Dale and Zoe had just arrived back from their honeymoon, and when they heard what had happened to Dana, they left their bags without unpacking and drove over.
Caitlin’s mother’s gaze took in Dana and David’s entwined hands.The gleam in her eye only meant one thing—as soon as she could, she was going to take Dana aside and find out what she’d missed.
Dana looked around at her new family.She’d always felt much more at home at the Sutherlands than at her own home, especially after her dad’s death.Now the Cavallos had also accepted her with hugs and kisses, and she already felt part of them.
The only person missing was Caitlin’s other sister, Hannah.Nobody was sure where the model was at this specific point.
David explained and talked about what they knew, and Dana sat quietly next to him, still amazed at the way greed could change good people into bad ones.
The whole money laundering scheme had been revealed, which meant Hastings wasn’t getting out of jail anytime soon, and Sam Jordan would join him in a matter of weeks.
“It’s going to take some time to find the whole money trail, but Jordan’s house was bought with cash.The particular details still have to be unraveled.But after Dana and I visited him and then she…” David glanced at her.He tried to sound cross.“Then she visited him again, he tried to flee the country.By that time, the police had been alerted, and he was taken into custody at the airport.”
“So now what?”David’s mother asked.
“Well, there is nothing more we can do; it’s now over to the authorities.We’ll have to wait for the whole judicial system to do its thing and, as we know, it doesn’t work very quickly in this country.But I’m sure justice will be served.And I’m very glad that Dana here has the answers she’s been looking for over the past two years.”
Don shook his head.“The whole thing sounds like something out of a thriller, but I’m very glad you’re okay, Dana.Things could have been so much worse.”
“I know.”She smiled up at David.“But your brother here came to my rescue.”She looked around at all the worried faces.“Thank you all for being here.It means…” Her throat clogged up and she couldn’t say another word.
Darryn, who was standing close by, patted her back.“You’re family.Of course we’re all here for you,” he said gruffly.
And then everyone was talking together, asking more questions, giving her more hugs.And all the while, David had her hand in his, keeping her close to his side.
Chapter Nineteen
Dana could neverexplain afterward exactly how all the women ended up in a coffee shop in Hermanus, but Caitlin’s mom, Brenda, probably had a lot to do with it.
The setting was idyllic.The coffee shop was close to the old harbor, and from the terrace, the whole of Walker Bay lay in front of them.Back at Don’s home, the men were making a fire for a barbecue later.There was still a niggling worry somewhere inside her, but for the moment she was ignoring it.
“I can’t believe it’s Christmas next week,” Dana said.“So much has happened over the last few weeks.”
“She wants to talk about Christmas.”Caitlin smiled.“As if she doesn’t have stars in her eyes in spite of everything that has happened.”
Heat crept up her cheeks.“I—” she began, but didn’t know what else to say, so she put her hands to her burning cheeks.
“So, tell me.”Zoe giggled.“What has happened since my wedding?I left you scowling in David’s direction, only to find you drooling over the guy a month later.”
Dana laughed.“I don’t know where to begin!”
“According to my mother-in-law here,” Caitlin said with a twinkle in her eye, “David fell for her the moment he met her at Rosa’s!”
Brenda beamed.“I knew it.There was just something in the way he looked at her, you remember?”she asked Rosa.
Rosa nodded, her eyes suspiciously bright.“I remember.It took him a while to figure it out, but I have complete faith that my boys will eventually choose the right partner.Well, except for Darryn,” she said and frowned.“I worry about him.”
“He’ll come round,” Brenda said before she turned to Dana again.“So Dana, when is the wedding?”she asked.
Dana blinked.“Um…”
Rosa threw a hand up.“Don’t tell me—he hasn’t said anything?”
Dana shook her head, not quite sure where the conversation was heading.But now she knew what that niggling thing was she’d been carrying around for the past few days.
She was happy with David, would be whatever he did, but… he hadn’t said anything about marrying her.She was okay with that, but she had been thinking about it.A lot.
Didn’t he want to get married?Or didn’t he want to get married to her?And what happened if he met someone he did want to marry?
