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“I KNEW THEY’D HIT IT off,” said Megan, opening the picnic hamper and laying out the food on the blanket.
On the golden sand of Bliss Bay’s gently shelving beach, Luca squealed with delight and clung onto Des’s hand as they ran in and out of the surf.
“I think Des fell in love as soon as he set eyes on him,” said Sylvie. “Although he wasn’t the only one. Luca’s such an adorable child, it’s hard not to love him.”
“He really is, isn’t he? I wish Lizzie was here. They’re going to adore each other. And I miss her so much.”
“Well, it’s understandable, love,” said Claudia. “You spent a lot of time together in the months before the wedding. Probably the most time you’ve spent together since you were young. And you’ve always been so close, it’s hardly surprising that you’re missing her now.”
Megan sighed and nodded, squinting out to the shore where Jack, Evie and Nick played bat and ball, and Des and Luca walked back up the beach. “Luca!” she called. “Do you want some melon?”
The little boy came running, and put his little sandy hands on Megan’s cheeks. “Thank you.” He flopped onto the blanket and took a piece of fruit from the container before handing it to Claudia. “Nana want to share?”
Claudia took a sharp inward breath, putting a hand on her chest and blinking rapidly, while Megan and Sylvie joined each other in a good-gestured eye roll.
Thank you, sweetheart, that’s very kind of you. Nana would love to share,” she said, taking the sandy piece of melon from Luca’s hand.
He gave her a toothy grin, before offering Sylvie and Megan a piece of fruit and sitting on the blanket, cuddled up to Megan, to eat his own.
“I’m going now,” he said presently. “Daddy and Unker Des are going to teach me how to swim.” He grinned, bringing out the dimples in his cheeks, and his grey eyes shone with excitement as he ran off to join them.
“Oh, for heaven’s sake, could there be a more utterly adorable child?” said Claudia, blowing her nose. “He called me Nana, did you hear?”
“How many nanas does he have?” said Sylvie. “Isn’t it going to get confusing for him?”
“Well, he’s spoken to Louisa on video chat loads of times, and he calls her Nanny, and he calls Flora’s mum, Abuelita, because she’s Cuban, but he asked Jack last night if mum was his nana. Jack told him he could call her nana if he wanted to, so I guess he must want to,” said Megan, rummaging in the picnic hamper.
“Oh, damn. I’ve left the wine coolers in the freezer. I knew I’d forget something because I packed everything in such a rush. We were all set to have lunch up at the house, but all of a sudden, Jack suggested we come to the beach.”
“Well, there must have been a good reason, love,” said Sylvie, giving Claudia a furtive smile.
“I’ll go and get them,” said Claudia. “I’ll go in a while.”
“No, it’s okay, Mum.”
Claudia hauled herself to her feet and called out to Jack. “Jack. Jack! Megan forgot something so she has to go back to the house.”
He came running over with Luca on his shoulders. “You’re going back to the house?” he said, with a frown.
“Yes. I forgot the wine coolers,” said Megan. “Not that we’re having wine, but I still need them for the elderflower cordial and Luca’s juice.”
“I’ll go and fetch them,” said Jack. “Give me fifteen minutes.”
“No, I’ll go,” said Megan. “This is your time with Luca. I’ll be back before you know it.”
“Can’t you leave it half an hour or so?” said Sylvie.
“No, the drinks will be warm by then,” said Megan. “Which is why I want to go now. Not in a while, or fifteen minutes, or half an hour. What on earth’s the matter with you all?” She picked up her keys and set off for the car. “See you in a bit.”
At The Old School House, she ran inside, patting Vinnie’s roof on the way and stopping for a cuddle with Blue and Dolly. As she took the wine coolers from the fridge, it occurred to her that Blue wasn’t just excited to see her, he was restless; pacing back and forth and staring out of the window.
