here for you."

Isabella runs to her and starts crying. 

"And, you have your own friends too now," Aimee says while caressing her brown hair. "I will text you every day, I promise. I even asked your mom to open an Instagram account for you..."

Isabella squeals and jumps in Aimee's arms. "I'm getting Instagram!" 

Aimee smiles but raises her finger at the teen. "On one condition." Isabella frowns knowing very well where the condition is going to lie. "You know what I'm going to ask of you." 

Isabella nods. 

"So, I'm going to catch up with your mom and the rest of the group and you are going to bring your uncle back to your friends and allow him to spend some time with you." Aimee hugs Isabella. "Love you and will miss you." 

Aimee and Isabella make their way to the main party together through the seashore. Once the smell of barbecue hits their nostrils, Aimee leans and kisses Izzie on her forehead. Izzie returns the sentiment with a tight embrace. 

Aimee walks towards the impromptu bar and orders a drink from a young man that is tending to the bar. She leans on the counter and scans for Izzie. She notices him standing with a beer in his hand, accompanied by Matt and Charlie. Izzie approaches them and Charlie embraces his daughter lovingly. Besides Liam stands the blonde woman that was with Liam the fated day of their last exchange. 

Isabella directs her attention to Liam and starts talking to him. She points to the group and Liam nods and smiles. However, the blonde woman stops him by placing her hand over his stomach. The bartender places a beer on the counter and Aimee takes it and sips it while observing the way the woman wraps her arm around Liam's, the gesture riddled with intimacy. 

Aimee turns her back to the scene and gulps another sip of the brew. Of course, he has moved on. She lowers her eyes to the counter. 

"Aimee!" Eva's voice awakens her and she looks for her. 

Eva waves her arms to catch her attention by the bonfire where Callum and Ana also sit. Aimee takes a deep breath and takes a third gulp of the drink in her hand mustering courage for yet another difficult conversation. 

"There she is!" Eva raises her beer to Aimee. "I thought my daughter was going to keep you hostage throughout the rest of the night." 

Aimee smiles and sits down.

"How are you?" Eva asks in a motherly tone.

"I'm good. It's a great party."

"Thank you. This is our favourite event of the season. I'm really glad you are around to see this."

Callum glances at his sister. 

"Hey," Aimee says.

Callum gets up. "I'm getting a beer. Refill anyone?"

Eva glances at Aimee and Callum and notices the shift between them. "I think we all could use a refill."

"I'll help." Josie gets up and follows Callum.

Aimee's eyes follow her brother and cousin, with a hint of sadness. 

"So, are you ready for the big trip to India?" Eva asks joyfully.

Aimee peels her eyes from the bar and focuses her attention back on Eva. "Only 38 hours to go."

"You're counting the hours?" Ana asks.

Aimee glances at Liam and the smile he exchanges with the blonde, and then back at Callum that is walking back with Josie. "And, the minutes" she mutters. 

"When are you coming back?" Eva asks.

Callum hands the beer to Ana and Eva, while Josie places another beer bottle next to Aimee's right foot. 

"Not sure, the plan is one month but maybe it will be less..." she glances at her brother. "or more."

"Oh..." Eva says. "But, you are eventually coming back?"

"I'll be right back" Josie announces. "My dad is calling me." She gets up and runs towards her dad that is chatting with a group of people.

Aimee gulps the remaining alcohol from the bottle in her hand. "At this point, I don't know is the honest answer." 

Callum shifts in his seat clearly upset at where the conversation is heading.

"Well, do let me know if you need anything out there, ok? And, I do mean anything."

"Eva, I think Charlie is calling for you." Ana points out that Charlie is waving at her from the bar.

"Oh boy, another hello to some stuck up lady. I'll be right back." She gets up and lays a comforting hand on Callum's shoulder. "Go easy on her," she whispers.

Callum's hands squeeze the glass bottle in his hands. "You might not come back?" he eventually says.

"I don't know, Callum. I was thinking that after India I might just head back to London. Pai is there by himself. I need to find a job. We've kind of left everything up in the air."

Callum's face hardens, "Of course I would be the last person you would talk to."

