“That’s interesting,” Sean said, stirring his coffee with a spoon. “I do remember she had a sister. Mum talked about her family more when I was younger. You wouldn’t remember that, I suppose.”
“I was too little. But she spoke about it after her initial stroke, so I couldn’t really understand what she was saying. But now that she’s gone, I’d like to reconnect with her family. I have no idea why she was estranged from them, but maybe if I find our aunt, I can ask her about it.”
“There were a few phone calls with family in those early years. And I vaguely recall Mum travelling to see her parents when I was really small.”
“Do you remember where they lived?”
He shook his head. “No, but it was in Queensland because I can picture the flight. It was my first time on a plane. The destination was somewhere in Queensland, but I have no idea exactly where. Wherever it was, it wasn’t as built-up or busy as Sydney.”
“Why have I never heard about this before now?”
He shrugged. “You never asked.”
“Well, I’m asking now. I want to know what Mum said about her family. Let’s pay the bill and go back to my flat, and you can tell me everything you know.”
Twenty-One
BEATRICE’S WEDDINGday dawned sunny and bright. The air was still. Birds dived and chirped as they captured insects and awakened the world with their song. Bea ate scrambled eggs on toast, seated on the back deck with a view of her beach.
She loved it there — her favourite place in the world. But it wouldn’t be her home for much longer. She and Aidan had decided she’d move in with him and leave the cottage behind. His house was much bigger and would be perfect for guests when they came to stay. She was excited about the change, but would miss the cottage. Dad had decided to rent it out for a little extra income.
When she went inside, there were boxes stacked all around the walls with her possessions inside. She hadn’t finished packing yet—that would have to wait until after the honeymoon. But her essentials had already been transported to Aidan’s house, apart from her suitcase and the things she needed for the wedding.
She couldn’t wrap her head around the idea that the two of them were finally getting married — would spend the rest of their lives together. She’d often dreamed of this moment at various times in her life. Even when married to Preston, the imagery of her ending up with Aidan had haunted her sleeping hours.
She was grateful her reality had mirrored the happiest dream, and that dream had really only just begun. Aidan’s daughter lived with her mother most of the year, and Bea’s kids were in Sydney. That meant the two of them had empty nests the majority of the time and could travel, go out to dinner, snorkel or do whatever it was they wanted to do whenever Aidan wasn’t working at the primary school.
She’d hired Candice Gossamer to manage the café and planned to let her handle the business during school holidays so she and Aidan could go globetrotting. Candace had waited tables for a while and was taking a year off between high school and university, so she was the perfect choice. And already, Bea was grateful for her efficiency and work ethic.
In the kitchen, Dani and Harry were busily cooking breakfast. Dani’s blonde hair was caught up in a messy bun, and she wore a long T-shirt as her PJs. Harry was in a pair of cotton shorts. His brown curls had been shorn into a more manageable length, just below his ears, as a wedding gift to Bea, although she had assured him she liked his long hair and the only thing she wanted as a gift was for him to be healthy and well. He’d improved so much since his bout of Lyme disease that he seemed like a different person. He was joking and laughing with his sister as he stirred a pan of scrambled eggs and bacon.
“Did you enjoy your eggs? Because there’s plenty more if you’re hungry,” Harry said when Bea stepped up to the stove to peer around his shoulder.
“I’ve had enough, thanks. It was delicious, but my stomach is feeling a little strange this morning.”
“Not nervous, I hope,” Dani said with a wink as she slathered butter over pieces of sourdough toast.
“I am a little.”
“You know you don’t have to go through with it, Mum,” she said. “There’s no rule that you have to marry someone.” She grabbed a piece of bacon from where it was draining on the paper towel beside the frying pan and took a bite.
Harry slapped at her hand. “Hey, stop it. Wait for me to dish up.”
“I’m not following any rules,” Bea replied as she poured coffee into her favourite mug.
“Damien says the reason you’re remarrying so quickly is because your generation believes there’s a societal requirement that you must date for a certain period of time, and then get married. That you can’t simply live and let live, or choose an alternative lifestyle the way he does.”
Bea bit down on her lip to keep from replying with the retort that leapt to mind. “Interesting…”
“He’s right, though. You don’t have to get married. Look at Aunty Taya — she and Andrew are dating, they care about each other, but she’s out there living her life, building her career. She’s amazing. She’s forging her own path, creating her own destiny. That’s what Damien says we all should do.”
Bea pushed a smile over her lips. “Sheisamazing—you’re right. But she’s already been married and raised a child, so she’s not exactly shunning those things. And I’m choosing to do whatI wantto do by marrying Aidan. I’m not doing it because of some silly rule but because we’re in love, and I’m not having second thoughts.” The irritation that burned in her gut quickly replaced the nerves she was feeling.
There was no point picking a fight. It was her wedding day, and Dani was her maid of honour. She didn’t need them to be angry with one another as they walked down the aisle. She wanted harmony and peace. It was going to be a good day. One of the very best of her life and Damien’s opinion meant nothing to her.
The morning passed quickly. After breakfast, Dani and Bea joined Penny and Evie at the hairdressing salon, where they all got their hair and makeup done. They sipped champagne and ate chocolate. They talked and laughed together over what was ahead. Bea’s anxiety was gone, and in its place was a building excitement. This day had been a long time in coming, and now that it was here, she would savour every single moment of it.
When she got to the Blue Shoal Inn, her father was waiting for her in the room she’d booked. He looked so handsome in his black suit with the white shirt open at the collar. His grey hair was stylishly smoothed back, and his blue eyes sparkled at the sight of her.