“What’s up, Blue?” She put down the wine coolers and crouched down beside him. “Have you seen a squirrel? Or maybe you need a pee? Although Jack took you for a walk before we went to the beach, so I’d be surprised if you do, but I’ll let you out before I go back, just in case. Come on, then.”
She smiled at the picture of her and Lizzie on the sideboard, and left a fingertip kiss on it before opening the door to see Blue shoot out and run across the grass in the direction of Bay View, his ears up and his tail out.
He ran all the way to the door, then sat on the mat, barking, sniffing and brushing the floor with his tail.
“Surely you can’t still smell Louisa and Alec?” said Megan, as she drew closer. She bent down to stroke him, and got the fright of her life when the door slowly opened.
Letting out a little scream, she looked up to see Lizzie looking back at her, her face lit up with a grin.
“Oh my gosh! Why didn’t you tell me you were coming!” said Megan, throwing her arms around her sister’s neck. “I was just thinking about you.” She frowned. “Just a minute, how did you get in? And where’s Shaun?
“Shaun’s not coming down until tomorrow, and Jack gave the keys to mum and dad. I picked them up earlier and left my car there. I was going to come down to the beach and surprise you.”
“Jack and Mum and Dad know you’re here?”
Lizzie nodded. “And Aunty Sylv and Uncle Des.”
“Ah, so that’s why no one wanted me to come and get the wine coolers,” said Megan, with a chuckle.
“And probably why you had a change of plan at short notice,” said Lizzie. “When I called Jack, you were getting ready to have lunch here, but he said he’d try to get you all down to the beach instead.”
“I’m so happy you’re here! I can’t wait for you to meet Luca! And what’s happening with your jobs? How long are you staying? So many questions!”
“Well.” Lizzie scratched her head. “First of all, I can’t wait to meet Luca. Second of all, Shaun and I got the jobs we wanted, in a fabulous school. I’ll be working with younger kids, which is just what I wanted, and Shaun got a job coaching sport, so right up his street.”
“That’s fabulous! I’m so happy for you both—you couldn’t have wished for better jobs,” said Megan. “Will you have to move, or will you be able to stay in your flat?”
Lizzie let out a deep breath. “And third of all, we’ve already moved. Because the school’s in Bliss Bay, and Shaun and I are your new tenants.”
The smile fixed on Megan’s lips. “I don’t understand.”
“Why do you think I didn’t want to say anything about the jobs? It wasn’t because I thought it would jinx anything, it was because I didn’t want to spoil the surprise. Only Jack and Mum and Dad knew—in fact it was Jack’s idea that we move in here.”
“Hang on,” said Megan, clutching Lizzie’s shoulders as the penny started to drop. “You mean, you’re not just here as temporary relief teachers for someone?”
“No. We’re here for good. That’s why we visited so often, because we were going for interviews. We’d never thought about working anywhere else but the city, but once we realised we wanted to move, we did everything we could to make it work, but we didn’t think things would happen so quickly!”
“So you’re going to be here all the time?” Megan squealed as the news began to sink in.
“Every day,” said Lizzie, stepping into her sister’s arms. “You didn’t honestly think we’d be happy living miles away now we have a new nephew to get to know, did you? Although it’s a bit presumptuous to assume you’d want us living here... you don’t mind, do you?”
“Mind?” said Megan, tears pricking the backs of her eyelids. “Of course I don’t mind! I’m over the flippin’ moon! Come on, let’s get down to the beach. Everyone will be dying to see you.”
“Okay, give me two ticks and I’ll be right back.”
As Megan waited, looking out across the bay with Blue at her feet, she thought of her family, and of Luca—just starting to find his way in the Windsor/Fallon clan—and vowed to do everything she could to make sure his childhood in Bliss Bay left him with some of the happiest memories of his life.
She counted her blessings, each and every one, and sent up a little prayer of thanks.
And as she headed off, arm in arm with the sister she’d shared so much with over the years, she knew that life in Bliss Bay was about to get even better.
The End
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