September

"I'm what?!" I asked while I talked on the phone with Grace.

"You are going to Paris," she said and I sat down hard on the couch.

"But… But…."

"As you know… At the end of this month, the All Star Designers Gala is held in Paris. I always pick the best of the best at the agency to attend. This year is your turn."

"Finally!" the voice shouted in my head and I smiled.

"What do I have to do?" I asked.

"You will have to come to London and supervise the making of your designs. That includes your new men's line and your new children's line."

"That would take a while."

"I understand. But I assure you that you will have all the help you need. Or don't you feel comfortable leaving your children or Will for that long?"

"I do feel a little uncomfortable. But Will wouldn't want me not do this."

"Exactly. Tell you what. Talk with him then call me back," Grace said as she ended the call and I looked at my cellphone.

"Is everything alright, Clark," Will asked and the soft hum of the wheelchair filled the air. He stopped the wheelchair near the couch and I looked at him.

"That was Grace," I said.

"What did she want?"

"She told me someone has been picked for the All Star Designers Gala in Paris."

"What is that?"

"It's where designers worldwide show off their designs. Only the best designers are asked to attend. They are judged by critics and some even get job offers. Everyone at the agency wanted to picked, but she tended to send the same people year after year."

"Who is she sending this year?"

"Me," I said and his eyes widened. I got up as I walked to the wheelchair and I leaned my hands on the hand rests. "Will?"

"Whoooooooooooo-ooooo-oooooop!" Will shouted then he laughed.

"What was that!?" Nathan said as he ran into the room and he headed for the wheelchair. "Are you alright, Mate?!"

"I'm fine," Will said with a grin.

"Then what was all that yelling about? Been practicing a new impression?"

"I was asked to go to the All Star Designer Gala," I said then I told Nathan about Grace's phone call. "But I'm not sure if I want to go."

"Why the hell not?!" Will asked.

"I have to go to London and supervise the making of my designs."

"Including the new ones?"

"Yes."

"Do you want to go?"

"Yes."

"Then go."

"I agree with Will. Go," Nathan said.

"If you're worried about me and the kids, you got to remember we have backup. Nathan. My mother. Your mother. Your dad and Treena. Do it!"

I looked at both of them for a few seconds then I looked at the cellphone.

"Do it!" they chanted and I laughed. I pushed the button to call Grace's phone and I held the cellphone to my right ear.

"Did Will say yes!?" was what Grace asked before I could say hello.

"Yes, he said yes," I said with a small laugh.

"Good! Good!"

"When do you want me to come to London?"

"Tomorrow. If that is alright."

"Tomorrow!?" I gasped and Will barely nodded his head. "It looks like that's fine."

"Thank you, Darling! I will see you tomorrow around two," she said and she ended the call.

"Looks like I need to go pack," I said while looking at Will and Nathan and they smiled at me.

I called Georgina and asked if I could use her spare bedroom and she told me I could. She was also proud of me being picked for the gala and she couldn't wait to celebrate with me. She also told me she'd pick me up at the airport.

I told Lily when she came home from school and she hugged me. Stevie wasn't too happy about me leaving, but I promised to call him every night before bedtime.

I went online to find a flight to London and I was able to find one leaving around eight.

Mum nearly blew out my eardrum after I called to tell her and Dad about the gala and she assured me she, Dad and Treena would come over and help look after Will and the kids.

Will had gone to the main house to tell Camilla and she hugged me after she came back to the house with him. Nathan drove us to the airport and I hugged him, Camilla, Mum, Dad, Steven, Will, Lily and Stevie before I headed for my flight. I had turned back to look at them as I smiled and Lily had helped Will wave his hand. I waved back then I headed for the plane and I had to try hard not to skip.

Heathrow Airport

Georgina met me at the airport and we hugged.

"This is so amazing!" she said after we moved back.

"I know! I always wanted to go to the All Star Designer Gala!" I said and we quietly squealed.

"Do you think Will can go to the gala?"

"I don't know."

"He should be there."

"You right," I said then we went to get my luggage.

London

Georgina let me use her computer after we returned to the flat and I was impressed with how she decorated it. She had gone with a modern/antique mix and she had turned one of the bedrooms into a crafting room.

