Chapter 21

The party was as extravagant as Kayla had known the occasion of her eighteenth party was going to be from the experience of her siblings party.

Victor had hosted and planned a big party for Roman, Justin and an even bigger one for Kimmie. This was just as grand. Victor did like to see these things done with a bit of style.

But even though all of this was for her, she had to say she did not feel comfortable… here she was in a beautiful dress and eligible men all around her. They were the sort of men who were going to be able to give her all the comforts in life, as she had got used to as Victor's daughter.

Yet she was not interested in all of that. She knew that was not who she was. Honestly, she felt as if she was better suited to the hospital, and a busy ward with plenty to do far more than she was to the party scene. Not that she was going to want to spend her birthday there but she felt as if anyone who knew her would know what she meant.

Her mind was rushing and all afloat with what she had been told that day. She was still trying to take it all in. It was exhausting and occupying her at no mistake truthfully. She would love to go back to her room. Yet she knew he couldn't. She had to be here. In an attempt to try and ensure she had a bit of staying power for the evening, she headed outside to get a bit of air – but she did not go unnoticed. It did not take her long to sense she had company.

Nor did she need to turn to know who it was. Victor.

"I will be back in a minute. I just need a spot of air," she said without turning.

"You take all the time you need," he said as he stood at her side.

He had to say she was not in the high spirits he had thought and hoped she would be in.

"Thank you."

"But I would like to talk to you if that is ok. You have been quiet all day." She hadn't been herself. She had been when she had got up but he knew she was not in the place she had been in when she had got up that day. It was obvious to him. She was the most dear of all of Caroline's previous children to him. The nearest thing to a daughter he had and he had always thought of her rather as his little girl.

He did not want her to be down - especially not on her birthday.

It was as if she had something on her mind which she could not or would not talk about and he did not like that. This, her eighteenth birthday, should be a happy time for her.

She was not surprised he could see there was something wrong. He knew her well. She was utterly preoccupied with what Roman and Kimberly had told her, and trying to work out what it was she wanted to do.

She felt as if she had spent all her time trying to work out what the right thing to do when she was not even sure there was a right thing.

She did not feel as her brother and sister did – she could see it in their eyes they were so excited. She had seen it all day long.

She had not heard what they were saying but from the way, they were acting it was as if they were going to leave for America, as soon as they could under the cover of night but maybe that was her own imagination running away from her. Actually, neither of them had said anything about when they were going to go.

The last thing she was going to do though was tell Victor what was going through her had though. She needed more time to think.

"Maybe I have but I swear to you I am ok – I have a lot going on at the hospital is all," she lied to him.

Work was a convenient if nothing else.

He hummed, not quite believing her and feeling more than a little unsettled. He knew that the girls wanted to go out to work but if he had had his way then they would not.

He did not see the need for them to go out and earn what he could so easily provide for them all at home.

But he knew better than to take on that argument against any of Caroline's children. They were all head strong – more so than their mother he thought – it was something which they must have got for Shawn. He was saddened almost that even after all this time and all these years had passed he could see him in them. But perhaps more than saddened he was tormented by it.

"I know your busy."

"It is the way I like it." She was not made to sit home and drink tea, it was not the way she had been built. She did not think any of them were. When they had been young the kids had all liked to go to school and get out into the world. The days when one of them would stay at home all day were few and far in between – too much so far Victor's liking.

"Are you sure there is nothing else?" he quizzed. After all this time he felt as if he could spot trouble with the kids a mile off.

And in his gut he knew something was going on…

She shook her head. There might be but there was nothing else she could talk to him about. It was no good.

"Nothing."

If he had thought it was worth it, then he would go on and try to get her to open up a bit but this was her birthday and the last thing in the world which he wanted to do was upset her. And years of fatherhood told him even when he did not like it, she would do as she pleased.

"I want you to know how proud of you your mother and I am." He said to her as they stood quietly, changing tact.

"Well – I am not much to be proud of," she said as she tried to head off the deep and meaningful.

"You are our wonderful girl," he said to her and wished he could call her his daughter.

He would be proud too.

She sighed. Time for this to stop…

She had guests to greet…

"I think we had better re-join the party – everyone is going to wonder where we have gone."

He felt a little surprised at how unresponsive she was being to him at the moment. As a rule he felt as if he could get through to her when he needed too.

No such luck that day.

"Of course, Kayla," he said and watched her go back into the villa. He had gone to check on her and left him more confused than when he had gone out. He would find out what was going on with her though – of that he was sure.

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Coming up next, Kayla's party continues!