Paradise (14 page)

Instantly the child’s face crumpled and she burst into tears. Cal picked her up and Angel rushed over to her daughter and kissed her, aware that she was just inches away from Cal. And aware of Ethan watching her every move.

‘I’m just going to go,’ Cal said. ‘I’ll text you later. ’Bye.’ And Angel had to stand by and watch as Ethan
opened the door and Cal carried a still crying Honey out to the car.

Ethan shut the door after them. ‘Why will he text you?’ He sounded pissed off.

Angel sighed, ‘Just to let me know how Honey is. That’s all. Thanks for letting him come by and pick up the toy.’

‘Of course I would let him, what d’you think I am? Some jealous prick? You chose me.’

Ahhh! Angel wanted to scream with frustration. She’d thought she had put things right with Ethan and now it was all unravelling. Men were so infuriating! Though she didn’t imagine she’d be that cool if one of Ethan’s exes turned up. She shook back her hair and walked over to him. ‘Yes, I chose you,’ she murmured, putting her arms round him.

Once Ethan had left the house later that day, Angel texted Cal and said she was busy for the rest of the week and wouldn’t be able to take time off from filming for any more outings with him and Honey. He must have realised that her mind was made up as he didn’t try and persuade her, just texted back that he understood. She also couldn’t resist Googling Madeleine and Cal, and instantly got a hit. Madeleine Fournier was a French supermodel, hugely wealthy and successful. She and Cal had met at Elton John’s White Tie and Tiara Ball, and had subsequently been photographed having dinner, though both of them denied there was anything going on between them. But Angel found herself wondering, as she gazed at the beautiful brunette with her dark blue eyes, gorgeously chiselled cheekbones and bee-stung lips . . . and was then furious with herself for even caring.

That evening Angel and Ethan paid a visit to Loretta, Ethan’s grandmother, at her house in neighbouring
Malibu. He was really close to her. When he fell out with his parents as a wild teenager, it was Loretta who’d taken him in and put him straight. Now their roles were reversed and Ethan looked after Loretta while she recovered from breast cancer, except she wasn’t recovering and her prognosis was not good. She was fiercely independent, though. Despite the help Ethan had paid for, it was Loretta herself who opened the door to them.

Angel was shocked to see how much she had aged in the past weeks. Even in her late-seventies Loretta had always been a stylish and attractive woman, but the illness had left its mark on her and she suddenly looked every bit her age. Her skin was deathly pale, with deep lines etched in it, and she was slightly stooped, without her usual poise and ramrod-straight posture. When Angel hugged her Loretta felt frail and terribly thin.

‘Now come on in,’ she declared, showing her old spirit, ‘I want to hear all your news. I’ve been bored to death this last week. The radiotherapy has left me feeling utterly wretched and I haven’t been able to get out. I’m beginning to have some sympathy for Jack Nicholson’s character in
The
Shining
, when he goes mad after being snowed up in that hotel.’

‘Just promise me you won’t come after me with an axe, Grandma?’ Ethan smiled at Loretta, linking his arm through hers and escorting her back to her cosy living room which looked out on to a beautifully tended garden.

‘I know I probably shouldn’t, but I really feel like a glass of champagne. Will you do the honours, Ethan? I think there should be a bottle of Dom Perignon in the fridge.’ As Loretta settled herself in the high backed arm chair and Ethan went off to the kitchen, Angel sat down on the opposite sofa, careful not to disturb
Charlie, Loretta’s haughty white Persian cat, who was stretched out on one of the cushions.

Loretta had once been an actress – and a great beauty – and the room was full of photographs of her in various roles, along with many, many photographs of Ethan, from baby to adult. Loretta was a doting grandmother. Angel spotted a picture she hadn’t noticed before of a teenage Ethan with long blond hair falling across his eyes, scowling at the camera, and holding a skateboard. At sixteen he hadn’t quite perfected the trademark sexy smile that had won him so many female admirers plus sponsorship and advertising deals. Loretta noticed what she was looking at. ‘Hadn’t quite grown into his looks then, had he?’

Angel smiled and shook her head. ‘But I bet he still broke some hearts.’

‘A fair few, I don’t doubt. Ethan tells me your husband is over here at the moment?’