"I never knew how much fun crafting was," Georgina said with a grin.

I had stood in the doorway to our old bedroom and memories of nights together moved in my head. The same happened when I went into the kitchen and I realized the guest room used to be Stevie's nursery. So many memories.

I sat at the desk when I login to the chatroom and I looked at the screen.

"Hello," I typed and I waited for replies.

"Evening, BumbleBee," Ritchie typed.

"Hey, BumbleBee," WheelerDealer typed.

"Will was just talking about you," BrightStar typed.

"Congratulations on the gala," Wheelergirl22 typed.

"Yeah. That is so cool," Rory typed.

"Wish I could go to Paris," MamaWheels typed.

"Never say never," Will typed and I smiled.

"He's right," I typed.

"Did you have a good flight?"

"I did. Did Lily do her homework?"

"Yes. She also told me to tell you she aced her history exam."

"Yes!" I said and pumped my fist in the air.

"Tell her I'm proud of her," I typed.

"I aced my maths exam," Rory typed

"I'm proud of you, too," I typed and he typed what looked like a sideways smiley face.

"Lily wants to know if she could go for a sleepover at one of her friend's houses on Friday," Will typed.

"Did you check with the parents if it's alright for her stay over?"

"Yes. It's at Tina's house and her parents said they will be there the whole time."

"Then she can go, but only if she does her homework beforehand."

"I'll tell her."

"I remember sleepovers when I was a girl. Had my first cigarette at one," MamaWheels typed.

"My mum would have a cow if I tried smoking," Rory typed.

"You shouldn't be smoking."

"I know. Just most of my pals are able to smoke."

"Most of mine did as well," Ritchie typed. "Never got into it."

"Mama," appeared on the screen and I frowned.

"Will, does Stevie want to ask me something?" I typed and I pictured Will telling Stevie which keys to use.

"Yes," Will typed.

"What do you want, Sweetie?"

"Cookie?" Stevie typed.

"It's almost bedtime."

"Banana?"

"Yes. You can have some slices of banana," I typed as the soft sounds of the others laughing filled my head.

"Nathan took him to the kitchen," Will typed.

"Ok," I typed with a smile.

"Sorry, but this is so cute," BrightStar typed.

"Yeah. Most of the time all we do is bitch and complain," WheelerDealer typed.

"You do most of the complaining," Wheelergirl22 typed.

"Fuck off."

"Ok. Let's get back to BumbleBee and the gala," Ritchie typed.

"Do you know when the gala is?" Wheelergirl22 typed.

"Not yet. I'll find out tomorrow," I typed.

"Dang. I have to go to bed. See ya all tomorrow," Rory typed. We said our goodnights and I noticed the room was emptying.

"Will?" I typed.

"Still here, Clark," he typed.

"I'm scared."

"You'll be fine."

"I wish you were here."

"Me, too."

"Georgina asked me if you will be able to go to the gala. Do you think you can make it?"

"Nathan says he'll look into it. Just need a date and time."

"It's weird. Sleeping in our old flat. I think the guest room used to be Stevie's nursery."

"Georgina said she redecorated."

"Yeah. She did. It still feels the same."

"Makes you want to move back to London, doesn't it?"

"Yes. But I'd miss our castle."

"I agree."

I looked at the screen as a small ache settled in my chest and I sighed.

"Nathan just told me it's time for bed. You go to bed as well. Talk to you tomorrow," Will typed and I felt like crying.

"Ok. Night. Love you," I typed.

"Love you, too," he typed then Will left the chatroom. I looked at the blank screen for a while then I turned off the computer and I headed for the bedroom.

The next morning, I steered the rental car out of the underground carpark and I strummed my fingers on the steering wheel. I was surprised to see they had a new security guy and Georgina told me the last one quit after a row with a tenant about scratches on their car.

I was a little surprised with how much I remembered about driving around the city. I knew exactly which streets to take to get to Grace's agency. I remembered where the employee carpark was and I saw my nameplate had been placed in my usual spot. I parked the car, opened the door then I got out of the car. I removed the case I had placed my designs and I closed the car door. I adjusted the dark blue suit jacket I was wearing over a white blouse and the dark blue skirt I was wearing moved around my legs. I had on nude hose and dark blue heels were on my feet.