"I'm trying to talk to you but would you have listened to me? You keep saying that I only do what I want, but have you thought about all the times you told me what I'm planning to do is insane or that I should think things through..."

"And, you should!" Callum raises his voice. "I've always been there for you. Why can't you be there for me once in your life?"

"I'm here ain't I? I fucking came all the way here!"

"For pai! Not for me!" 

Aimee's face pales. 

"And, while he hides back there, with all their secrets, you continue to stand by what they did, and instead you decide to leave me! You're running away like you always do!"

"That's not fair" she responds with tears on her face.

Callum gets up. "You know what's not fair? He criticised your choices all the time. From your piano to your boyfriends, to your living situation. Every step of the way, dad criticised you. You two used to fight like cat and dog, and I was the one there picking the pieces and standing by you. He was our real father and he kept that from us. We had our real father right there and he never bothered to say a word about it. Neither of them. And, here you are standing by him knowing very well that if he was here he would still be criticising you all the way while keeping the charade alive. That is what's not fair."

"I'll give you guys some space," Ana says.

"No need." Callum kicks some sand with his bare feet. "I'm getting another drink." And walks away leaving Aimee alone with Ana.

Ana glances at her boyfriend and back at Aimee. 

"You should go to him," Aimee says.

Ana approaches Aimee and sits close to her. She places her hand above hers. "He'll be ok without me for a bit."

"Sorry, you had to hear all of this. We're a bit of a mess right now," Aimee wipes the stubborn tears that fall down her face. "I'm just really tired of crying all the time. Since dad died I can't play for shit and I'm constantly crying."

Ana takes a tissue and hands it to her. "Oh please, I cry with every movie with a puppy. Who am I to judge?" she says and both chuckled light-heartedly at the remark. 

Aimee picks up the beer bottle near her right foot and gulps the liquid drowning her sorrows. 

"And, between us, I think Callum is being harsh with you. I mean he hasn't told me the whole story, but I can see he is suffering." 

Aimee nods and looks down to the sand.

"But, so are you. I think you both are punching your way out of your grief." Ana shrugs, "I might be wrong..."

"You're not," Aimee says, "Just look after him for me."

"Of course." 

A burst of loud laughter attracts their attention. Aimee's eyes dart towards Liam that roars with laughter at something that the blonde said. 

"He moves fast, hey?" Ana says abruptly. 

Aimee looks at her quizzically.

"Liam. Always chasing skirt."

"I heard he broke up with the girlfriend."

"Grace? Yeah, he did."

"You two are friends, right?"

Ana shrugs, "I guess. We move in the same circles back in Sydney. Grace knew who he was. Often she told me she knew it wouldn't last, he's always been too hung up on Mary."

Aimee raises her eyebrows to the unknown name, "Who's Mary?"

Ana takes a sip of her beer. "His wife."

Aimee's eyes widen, "His wife? He's married?" Her heart breaks once again and she steals another glance at Liam.

"Who's married? Josie interrupts the conversation.

"Liam" Ana responds unfazed by the new joiner. "Grace told me they are still married. She filed for divorce but he hasn't gone through it."

Aimee eyes Liam and sees him looking at her for the first time since he saw her with Isabella. Her face is drained of colour and her brain is trying to puzzle the pieces together. What is a married man doing with all of these women? What is he doing with her? 

"I think that Liam should tell his story on his own terms, don't you Ana?" Josie interrupts Aimee's thoughts. "It's a bit more complicated than that."

Aimee's eyes dart towards Josie, "You know about this? And, you didn't tell me?"

"What's the big deal?" Ana enquires.

"It's not my story to tell. You want the full story, you ask him." Josie ignores Ana's question and focuses on Aimee.

Aimee's eyes dart to the ground and back to Liam who is now attentively staring at her every move. 

"You should have told me," she mutters. "I thought you were my friend," A tear escapes her eye which she proceeds to wipe. "I can't believe you."

"I'm sorry." Josie blurts out. "It's not my story to tell and you're leaving, so why should it matter?"

"You know why..." Aimee whispers and her head hangs low. 

"Drinks?" Ana says trying to defuse another awkward conversation.

"I'll get them." Josie gets up and darts to the bar.

Author's Note:

Photo by Kevin Wolf on Unsplash