The sun is high in the sky and on maximum heat setting — at least it feels that way.
A faint sheen of sweat glistens on my face as I catch sight of myself in the mirror.
“How are you feeling?”
Nate stands beside me, as we share the same reflection, and my heart skips a beat as it always does when I stare at the man I love with my whole heart.
“Nervous, I guess.”
“Same.”
We share a moment of reflection in more ways than one because today our lives change forever.
“I wish they were here.”
I don’t need to give them names because Nate knows exactly who I am speaking about.
“They would be so proud of you.”
“I know.”
The tears glisten in my eyes as I remember my parents, whose only crime was to do everything possible to have their own child.
The trial revealed they weren’t the first people who lost their lives, leaving their entire estate to The Green Valley Foundation. In every case, there was proof that a meeting had been set up with Madelaine Covington which they mysteriously never attended. Painstaking investigation and witness statements were collated from around the world, and she was convicted of several counts of murder when she was brought to trial. The backlash was huge, and it was the case of the century. They were soon notorious and the deeper the authorities dug, the more dirt they found. Trading in humans, extortion, murder, and fraud. All under the umbrella of The Green Valley Foundation. Millions of dollars were discovered in accounts all over the world, and the scale of the operation was mind-boggling.
Madelaine and Chester were sentenced to life imprisonment and the only contact both Nate and I had with them was facing them across the crowded courtroom as we gave evidence against them.
The fact they were our mother and father meant nothing. They just gave us life in the first place and gave up any rights to our loyalty the moment they walked away. Madelaine played her part well in the witness box. Looking as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth and trying to blind the jury with her large contrite eyes and trembling lip. Chester turned on his considerable charm, but the jury saw right through them. Luckily, the evidence was too great, and they lost everything they had spent years trying to protect. The thing I’m most grateful for is that Nate and I are in no way related. My father was a one-night stand in a bar on one of Madelaine’s travels. Apparently, she always made the most of her nights away from Chester and was no better than him. They deserved one another and deserve their future, and I hope I never see either of them again.
“We should be leaving.”
I brush some more face powder on my nose to disguise the sheen and smile. “I’m looking forward to this.”
Nate’s hand slips into mine and he spins me to face him and smiles lovingly. “I love you, Katrina Darlington, and can’t wait to begin my future with you.”
“To do it right this time.”
“To make our parents proud and not the ones who gave us life.”
“Never them.” I smile as we share a special moment before the day turns into chaos. The moment where our world rights itself and sets us on a path of new beginnings.
We walk hand in hand out of the sensational bungalow that we now call home and lock the door behind us, knowing that when we return, our peace will have been shattered.
As we make the short walk down the path that is flanked by sweet-smelling flowers, I sigh with contentment. We made it. This is our life now and we will make it count.
As we head towards the beach, I feel the sun on my face and take in deep, cleansing breaths of the fresh, salty air. Catalina Island has never looked as special as it does in this life changing moment and watching the boat approach, I feel the excitement stirring deep inside.
“They’re here.”
We watch the boat head into view and Nate squeezes my hand. “Are you ready for this?”
“I’ve been ready for it my whole life.”
As the guests take their first look at paradise, I enjoy watching their awed expressions and excited smiles. Their delighted laughter lightens the atmosphere and brings life to an island that was only ever enjoyed by a privileged few.
When the dust settled on the trial and the four directors were sentenced to life imprisonment, the beneficiaries of the foundation were given control of the only legal parts of it that were left, after paying fees and creditors. Catalina Island was the jewel we inherited, and we set up an island trust and used the money to make it a luxurious holiday resort.
Now our guests are arriving, and Nate and I oversee an island paradise that welcomes paying guests for an idyllic break on their own private island.
The children who lost so much and were forced to work off their parent’s debts are all shareholders and it’s now run as a business that pays dividends. At least that’s the plan if we can make it work, and I’m just grateful that Katie and Jenny have stepped up to sell the dream around the world from the comfort of Catalina. Jenny wasted no time in rekindling things with Adam, who returned as our head chef and Drew is excited to be our bar manager. Katie and Sven talked it through and decided to settle on the island and bring up her child together. We are all desperate to make this work and now have a purpose far more noble that the one we first inherited.
I watch as Nate helps a child down from the boat and his easy smile makes me feel warm inside. We’ll be ok. I know in my heart that out of great pain has come the sweetest pleasure. Catalina Island was always my destiny but sometimes destiny is what you make it and if you’re not happy with the one fate has dealt you, it’s ok to tweak it slightly and make it a better one.
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“It is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves.” ― William Shakespeare
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If you enjoyed this story you may be interested in The Resort