"Let's do this," I whispered and I headed for the front door. The door hissed open as I walked inside and I smiled at seeing nothing in the lobby had changed. I walked to the reception desk and Jennifer Hershel, who had been at the agency as long as I had, grinned when she saw me.

"Hey, Lou!" Jennifer said.

"Hey, Jenn!" I said with a smile.

"Miss Wellington is waiting for you in Design Room A," she said as she handed me the ID card and I clipped the ID card onto the pocket of my suit jacket. "How is that man of yours? Is he…?"

"Is he any better?" I asked and she nodded with an embarrassed look on her face. "He's still the same."

"Tell him I said hi, ok?"

"Ok," I said and I headed for the stairs. The agency did have a lift, but Grace always wanted us to use the stairs so we didn't get lazy. I headed upstairs then down the long hallway and I nodded when someone I knew called my name. I stopped at the door with Design Room A on the sign near the door. This was the room Grace did most of her designing and only the best designers were able to share the room with her. Taking a few deep breathes, I opened the door and I walked in the room.

"Louisa Darling!" Grace said with a grin and her arms out.

"Hello," I said as I scanned the room with my eyes and I saw the large, egg shape table at the center of the room. I walked to Grace as we hugged and she lightly patted my back.

"Shall we get started?!" she asked and I nodded. We walked to the large, egg-shaped table and she introduced me to my work team. I had seen most of them while I worked for Grace and they smiled at me.

"Welcome to the group," Mark Sullivan said with a slight Irish accent.

"Thank you," I said with a nod.

"It's about time you got here. You should have brought on the team years ago," Min Lee said with a grin.

"She ain't wrong, Luv," Denzil Hunter said and his corn rolls swayed back and forth when he shook his head. "Now, let's see what y'got."

"Hold on. Let's get her something to eat first," Tammy Danvill said.

"Do you want some coffee? Tea? We got a few sandwiches," Tyler Brooks said as he pushed up the glasses he was wearing.

"I'd like some tea and a sandwich, please," I said and he nodded. He returned to the table with a small plate with a roast beef and cheese sandwich and a white mug of coffee. I took a sip of coffee then I showed them my designs.

"Oh! I have this one!" Tammy said with a grin as she pointed to one of the designs.

"This one's really good," Mark said.

"This one is adorable!" Min said as she looked at one of my children's clothing designs. "My nephew would look so cute in it."

"I knew you would fit right in," Grace whispered to me and we got to work.

Georgina's flat

I sat at the computer as the day's events moved through my head and I typed on the keyboard to sign into the chatroom.

"Hello," I typed then I waited.

"Evening, BumbleBee," Ritchie typed.

"Hey, BumbleBee," WheelerDealer typed.

"How was work?" BrightStar typed.

"Did they like your stuff?" Wheelergirl22 typed.

"Yeah. Did they?" Rory typed.

"Come on. Tell us," MamaWheels typed.

"Hang on. Let's let her talk," Will typed and I smiled.

"Work was fine. I met with my boss and my work team," I typed.

"You have your own team?!" Wheelergirl22 typed.

"Yep."

"That is so cool!" Rory typed.

"They were nice to you, right?" MamaWheels asked. Seeing how she is a mother of six kids, I love how protective she is.

"Yes. They were really nice. And they really liked my stuff," I typed.

"Did you talk to Grace about the gala? Does she want me there?" Will typed.

"I did. The gala is the twenty-ninth. I sent Nathan the information before I left work. And she told me to tell you that you better be there."

"Sounds like you better be there, Mate," Ritchie typed.

"She also told me our families can be there as well."

"We will need someone to look after your granddad," Will typed.

"You're right. I'll see what Mum wants to do."

"Oh. Right. Your granddad has a stroke," WheelerDealer typed.

"Is he in a wheelchair, too?" Wheelergirl22 typed.

"No, he's not in a wheelchair," I typed.

"Mama," appeared on the screen and I smiled.

"Yes, Sweetie?"

"I drew picture for you."

