I held up my hands. “She needs your help. Go to her.”
“But our trip?”
“It can wait. There’s plenty for me to see on my own, and when you’re ready, we’ll do a girls’ trip.”
“Thank you,” she whispered.
Pierre had come in and overheard part of our conversation. As soon as Sophia relayed the news, he set off to book their flights. I made myself scarce after that. They’d offered for me to stay here for as long as I wanted, but I didn’t feel comfortable without them.
Holidaying by myself was my first test, and I was going to ace it. Where should I go? I’d always wanted to visit San Francisco. I could wander the shoreline, visit Alcatraz, and see the Golden Gate Bridge. Or I could go to Yosemite and see the giant redwoods. I could head north instead to Vancouver. Or I could see the Adirondack Mountains.
“Carina.” Sophia knocked on the doorframe and poked her head into my room to see me folding clothes. “I’m so sorry to have to cancel our trip before I even booked it. Pierre has flights booked for tomorrow morning, so we’ll head to the airport early. But you’re welcome to stay here as long as you like,” she reiterated. “Treat the house like it’s yours. Use the cars. Whatever you need.”
“No.” I shook my head and held my hands up. “I think this is a good opportunity for me to take a trip by myself. See some sights. Experience being single.”
“You’re going to see Vegas?” she asked, amazement coloring her tone.
I huffed out a laugh, surprised by my own thoughts. I didn’t mind alone time, in fact, I often craved it, but vacations for me were always about family and friends. Doing anything alone would be a first, but I wasn’t sure whether I was ready for Vegas.
“Um….”
Sophia swallowed, looking torn between helping her parents and me. That wouldn’t do.
“Vegas is definitely an option,” I clarified, plastering on a smile that I hoped didn’t look fake. I had about twenty hours to decide where I wanted to go. Easy peasy.
If Cara were already in the country, I would have happily spent time with her. But she wasn’t set to arrive for a few months yet. Perhaps that was a good thing. It would force me to do this on my own.
Sophia gestured to her phone. “I need to call Jacques to let him know what’s happening.”
I nodded and smiled. I had my own homework to do.
An hour later, I wandered into the kitchen to rinse my empty mug and overheard Sophia talking to Jacques on speaker while she was unpacking the dishwasher.
“Mom, Carina’s welcome to stay with us. She’d love it on the ranch,” Jacques said.
I couldn’t help my blush as I stood next to Sophia at the sink. I hadn’t told her that Jacques had taken me out when he’d been in Brisbane. He’d been so charming that night.
“Carina?” she inquired.
I opened my mouth to answer, but then I saw Sophia press her fingers to her closed eyelids. She had the weight of the world sitting on them, and I hated that my friend was so worried about her father. I knew they were close and that she wouldn’t be satisfied he’d be okay until she saw him with her own eyes. But I still had to try.
“He’ll be okay,” I soothed.
She nodded and pressed her lips together. Then she explained to Jacques, “We were just organizing a girls’ trip to Las Vegas, and now….”
“You don’t need to worry,” I assured her.
“I feel terrible.”
I wrapped my arm around her shoulders and hugged her to me. “You have more important things to worry about than me. Focus on your parents. I’ll be absolutely fine.”
“Carina, book your flight to Vegas for tomorrow,” Jacques directed. “I’ll meet you there.”
“Don’t you have hockey?” I asked automatically. Who could just drop everything and go on a trip to Vegas with less than a day’s notice?
He laughed. “It’s the off-season. I’ll start training again in a few weeks. For now, I have some time on my hands.”
“Seriously?” I asked, my belly flip-flopping with excitement. It wasn’t because I wanted to experience Vegas. The excitement was reserved wholly for Jacques. Before the guilt at finding my best friend’s son so handsome could set in, heat crawled up my throat, my cheeks getting hot. I grinned, almost giddy with the anticipation of a weekend spent with Jacques.
