Oh, probably “Tilly.” His new fiancé was likely loose and free as the summer wind. How wonderful of her. They were just too peas in a pod, made for each other.

But that’s what happened when one’s head was the equivalent of a wind tunnel.

“What does it matter to you, Evan, what I do on this trip? This is no business of yours,” she said, trying to keep her voice aloof, unstrained.

“It is if it affects the children. And Lily . . . you know her. She gets anxious about things. She hates the things she can’t control because she takes after you. She called me this morning, all distraught. She’s worrying about you. And you know that isn’t good for her or the baby.”

And you really think finding out the stepmother is younger than she is has no impact on her mental health? Diana sighed. “Why is it that in our family, some people get to do whatever they want. And yet there are so many restrictions on me?”

“You can do what you like, of course, love,” he assured her. “I just wonder if you’re upset about something, and making a rash mistake.”

“Now, Evan, what on earth do I have to be upset about? I’m perfectly happy. You have to remember when we first met . . . Paris was all I ever talked about.”

“I remember. But a year? Are you sure you can—”

“I wanted to go. But we never did. Why is that?”

“Because Paris is nasty and ugly. You forget, I was there in Europe once before I met you.”

“I don’t forget that. You would tell me about it, every time I suggested we take a trip

ther—”

“It’s true! It is nothing like they say on TV. You have this dream of it. Of this beautiful, romantic city of sparkling light. But I promise, nothing will live up to that. And you’re going to be disappointed.”

She’d stopped listening to him by then. “I don’t care,” she said bluntly. “At least I will have been there and can cross it off my bucket list. Did you call for a reason? Or were you just calling to wish me bon voyage?”

“Bon voyage,” he said. “Of course, love, I want you to have a wonderful time. Send me a postcard, eh?”

“Good. I’ll give you the address of the hotel I’m staying at if you’d like to have the papers sent there,” she said. “I don’t want to delay your wedding plans.”

“Thank you, love.”

“Evan, I’ve got to go. I have a plane to catch.”

She ended the call and looked down at her itinerary. Of course, plans were a good thing. The last thing she needed in her life was to have someone like Evan, filling her with doubts, trying to get her sidetracked. Nothing could hold her back now. She was finally on her way.

CHAPTER SEVEN

That evening, after kissing Lily and Mick goodbye, Diana arrived at JFK airport with plenty of time to spare before her flight. When the flight attendant announced that the first-class passengers could now begin boarding, a thrill of excitement passed through her. Cradling her jacket and neck pillow in her arms, wearing a black wrinkle-free travel suit she’d picked up at Saks, she took a long look at the lights of New York City before boarding the plane.