The melody shifts, and I recognise it before she sings.
The sky is true, and so are you
And I’m finally free
The shadows fall quiet where your love finds me
The music slows, fading into a final, lingering chord that vibrates against my ribs.
“That was beautiful.” I brush a kiss against the side of her neck. “I haven’t heard these lyrics before. A new ending?”
“No. A continuation.” Her head tilts as I kiss her neck again. She sighs, forlorn. “I should pack this away, shouldn’t I?” Her fingers linger on the strings.
Another kiss, my arms tightening as I draw her closer. “Up to you.”
She presses back against me, and I groan softly.
“I’d like to leave sometimetoday, lovebirds,” Ellenor calls out from the front door, oversized sunglasses perched on her nose.
I shoot her a dry look as if she wasn’t the one holding things up for the last hour with her micromanaging.
Even though we’ll only be gone for a few weeks, it feels like I’m moving out.
In a way, I am. I returned my oilskin overalls today, not knowing if I’ll ever set foot on an oyster farm again.
Lily’s eager to return to Australia, and I intend to follow. But hopefully I can convince her to return here, if not permanently, then for that English summer rain she’s so fond of.
In any case, the oysters will have to wait, because I’m not missing this road trip for the world.
Lily, Ellenor, and me. London first, then north, following Ellenor’s itinerary of castles, coastlines, villages, and café stops. Sean will rendezvous with us in Scotland.
Catherine won’t be coming at all. Everyone assumed she would join us before flying back to Australia with her daughters. No one looked more shocked than Ellenor when she announced she had other plans while we were on the road.
“Actually…I might stay behind,” Catherine said wistfully. “Cindy—my best friend from nursing school—lives in London. We haven’t seen each other in nearly thirty years. She invited me to join her on a cruise and spend the next two weeks with her in France.”
“France?” Ellenor cried. “What about Scotland? You can’t go toFrance!”
But Catherine’s eyes shone. “Your dad and I always talked about doing something like that. And then life kept happening. I think I need this.”
“You should go,” Lily-Anne had reassured her. “You deserve something just for you. And then we can all fly back together.”
Lily met my gaze then, almost questioningly, and I smiled in reassurance. I was surprised by how nervous she was about inviting me to Sydney.
How could I say no to her?
Ellenor was visibly disappointed when Sean first announced he wouldn’t be joining us until we reached Scotland next week. He’s waiting for his sisters to arrive to help look after Molly. That, and he’s secretly installing a sidecar on his motorbike.
“Ellenor will like it,” he explained, deadpan. But I recognised the look inhis eyes: Love—the irreversible variety.
It’s happening to me too: my love for Lily is shaping my life to hers, tying us together and making me do foolish things like visiting jewellers asking to see rings.
I think—or, rather, hope—I chose well.
Catherine already gave her blessing before returning to London—a quiet conversation that took place when her daughters were out of earshot. She thanked me for helping bring Lily out of her shell, but I told her she had it backwards. Lily has broughtmeback to life.
Now I only need to find the courage to ask her to be my wife.
Sometime in the coming weeks, between fuel stops and village walks and castle tours, I’ll find the perfect moment.