‘Yes, just for a week.’ Angel wondered what was coming next. Loretta could be very perceptive and straight-talking at times.

‘And have you had any thoughts about the divorce?’ Yes, here it was. Was there no escape from this question?

‘I’d still like to do the two years’ separation with consent,’ Angel replied, as calmly as she could. ‘I know that Ethan finds that tough, but it’s just something I want to do. I don’t want to upset him, but it’s how I feel.’ She knew that she sounded as if she was justifying herself. Sometimes she even wondered whether she was right.

Loretta smiled at her and rearranged the white pashmina round her shoulders. As she did so her gorgeous diamond and sapphire engagement ring caught the light and sparkled. ‘Of course you must do what you think is right, Angel, and please forgive an old
woman for asking annoying questions. I just want Ethan to be happy. It’s taken him a long time to find love. And, selfishly, I would like to see him get married and be settled.’ She paused, good actress that she was, before delivering her killer line. ‘I’m not sure if I have two years. I’m not sure if I even have six months.’ She said it without an ounce of self-pity. It was Angel who had tears in her eyes.

Loretta looked at her with piercing blue eyes, the same irresistible shade as Ethan’s. ‘I’m really not trying to guilt trip you into marrying my grandson. I’m just . . . how does the expression go? . . . telling it like it is.’

At that moment Ethan returned with a tray carrying three flutes of champagne and conversation switched to how the Dodgers were doing that season – Loretta being an ardent fan. Angel tuned out of the conversation. She had been so convinced that she was right not wanting to divorce Cal, but now she was starting to have serious doubts. Was not divorcing him the reason why she felt in limbo? Was it stopping her from moving on with Ethan? Maybe she had got this all wrong.

After an early supper, Ethan and Angel drove back to the house. Loretta had suddenly felt exhausted and had to go to bed. It was sad seeing her so diminished; before her illness she had been the life and soul of any social event, witty, charming and full of energy. Angel was silent, gazing out of the window, looking at the shadowy black expanse of the ocean.

’I’m sorry if I’ve been putting pressure on you about Cal,’ Ethan suddenly said. ‘I’ve been thinking about it and realise I’ve been coming on too strong. I understand about the divorce, and I understand why you wanted to spend the day with him and Honey. Sorry if I’ve made you feel trapped. It’s the last thing I would ever want to do.’

Sometimes Angel felt she had a lot still to learn about
Ethan. It must have taken a great deal of courage for him to say that. She reached out and lightly touched his arm. ‘Thanks, and I’m sorry if I made you feel insecure about Cal. You’ve no reason to be, I promise. You’re the man I want to be with, Ethan.’ An image of Cal flashed into her mind, but she pushed it away.

‘So, will you come with me tomorrow to see Megan? The lawyers have finally set it up; I think we’re meeting at her grandmother’s house. Ella won’t be there.’ He certainly was full of surprises – Angel had had no idea he had been planning to see his daughter.

‘Wow, Ethan, I’m so glad you’re going to see her! What changed your mind?’

Ethan gave a rueful smile, ‘You and Loretta. She was shocked that I hadn’t met Megan. As soon as I’ve got to know her a little bit, Loretta wants to meet her as well. First great-grandchild and all.’ The smile went from his face. ‘I know she hasn’t got long, but at least she’s seen me with you. That means a lot to her, I’m sure. She despaired of me ever settling down even though she told me I would know when I found the right girl for me.’ He briefly turned towards Angel. ‘She was right, of course. She’s always right.’

Angel suddenly felt a fierce surge of love for him. This man loved her, wanted her, was willing to change for her. Maybe it was time finally to put her past behind her.

‘
HONEY, BE GENTLE
with Megan, remember she’s littler than you!’ Angel called out to her daughter as she watched the two girls splashing about in the pool. It had been two weeks since Ethan had met his daughter and since then he was a changed man. He was absolutely smitten with the little blonde-haired girl, wanted to spend as much time with her as he could. The transformation was wonderful to see. It was as if he’d been in denial about even having a daughter, but as soon as he had seen her for himself she had instantly wormed her way through all those defences and denials. Not that it was going to be easy – Ella was continuing to hold out for the big money, and far from her being the struggling single mother portrayed by the tabloids, it turned out that her mum was mainly bringing up Megan while Ella got on with trying to make it as an actress and rarely saw the little girl.

