“We’ll have to be the loving aunt and uncle for Isla.”
“I can live with that.” He kissed the tip of her nose and opened the truck door for her.
She slid onto the seat and leaned her head back against the rest.
“Home?”
She opened her eyes. “Yes, please. I need sleep.”
“We can clean up the kitchen tomorrow.”
“I like you better all the time,” she replied, reaching for his hand and winding her fingers through his.
“Back atcha,” he said.
Twenty-Three
The beach cottagewas lit up with lamps in every room and tiki torches out along the narrow path that led down to the beach. Charmaine peered out the window then nodded in satisfaction. This would be the first dinner party she’d ever thrown. She was so nervous her stomach was in a twist. But she had no time to wallow in introverted self-pity over having put herself into this situation, since her guests would be there any moment.
She set the table with placemats, silverware, and china. Bea had left some of her things behind at the cottage for Charmaine to use. She said she didn’t need them once she moved in with Aidan. Which was perfect for Charmaine, who owned virtually nothing.
It’d been two weeks since Penny and Rowan had their baby. They wouldn’t be coming to the dinner party as they weren’t ready to leave the house yet. That’s what Penny had whispered into the phone when Charmaine called. Then the baby had cried, and Penny had sworn beneath her breath and said, “I’ve got to remember to turn off the ringer on my phone.” And then she hung up.
Charmaine had stared at the phone for a few seconds in surprise. She’d have to text Penny in the future. She hadn’t even thought about waking the baby. It was funny how quickly she’d forgotten so much of what it was like to be a new mother. Hopefully Penny wasn’t too upset with her.
Never mind, she’d thought to herself, Bea and Aidan, Evie and David were all coming. Taya was on a work trip, so she wouldn’t be there either. But Bradford was on his way — he hadn’t been able to get away from work any earlier or he would’ve helped, he assured her. But she wasn’t concerned, it’d been fun to pull the dinner party together on her own. She’d used recipes from the internet and had tidied the house until it sparkled. She was ready.
Bradford was the first to arrive. He strode in carrying a box filled with soft drinks, wine, and beer and set it down on the kitchen bench. Charmaine hurried to kiss him, then helped him stack the drinks in the fridge.
“How was work?”
“It was good. Busy,” he said. “Evie is such a gem. I’m glad I asked her to open the office here on the island. She barely needs any oversight now that she’s learned how things work. It goes to show that employing someone with small business experience is worth it — they’re used to having to figure everything out on their own. There’s no one else to ask if you’re not sure about something, you have to get it done. And she’s doing that.”
“That’s great,” Charmaine replied. “I know Evie was worried about what she’d do without the bookshop.”
“She told me she’s happier than she’s been in a long time, because we’re already pulling in a profit, and she doesn’t have constant anxiety over paying the bills.”
“You’re a good man,” Charmaine replied, standing on tiptoe to kiss him again.
He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close to deepen the kiss. He was everything she’d always wished she could find in a man and more. She felt so safe and loved when he held her that way.
“How did it go with the police? Didn’t you meet with them today?” Bradford asked.
Charmaine was putting together a fresh salad. She sliced a red capsicum. “It was fine. They took photographs of the jewellery and sent it off to the USA. Apparently, it was stolen in some big heist over fifty years ago. They’re shipping it back next week. It’s worth millions.”
“Wow, that’s amazing.”
“I know — it was a famous robbery. So, I’ve been holding onto jewellery from a famous robbery, and before that, Mum had it hidden in our house for years. It’s so strange to think about.”
“And did they ask you about Betsy’s shop?”
“Yes, they were very interested in the fact that Betsy left me the shop. I could tell they were wondering if there was a connection between us that I hadn’t told them. But I was honest with them, said it was a complete surprise, that Betsy and I were close, and I had no idea she was involved in Mary Brown’s murder. They seemed to believe me. At least I hope they did. Thinking about it sets nerves jangling in my stomach.”
“I still can’t believe she did that, gave her shop to you.”
“Me either,” Charmaine replied. “But I’m excited about it. I’ve got all sorts of plans for how to expand it and grow the business. Now that it’s mine, I want it to be a wedding and event planning enterprise as well as flowers.”
“Will you change the name?” Bradford asked.
