“I know, but I still see you as a five-year-old.”
“That’s encouraging,” Dani quipped. She spun around in place. “What do you think? I tried to pick something you might like.”
“I love it,” Bea replied, giving Dani a quick hug. “I don’t want to wrinkle you, but you look stunning.”
While the tailor was taking measurements to adjust Harry’s cuffs, Taya called, so Bea stepped outside to answer.
“Hello, stranger. How’s it going in Fiji?”
Taya sounded far away. “I’m sitting by the pool with a Mai Thai and I thought of you.”
Bea laughed. “I wish I was there with you!”
“I do too.”
“Is it amazing?”
“The resort is lovely. There’s a lot for me to work on, though. They’ve got some issues, since it’s a new resort. I’m glad I came. It’s going to be a big job.”
“You’ll be great,” Bea replied.
“I’m really beginning to regret not coming to your wedding, though.”
“It’s fine. I already told you that.”
“I know, but I don’t want to miss it.”
“I promise there will be a video and lots of photos.”
Taya sighed. “Okay. That will have to do, I suppose.”
“How are the staff treating you?”
“They’re being very respectful. It’s obvious they know about my father. But it does make my job easier, so I’m not complaining. Also, they’ve put me in the executive suite, which I’m sure they wouldn’t do for any other member of staff who visited. It’s like I’m on a luxury holiday, but I’m here for work.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re having a good time.”
“I am. I was sad to leave Coral Island and walk away from everyone. I miss Drew already, and I know it won’t take me long to feel homesick. I wasn’t sure I was ready to do this when I was seated on the ferry, crossing the strait. But now that I’m here, I know I’m ready. I’ve got the experience, and I feel confident. I’m excited to go forward from here.”
“You’re more than ready for it, honey. And I’m really proud of you. You’re going to smash it.”
“Thanks, Bea. You’re always the encouraging voice I need to hear.”
Twenty
THE DAYafter her unexpected phone call with her brother, Charmaine rode her bike to the dock where she’d arranged to meet him. It wasn’t far—she could’ve walked—but she hadn’t ridden in days, and she decided to take a loop around town before their meeting so she could work some of the nervous tension from her body.
Finally meeting up with her brother after three years was causing a knot to form in her stomach. After pedalling around town like mad for ten minutes, that knot began to shift, and even though she had sweat dripping down the sides of her face and the small of her back when she made it to the dock, she felt much better in general.
On the way back through town, she spied Penny and Rowan outside a sushi restaurant and stopped her bike, puffing hard, to say hello.
“Back from your honeymoon, Mr and Mrs Clements?” she asked.
Penny rushed down to kiss her cheek. “It’s so good to see you. Yes, we had a fabulous time, but it’s Hathaway now. We both decided to change our surname given everything that’s happened with Rowan’s stepdad, and Hathaway was Rowan’s name before his mother married Buck.”
“Hathaway. I like it — a nice strong name, easy to spell. It’s perfect.” She wasn’t sure what you should say to congratulate a couple on a name change and stumbled over the words. “I’m glad you’ve had a chance to relax and enjoy yourselves.”
Rowan took Penny’s hand. “How nice to see you, Chaz. I hope you’ve recovered from the wedding.”
