She frowned. “Hmmm… I don’t think so. I still like Betsy’s Florals.”
“Itiswell known…”
“Infamous even,” Charmaine quipped.
When Bea and Aidan arrived, they presented Charmaine with a delicious-looking pineapple upside-down cake with vanilla ice cream for dessert. She put the ice cream in the freezer and poured them each a glass of wine.
Then, Evie came with David. Charmaine had wondered how David would fit with the group the first time he’d come to one of their events, but since then, he’d proven himself to be a natural. He got along with everyone as though he’d always been there, and they welcomed him easily and warmly. Evie seemed happy and relaxed, more than she’d ever been since Charmaine had known her.
They wandered down to the beach with drinks in hand to take a short walk. The moon shone overhead, and stars twinkled across the dark canopy. The waves lapped quietly at the shore, and the sand was wet and cold underfoot.
Charmaine couldn’t think of a time when she’d been more content. When she first arrived on Coral Island, she’d thought her life would never move beyond the point of survival. She’d spent three years fleeing from the overwhelming grief of losing her mother, never finding a place to call home, never settling down, never connecting with anyone. She’d struggled to pay her bills or even to speak to strangers. But now her time on the island had changed everything. She had a home, a business, a family, and friends.
Together they walked back to the house where Charmaine served lasagne and salad for dinner. They ate and talked, laughed, and reminisced.
“I still can’t believe we ended up giving police statements at the reunion,” Bea said, raising her glass in a toast. “Let’s drink to never having to speak to the police again in our lives.”
“I’ll second that,” Evie replied.
They all raised their glasses and drank.
“It’s hard to believe they finally found Penny’s grandmother’s murderer,” Aidan said.
“And it all started here,” Evie added. “With Bea and her cottage.”
“If you hadn’t moved back here and renovated this cottage, none of us would ever have discovered the truth,” Bradford said.
“The film canister started it all,” Bea agreed.
“To Bea and her cottage,” Charmaine said, raising her glass again.
They all cheered and toasted, then drank. Bea and Aidan exchanged a kiss.
“Thanks for coming to my first dinner party,” Charmaine said, suddenly feeling shy all over again.
“We’re happy to be here,” Bea replied.
“It seems like we’re finally turning a corner — all of us on Coral Island,” Aidan said. “We’re putting the pain of the past behind us and moving on. I don’t think any of us understood how much having an unsolved murder hanging over our heads was impacting the community spirit. But it feels lighter to me. Has anyone else noticed?”
“Definitely,” Evie replied. “I still miss my bookshop, but I’m feeling more hopeful.”
“How is your brother?” Bea asked Charmaine, tentatively.
Charmaine inhaled a slow breath, steeling herself. The emotional reaction she felt whenever she thought about Sean was something she couldn’t predict. Pain, fear, love, hope, frustration. She couldn’t get a handle on what to think or believe. But her relief won out most of the time.
“He’s admitted to the arson, so he’s most likely going away for a long time.”
“I’m sorry,” Bea replied with a sympathetic look.
“I’m not,” Charmaine said. “He burned your businesses to the ground — he’s admitted it, so we know it for sure now. He deserves to be in prison for that. And honestly, my strongest reaction is relief because I know he can’t hurt any of us any longer. Before he showed up on the island, I spent years worrying he’d find me, waiting and hoping he wouldn’t. The fear was always there. Now, I can relax. He’s not going to appear on my doorstep anytime soon. He’ll be released one day, but I’ll deal with that when it happens.”
They finished eating, then carried bowls of dessert to the living room. When they were all seated in chairs and on the sofa, Bradford got down on one knee in front of Charmaine and pulled a small black box out of his jeans pocket.
Charmaine’s heart skipped a beat. She pressed both hands to her mouth. There were gasps of surprise around the room.
“Charmaine, I’m so glad you’re in my life. I still remember the first time I met you, so shy and quiet and yet there was something about you that drew me in. You’re the most gentle, genuine person I know. I trust you with my heart and my life. I want to spend forever together. Will you marry me?”
There were cries of delight around the room as everyone watched on. Charmaine nodded her head furiously, and Bradford slipped a ring onto her finger. The small diamond sparkled and shone in the lamplight. It was nowhere near the size of the diamonds she’d given away to the police, but far more beautiful in her eyes. It represented love and hope for a future filled with joy.
