Sicilian Dreams Read Free Page B

them who would get married first. The Liz of those days had been a great party girl, up all-night and sleeping for most of the day as a student. Naturally bright, she had sailed through Law school paying scant attention or presence at lectures and tutorials. She hadn't needed a job between lectures as her father, Sir Kevin Hayes; scion of the Wellington brewing family, Hayes & Scanlon; made sure her bank account was topped up regularly and, once she left the Halls of Residence, her accommodation was above the usual cold and droughty, student digs around the University.
    In spite her privileged upbringing Liz was no spoilt princess. Her lovely down to earth nature and sexy, growly laugh always ensured she had plenty of admirers and friends surrounding her sunny natured generosity. But marriage straight after University and at the beginning of her overseas adventure had shocked them all. Scraping together enough money for an airfare to California to attend the nuptials had seen Cassie more than a little curious to meet this man who had so stolen away the girl they knew and loved. She left just as curious as she arrived. Doug Baxter was charming, erudite, tall and good looking, from a blue blood background like Liz’s but hardly likely to set the world on fire with his personality. He was pleasant yes, but dynamic, no, not in Cassie's humble opinion. How had the girl with the spark in her eyes ended up falling for Doug in London? Beautiful with big, brown eyes, long, silky, dark hair and an hour glass figure which had men bumping into lamp posts as they watched her sashaying down the street, she had seemed to be making great strides as a junior in an illustrious PR firm in the West End.
    In fact, she kept writing and saying that Katrina needed to come over and join her and she would introduce her to her boss. Katrina had her degree in Law but her first love was journalism and she was very envious of Liz's new position in the upmarket PR firm. Ditching her part time waitressing job in Wellington, she begged her parents for a loan to fly to London and join Liz. Of course Liz had a swanky apartment in Chelsea and wanted Kat and Cassie to come and live with her just like the old days.
    Unlike Liz, Cassie did not have wealthy parents - in fact, she had no parents. A tragic head on car accident involving them and a drunk driver had robbed Cassie of her parents at the tender age of three. Her aunt Maggie, the much older sister of her father had been the only parent Cassie had known and she had provided the young orphan with love and a home ever since the tragic event. Aunt Maggie was an artist, and one of the talented few that made enough money to live on. She had exhibited her paintings and sculptures to critical acclaim throughout New Zealand and Australia and indeed, in later years as her reputation grew, she had been invited several times to exhibit in London and New York. Now in her early seventies, Maggie was able to slow down and enjoy her garden and her beloved pets, which consisted of an aged English bull terrier, Rosa, and an old one eared tabby cat who ruled the roost.
    Although Maggie had many offers from enthusiastic suitors when she was young, and indeed when she was not so young, she had never found true love so marriage and children had eluded her. Possessed of a very kind heart, she poured all her love into young and tragically orphaned Cassie, and they shared a very strong bond. Cassie adored Maggie and wanted to make her proud of her. Her aunt had given her a loving home and refuge from the terrifying reality of losing her parents at such a tender age and Cassie didn't need any more hiccups in her young life.
    She was a serious little girl who became a diligent student at school, always in the top five in class, and a gifted sportswoman who had inherited her father’s talent for swimming and her mother’s long, fast legs for sprinting. A framed portrait of medals, still hung in her bedroom at Maggie's house. Maggie