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The next morning, I woke up to the smell of bacon and coffee. I stretched out my arm to the empty spot beside me in the bed and sighed, disappointed that Orlando wasn’t there, then got up and went downstairs.

“Good morning, love,” Orlando said as I went into the kitchen. Aunt Tess was sitting at the counter, a plate of bacon and eggs in front of her. Orlando handed her a cup of coffee as I sat down beside her. He slid a plate of eggs to me, with some toast.

“Tell me you didn’t make this,” I teased, pushing the scrambled eggs around on my plate with the fork he handed me. “I’d like to see my twenty-fifth birthday.”

He chuckled as he gave me a glass of orange juice. “I can’t take credit for the eggs,” he said. “Just the coffee. Your aunt is the gourmet, not me.”

“I was surprised to see Orlando here this morning,” Aunt Tess said, sipping her steaming cup of coffee. “You’d said he wasn’t due until later this afternoon.”

“He flew in last night,” I said, though I was pretty sure she already knew that. “Why are you here so early, anyway? I thought we were meeting for lunch.” It was barely nine o’clock.

“I had to pick up a few things of your dad’s that Uncle Damon wanted,” she said. “I figured I’d just let myself in and get them while you were still sleeping, but Orlando was sitting here with coffee on, so we decided to have breakfast.”

I smiled as I took a bite of my eggs. They were delicious, light and fluffy, just like my mom used to make. I loved the homey atmosphere in the kitchen, just like what we’d had at Aunt Tess’s during Orlando’s and my first two weeks together. The house didn’t feel so lonely or so foreign with my family there.

“Have you thought any more about what we discussed?” Aunt Tess asked as we ate.

I nodded slowly, swallowing what was in my mouth as Orlando gave me a puzzled look. I hadn’t yet told him anything about Dad’s will, so he didn’t know what we were talking about.

“I think it’s a good idea,” I said, taking a sip of orange juice. “I mean, obviously I can’t live here full-time, but I don’t want to sell the place, you know?”

“Of course not,” Aunt Tess said, giving me an understanding smile. “Dee and I can be moved in within a month, once you give us the okay.”

“Whenever you’re ready,” I said.

“We’ll work out a lease, and a monthly rent amount, with the lawyer later on today,” Aunt Tess said, setting her fork on her empty plate.

I shook my head. “I don’t want you to pay rent,” I said firmly. “Just take care of the utilities, and keep the place in good shape, and I’m happy. You’re doing me a favour by taking care of it when I can’t, so it would be wrong to charge you rent.”

“Are you sure, honey? That’s a very generous offer.”

“I insist,” I said. “I’ll be in New York anyway, and after my run is finished with the show, who knows where I’ll end up? I’d feel better knowing that someone who loves this house as much as I do is taking proper care of it. That peace of mind is worth more than any rent you could pay me.”

When we’d finished eating and Aunt Tess had gone back to work, I went upstairs to shower and get dressed for the day. Orlando followed me, as though he didn’t want me out of his sight.

“What was all that about?” he asked as I went back into the bedroom after my shower.

“What?” I said, pulling clothes from my suitcase.

“Did your dad leave you this house in his will?” He sat down on the bed, watching me as I got dressed.

“To say the least,” I said, sitting down to put my sandals on. “He left me this house, the cottage up north, the car, and some money. Basically, aside from a few things for Aunt Tess and Dee, he left me everything.”

“Then why don’t you sell the house?” Orlando asked.

“I can’t bring myself to do that,” I said, sighing and staring at my hands. Just the idea of giving up my dad’s home was too much to take. “Besides, some day I hope to settle down here.”

“Here?” He looked shocked.

“Why not?”

“Well, I just assumed that once we were married, we’d live in England, that’s all,” he said, shrugging. “It just makes more sense.”

“Not really,” I said, trying not to get mad that he’d automatically assumed we’d be living where his family was. “I can work in Toronto if we live here. And my family, what’s left of it, is here.”

“Your parents are gone, Charlie,” he said gently. “Mine aren’t. It seems like the fair thing to do would be to stay close to my mum, dad, and sister.”

“What about my aunt and Dee? And the rest of my family, for that matter?” My stomach churned at how selfish he was being.

“We can afford plane tickets, darling,” he said gently. “You can visit them whenever you like, or they can visit you. I’m having the house built in England, for us to live in. That’s my home.”

“And this is mine.” I closed my eyes briefly, trying to get a hold on myself. “You were building that house long before I came into the picture, so it’s not really for us, now is it? And you travel so much with work, I don’t want to be left alone in a strange country while you’re away. At least if I live here, I have my family and my friends to keep me company.”

“You’ll make friends in London, too,” he said, taking my hands in his. “And my mum and Sam already think you’re wonderful. You’ll fit right in.”

I didn’t say anything for a minute, trying to get my head around what he was saying. He expected me to give up my family so I could live near his. I’d always thought New York would be our home base for a few years, and that when I retired from the stage, we’d move to Dad’s house and live there. It’s not like Orlando didn’t travel for work anyway. He could live anywhere.

