If I Could Fly // h.s.

Chapter 22

The next few days are incredible. When we weren't hanging out at Harry's with the boys, we were with Aunt Jane making the final preparations for the charity gala coming up tonight. Tonight. I can't believe it's tonight. One of Mildred's girls delivered our perfectly altered gowns about half an hour ago along with some photographs she had taken during the fitting, a bottle of champagne, and a sweet note that read:

"Bonjour my little loves!

I am so happy to have helped you with these gorgeous dresses. I think only you were in mind when these pieces were created. May they bring you the allure, beauty, and confidence that your own hearts ignite. Be brave and fabulous, little darlings. (And if ever in doubt, drink from the stars!)

All my love to you two and your lovely aunt.

Ta, dears!"

"This is seriously the sweetest thing ever," Nicole says as she wipes a tear threatening to escape from her eye. "I can't believe I have to actually go home in two days. I'm not ready! This has all been like a dream," she sighs.

"I wish you didn't have to. I don't know what I'll do without you. Hell, I don't know what Aunt Jane will do without you," I chortle as I slump down in my seat. We've been out by the pool for the last half hour enjoying a few snacks that Anna prepared for us.

"And Niall..." she stops. "What do I do?"

"Well," I pause. "Do you think that you could possibly get a job over here? Would you even consider relocating?"

"I never really thought about it. I mean my whole family is back in the states.." she trails off.

"But how long do you actually see them anyway?"

"Well..." she contemplates. "I guess I see them every other month or so."

"You could always fly back and visit. There will be plenty of times that Niall will be traveling, too."

"But where would I live? I can't stay here and mooch off you and your family forever!"

"You know Aunt Jane and Uncle Richard have never seen you being here as 'mooching', Cole!" I start to say something else when we hear someone clear their voice behind us. Turning my head to see if Anna or Aunt Jane has snuck up on us, I am taken by surprise when I see Uncle Richard approaching us.

"I'm afraid you girls have caught me doing a bit of eavesdropping," he says as he pulls his hands out of the pockets of his perfectly pressed dress slacks. He pulls a chair out of the table we are sitting at and gracefully takes a seat beside us. "Nicole, housing arrangements aside, would you be interested in exploring career opportunities here in London?" Uncle Richard keeps his business face as he waits for her answer.

"If I had already secured a flat somewhere and had saved up enough of a nest egg, I would certainly entertain the idea," Nicole admits before adding, "But I don't want you guys to feel obligated to help me on this. I just don't think it's possible."

"Here's the thing, Nicole... When I found out that I had a niece living in America, I was overjoyed. I don't quite express my emotions as well as my wife, but it made me glad to know that we could potentially have a family. I don't know if Jane or Amelia has told you, but we couldn't have children. I was an only child and sadly, there's no one still living on my side of the family. Jane and I have been happy on our own. We took on enough causes to feel like we had a sense of purpose. That worked for us for a while because we didn't know any better. Then Jane found Amelia. Now I know Amelia is a young lady and not a child, but when she came to us, it felt like we finally had a real family. Then Amelia brought you over and our little family grew," Uncle Richard paused to clear his throat. "What I'm trying to say Nicole, is that if you'd like to stay here, we would love to have you. This estate is huge. We could have your own quarters drawn up. Now I know eventually you two will find husbands and get married and ride off into the sunset... but until then, we would be more than happy to have you both stay here and be our family."