"Awwwww," I whispered with a small smile.

"I can't wait to see it," I typed.

"Papa Bear put it on fridge," appeared on the screen.

"Papa Bear?!" Ritchie typed and I snorted a laugh.

"He calls me that because of the hair on my chest," Will typed and I pictured the others laughing.

"That is so sweet!" MamaWheels typed.

"I put my kids' stuff on the fridge," BrightStar typed.

"Me, too."

"Mum does that with my stuff," Rory typed.

"That's what a mother does," MamaWheels typed and I smiled.

"Cookie?" appeared on the screen.

"Did you eat all your dinner?" I typed.

"Yes."

"Will, did he eat everything?"

"Yes," Will typed.

"Did you?"

I waited, but he didn't answer. I knew the others would tease him and I sat back in the chair.

"Sorry. Nathan had to take Dad to the bathroom," Lily typed.

"Hey, Lily!" Rory typed then added a sideways smiley face.

"Hey."

"Your mum told us you're going to a sleepover. That is so ace."

"Yeah. Tina's mum is going to order some pizzas and allow us to watch some DVDs."

"Wow!"

"Don't forget to thank her mother for letting you stay over," MamaWheels typed.

"I won't. Oh! Dad's back. Night," Lily typed and I loved how easy she was talking with the group. I looked at the screen and I waited for Will to say something.

"Sorry," Will typed.

"No problem. When you got to go, you got to go. Hey, Bumblebee. If you send me the information for the gala, my cousin can help find a hotel so Will can join you," Ritchie typed.

"I'll do that, Ritchie. Thanks," I typed. We chatted for a little while longer when the chatroom started to empty out. I looked at the screen and was about sign off when I noticed someone was typing. "Will?"

"Still here, Clark," Will typed.

"Did you really have to go to the bathroom or didn't you want to answer my question?"

"A little of both."

"What's wrong?"

"I miss you."

"I miss you, too. But you have to eat."

"That's what your mother told me. I did eat, but she made sprouts."

"Which gives you acid reflux and gas."

"Right."

"Which is why you're having a little problem."

"Yes. Nathan gave me something to help me, but I'm still gassy."

"Then it's a good thing I'm not there. I know how smelly you can get."

I hope he knew I was kidding and I waited for him to say something.

"Sorry. I had to help Will laugh," Nathan typed and I giggled.

"Tell him I'm sorry," I typed.

"That's alright, Clark," Will typed.

"Tell Mum. She'll understand."

"I will. Have to go now. Bedtime."

"Good night."

"Good night. Love you."

"Love you, too."

I looked at the screen for a few seconds then I turned the computer off, got up and headed for the bedroom.

London

The days turned into weeks as we worked on my designs and I was able to meet my models for the gala. I was enjoining being back at work, but I wanted to go home. Will told me he was alright in the chatroom, but I knew he wasn't and it hurt to think of him being miserable.

"Will never was good when it came to being alone. He always had someone around him. Guess that's why he feels like the world needs to revolve around him," Georgina said while we sat outside a café. We had been shopping and we stopped at the café for lunch.

"That's not always a good thing," I said while sipping on a glass of wine.

"You're right. It caused him to rebel against our parents when he thought Mommy had abandoned us when she went back to work."

"Didn't he want her to go back to work?"

"I guess not. I knew Mommy hadn't abandoned us. She was there when I needed her. Guess it hit him harder because she hadn't notice he was miserable. Daddy, on the other hand, just didn't let it bother him. He accepted we had moved on with our lives."

"It did bother him," I said then told her what Steven had told Will and I in the garden.

"Oh! I guess I should call him. It's been a long time since we talked."

"I'm sure he'd like that."

"Just wish things hadn't fallen apart. I always thought they were happy being married to each other."

We went silent as we ate our lunch and I watched people walking by.

"I put the gala up on the agency's website. A lot of people are excited about it. I have gotten a lot of emails wanting to know who Grace is sending. Mind if I tell them she picked you?" Georgina asked then she took a long sip of wine.

"Of course. I just need to figure out how to get Will to be there," I said.

"I'm looking into some hotels near the venue."

"A friend of ours in chat's cousin is looking as well."