“Orlando, it’s not like you have to be in a specific location for your job, right?” I said finally. “So wouldn’t it make more sense for us to live in New York for now, while I’m working there?”

“You’ve been offered a job in London, though,” he said, and I could tell he was starting to get agitated. “I’m sure another one will come along, and then you can work there.”

“You know what?” I said, standing up, my back to him. “I can’t think about this right now. I mean, I don’t even have to work for the rest of my life, so that’s not really what I’m worried about. My point is, why does it have to be your family over mine? Just because your parents are alive, that doesn’t make your family more important. Aunt Tess has been there for me since my mom died, and Dee is like my little sister. I couldn’t live an ocean away from them. Being in New York is hard enough.”

“So you expect me to be an ocean away from my family?” Orlando said, rising as well. He came around to stand in front of me, forcing me to look into his beautiful brown eyes.

“You’re gone so often with your job, what does it matter?” I whispered, tears filling my eyes. “You have to realize how lonely it will be for me when you’re gone, if I’m that far from the rest of the people that I love. And like you said, we can visit. Hell, we can even keep a house in London, if that’s what you want. But I can’t make England my home permanently, Orlando. I just can’t.”

He shook his head slowly, as though figuring out what to say next. My stomach did flip-flops at the expression on his face. I held my breath, convinced I wasn’t going to like whatever came out next. I was right.

“And I can’t live here permanently, love,” he said, reaching up to cup my face in his hand. “So we have two choices. Either one of us gives in to the other, or we find a compromise that will suit both of us.”

“I thought we already had,” I said, my voice breaking as one tear slid down my cheek. “We’ve got the apartment in New York for six months, right? Can’t we just let that be home?”

“For now,” he said, sighing. He leaned down and brushed a gentle kiss on my lips. I knew this wasn’t over, but at least we’d come to some sort of understanding. As he pulled me into his arms, though, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something wasn’t right. I buried my face in his neck and chose to ignore it.

Orlando and I spent the next day or two hanging around the house, venturing out for food only when we had to. Every time we turned on the TV there was something promoting his new movie, whether it was a commercial, a trailer, or an interview. It seemed to be everywhere, and from what Orlando was telling me, it was gearing up to be the biggest movie of the summer. I was proud of him, but at the same time, that movie had put a wedge between us, and I hated how intense he got whenever he saw something about it. I would have preferred it didn’t exist for a few days. The fact that I wouldn’t be able to see it until the week after it came out annoyed him, but he tried not to hold it against me. I had to work, after all.

Though he was supposed to leave Thursday night, Orlando managed to rearrange some things so he could stay until Saturday afternoon. Aunt Tess took this as an open invitation to have a dinner party for friends and family the night before. I didn’t think it was a good idea, what with Dad only being gone a week, but she insisted, assuring me that it was what everyone needed to feel normal again. I gave in, mainly because I didn’t want to argue with her.

Guests started arriving around dinner time on Friday evening, as planned. We were barbequing in the backyard, and tables had been set up to accommodate everyone. Dad’s huge grill had been pulled out of storage and Uncle Dave and Uncle Damon were having a great time trying to out-do each other as they cooked the hamburgers and hot dogs Aunt Tess had bought. I tried to stay out of the way as much as possible, and Orlando disappeared upstairs during the chaos of the afternoon preparations.

As more and more people arrived, I began setting out salads and drinks, wanting to keep as busy as possible so no one would ask me how I was doing. I didn’t want the pitying looks or the sympathy I knew I would get. The grief was too fresh, and I knew I’d start crying.

After awhile, Aunt Tess came up to me as I was tossing a green salad, a rather annoyed look on her face.

“Where is he?” she said, looking around at the various people milling about the backyard.

“Who?”

“Orlando,” she said with an exasperated sigh. “Shouldn’t he have come out by now? We’re eating soon.”

“He was on the phone the last I saw him,” I said, finishing with the salad. I put it on the table with the rest of the food. “I’ll go in and get him.” I turned to go into the house, then stopped. “Aunt Tess, why are you so edgy?” I asked.

“Oh your uncles are getting on my nerves a bit, honey, that’s all,” she said, forcing airiness into her voice. “Don’t worry about it.”

I knew there was more to it, but I didn’t want to push her just then, not when she was playing hostess to thirty or more people. I hurried into the house to find Orlando.

He was upstairs, in the bedroom, right where I’d last seen him, and he was still on the phone. He did not look pleased.

“I can’t come back tonight, Carrie,” he said, as though he’d said it a million times. “Have Keira or Johnny handle it.” He paused, listening. “No, I’ll be back tomorrow night, as planned.” He signaled for me to sit down. “It’s not that big a deal, really. It’s just one interview. If it’s that important, have them ring me here and I’ll do it over the phone if I have to.” He shook his head at me and rolled his eyes, then grinned to let me know his frustrations had nothing to do with me. I kissed his fingers. “Fine, have them ring at midnight, I’ll do it then.” He hung up.

“Having a hard time?” I asked, crawling into his lap so I was straddling his thighs, which were stretched out on the bed.