Ethan came up behind Angel and slid his arms round her waist. ‘Isn’t it great how they play together? I love how Honey looks out for her as if she really is her big sister.’

Angel leant back against him. ‘It’s so sweet. And I’m so glad you’re seeing Megan.’

She was genuinely happy for Ethan; she didn’t have a moment’s jealousy about it or feel insecure. Instead,
Ethan facing up to his responsibilities meant a great deal to her, showed his strength of character.

‘So am I. Now I’ve met her, I can’t believe I left it so long. I just have to make the most of the time now. I don’t want to miss out on any more of her life.’ He kissed Angel’s neck then said, ‘And thank you for being so understanding and supportive, and for pushing me to do the right thing. I know a lot of women would have found it hard to deal with the situation.’

‘You had to accept Honey,’ Angel replied, ‘so it’s only right that I accept Megan.’

‘Well, well, well, what an adorable sight!’ Benny was marching towards them. He tended to come and go in the house as he pleased, which drove Angel to distraction. ‘You know, it would make a fabulous scene for the show, seeing your daughter and Angel’s getting along so well. The audiences will love it . . . it’s beyond cute.’

Angel was just about to jump in and say no way, but Ethan got there first. ‘I’m not having Megan filmed for the show, Benny. Besides, I haven’t got Ella’s consent.’

Benny pursed his fleshy lips and fiddled with the enormous diamond ring on his left hand, which could probably be seen from Mars. ‘What about an interview with
OK
and photographs of the girls then? We need to think of some good publicity angles in the run up to the first episode airing. You’re not the only people with reality shows. We have to make yours stand out, give it the wow factor.’

‘Maybe,’ Ethan replied. ‘But I’ll need to discuss it with Angel.’

Wow, she thought, that was a first! She liked the change.

Benny didn’t. He was used to being the person Ethan discussed everything with, but he tried not to show his displeasure. ‘Okay, well, can we sit down and go
through what’s coming up? We’ve got a helluva two weeks, guys.’

Angel and Ethan waited until Lucy was ready to take over looking after the girls before going inside with Benny to go through their schedule; they had a number of press and TV interviews, including a prime-time interview with E! and several other channels. The trailers were already going out for the show and creating quite a buzz, not least because Ethan and Angel were so stunning-looking and because of the obvious chemistry between them. And, of course, the press were still obsessed with Ethan having a daughter, even more so since he had issued a statement saying that he was going to see Megan. Stories about their meeting had dominated the American tabloids, who had entered a bidding war to get the first pictures of father and daughter together, but so far Ethan still hadn’t decided if he wanted the child to be photographed. On the whole the press had been positive, saying it was good that he was facing up to his responsibilities.

Closer to home, Angel had had to deal with more sceptical comments from Gemma, who with typical bluntness said she would wait and see how Ethan got on with the girl before giving him any award for Father of the Year. Ouch, that hurt, but Angel tried not to let it get to her. She had already had Cal on the phone being snide about Ethan, which had led to a frosty exchange when Angel reminded him that he hadn’t been taking his own responsibilities as a father very seriously when he’d shagged Alessia. Maybe a low blow, but sometimes Cal brought out the worst in her.

It took a good hour to go through their publicity schedule, and Angel was itching to get back outside to the girls and the pool, but just as she stood up at the end of the meeting Benny said, ‘Oh, Angel, I have
something to show you which might be of interest.’ He typed away at his laptop.

No doubt he was going to try and persuade her to do something she didn’t want to. Angel sat back, folded her arms and looked questioningly at Ethan, who shrugged and said, ‘What’s this, Benny?’

‘Just some photographs I thought Angel might appreciate having a heads up on. They’re going to be in the British press next week. It pays to have contacts like me.’ Benny looked extremely pleased with himself and Angel suddenly had a feeling that she wasn’t going to like the photographs one little bit. Benny spun his laptop round so she could see the screen.

‘Oh my God!’ she exclaimed before she could stop herself, as she confronted an image of Simone and Cal, arm in arm, leaving his apartment in Brighton. They were both smiling and looked like the perfect couple. Angel was aware of both Benny and Ethan waiting for a further reaction, so she tried to keep a lid on her emotions.