"I thought Will wouldn't want to go to Paris. Not…"

"He doesn't. I suggested it before, but he doesn't want to ruin the memories we had there."

"Then maybe this will be a good thing."

"I hope…," I said then paused when I saw someone walking out of the building across the street.

Alicia Dewar.

She had placed on some sunglasses just after she exited the building and she hurriedly walked away.

"Was that…? Was that Alicia Dewar?" Georgina asked.

"Looks like," I said.

"I heard she and Rupert Freshwell have separated."

"Will told me they have. Seems Rupert found her in bed with her riding instructor. And she said I would be the one who would cause a scandal."

"She told you that?!"

"It was at our wedding."

"The bitch."

"I wonder why she hates me so much."

"She hates a lot of people, Louisa. It's just who she is. Maybe that's why I think Will liked her so much. She had to be the center of the world, too. Lucky for him, he met you and you're his world. You and the kids."

I gave her a shy smile and Georgina tapped her right index finger against her lips.

"I wonder why she was in that building," Georgina said, softly. I watched her get up as Georgina carefully crossed the street and she walked to the door to the building. People walked by as I watched her try to see in the window then she walked back to the table. She sat down and a small grin moved across her face.

"What's so funny?" I asked.

"Looks like Alicia had some work done. That place is a plastic surgery clinic."

"Oh."

"Don't know why she thinks she needs it. I always thought she looked amazing."

"Me, too. That's why I wondered why Will picked me over her."

"He fell in love with your inner beauty. Which is why I wonder if that's the reason I keep dating the wrong men. All they see is what's on the outside."

"You'll find someone."

"I hope so. Though, someone has been chatting me up at work."

"Who?!"

"Mark Sullivan. He's one of the designers."

"He's on my team. He seems really nice."

"He is. He's been working at the agency for a long time. I love that accent of his and he seems to like me."

"Then give him a go."

"There's one little problem. He has kids."

"Oh. Yes. He told me about that. Three boys."

"His wife died three years ago in a drunk driving accident. He's only recently been trying the dating scene again."

"Do you think you could handle being around the boys if you do get involved with him?"

"Seeing how I grew up having Will for a brother, I can handle anything those boys toss at me," she teased and we laughed.

"Just take it slow. It might be just as hard on Mark as it is on you," I said and she nodded.

"Guess we better get home. I have some work to do," she said and we got up. We walked down the street with our shopping bags in our hands and she smiled at me.

Georgina's flat

I sat on the bed with the pillows behind my back and I looked through the information about the gala. The gala lasted three days and each day was a different event. The first day was for designs for women's clothing and several of my designs had already been made. The second day was for men's clothing and I just needed to finish three more designs. One of the designs was the outfit Will wore on our holiday. The last day was for teens, children and toddlers. I just needed to finish two designs.

The sound of my cellphone ringing startled me as I reached over and picked the cellphone off the night table. I sat back against the pillows when I looked at the screen and my heart jumped to see Nathan's number.

"What's wrong?!" I asked after I pushed the button.

"Nothing's wrong. I just wanted to let you know your friend's cousin found a hotel near the venue and he booked it for us," Nathan said and I made a sigh of relief. "Sorry if I scared you.'

"You're forgiven. How is everything at home?"

"We're good. Your mum's a great cook. But she is driving us nuts with the cleaning."

"That's my mum," I teased and he laughed.

"We did have one tiny accident. Stevie wet the bed this morning. Poor little guy was really upset."

"I bet he wanted me."

"He did. He cried so hard that he threw up. We called the school and said he had a tiny stomach bug. He didn't want off of Will's lap all day."

"This isn't helping me with wanting to go home."

"Sorry. How are things on your end?"

"Busy. We've only got a few things to do."

"You'll be fine, Clark," startled me and I smiled.

"Did he give you the phone?" I asked and Will softly laughed.

"Yep," Will said.

"I wish I had been there when Stevie got upset."

"I told him Mama wasn't angry with him and she'll give him huggies when she sees him."

"I will. And I have some for you as well."

"Ok. Bedtime," Nathan said and we ended the call. Sighing, I sat against the pillows and lightly shook my head.