He sighed and kissed me lightly. “They seem to think I’m not allowed to have time to myself,” he said, his fingers slowly kneading my back. “I have an interview to do tonight for some magazine. So much for time off.” He rolled his eyes again.

“I’m sorry, sweetheart,” I said, leaning forward to hug him. “Are you ready to come downstairs, or do you want a few minutes?”

“No, I’m coming,” he said as I stood up. “I should be used to this, right?”

“Used to what?” I said, turning in the doorway.

“Everyone wanting their friends to see me at their parties.” His voice was so harsh and dead as he said it, I was shocked.

“Is that what you think this is?” I whispered, fighting the urge to cry. I was so emotional these days, it didn’t take much. “Do you really think Aunt Tess just wants her friends to see you? That’s a bit self-centered, isn’t it?”

“I just don’t see why we needed to have a dinner tonight,” he said, shrugging. “I mean, you just saw everyone on Monday.”

“I don’t get to see my family very often, so she’s taking advantage of the time we have,” I said, my stomach knotting wildly. I wasn’t sure whether to be hurt or angry by what he was getting at, but at that point, both feelings were pretty close to the surface. “This barbeque isn’t about you, Orlando. I’m leaving Sunday, remember?”

“We’ll just see how many people she introduces me to while I’m out there,” he said, sounding more jaded by the second. I hated this side of him, the side that Hollywood had made bitter. I didn’t see it very often, hardly ever in fact, but lately, with all the press his new movie had been getting, it was showing more and more, and over the most unexpected things.

“Orlando, listen to me,” I said, choosing my words carefully. “Aunt Tess doesn’t give a shit who you are anymore, okay? To her, you’re her niece’s boyfriend, and part of the family. Please don’t let your ego get in the way tonight, okay? I really don’t need that.”

“I don’t have an ego, Charlie,” he said, coming closer to me. He didn’t look angry, exactly, but there was something not quite right about his expression. “I’m just tired of people using me to make themselves look good.”

“When have we ever done that?” I snapped, unable to help myself. “When have we ever flaunted who you are?”

“How about at the opening night of Wicked?” he said, snapping as well. “Or at the Tony’s? Or any time we’re out in public? Jesus, Charlie, it’s hard to keep track of it all.”

I stared at him, completely stunned. “What are you talking about?” I whispered over the lump in my throat. “Is that what you really think?”

“I’m beginning to wonder if you wanted me at the funeral so badly because you wanted your family to see what a big shot you’ve become,” he said, his dark eyes flashing. “Tell me I’m wrong, go ahead.”

“You’ve never been so wrong,” I said, shaking my head. The tears were coming, but I held them at bay. “This is completely out of left field, Orlando. I have never once asked you to be anywhere for me just because of who you are. I wanted you at those things, at those special moments in my life, because you’re my boyfriend, the man I love, and I wanted to share them with you. I don’t care how many pictures of us end up in the magazines, and I don’t care how many people know who I am because I’m dating you. In case you hadn’t noticed, my career and my life were on the right track before you came along, so thinking that I’m using you is not only completely ignorant, it’s incredibly egotistical, too.”

He didn’t say anything, just pushed past me and went downstairs, his body tense and rigid. I hoped he wouldn’t say anything rude to Aunt Tess. I composed myself and followed him.

When I got outside, Orlando was with Deanna and a few of her friends. The girls looked like they were ready to giggle or pass out or both, and Orlando looked strangely calm. He was nodding and talking to them, but he looked detached somehow. I headed over to them.

“Hello all,” I said, trying to be cheery. I put my arm around Deanna and squeezed lightly. “Having fun?” I avoided Orlando’s eyes.

“We were just talking about Orlando’s movie,” Deanna said, grinning up at him. He smiled back at her, but it didn’t meet his eyes.

“Have you got your tickets yet?” I teased, knowing she probably had.

“Opening night,” she beamed. Her friends grinned, too.

“I figured,” I said. “Orlando, can I see you for a minute?” I linked my arm with his and gently pulled him away. He didn’t say anything as the girls watched us go.

“Okay, look,” I said when we were far enough away from everyone else. “I know you’re pissed at me right now, and that we have some things to deal with, but I need you to be decent to my family. It’s not their fault you’ve got the wrong idea.”

“Do you really think I’d be rude?” His face was passive, lacking any emotion.

“I’m not sure,” I said slowly. “If you feel you’re being taken advantage of, why not?”

“I’m not going to be rude to Deanna and her friends,” he sighed, crossing his arms over his chest. “Or anyone else for that matter. Give me a little credit.”

“If you were acting normally, this wouldn’t even be an issue,” I said, keeping my voice down as Uncle Damon passed by within a few feet of us. “I don’t understand where this is coming from, so I’m not sure how you’ll act.”

“I’m just stressed, that’s all,” he said, his shoulders sagging slightly. “Let’s just get through this, and then we’ll talk about it, okay?”

“Fine,” I said, feeling as though I was getting the brush. I turned and went back to the party.