‘I thought this might not be real. That I’d made it all up because it was what I wanted so badly, and it made me panic.’
She laughed, a soft sound of quiet relief. ‘I’m very real.’ Her fingertips closed over his earlobes and gave them a sharp pinch. ‘See.’
The little sting was exactly what he needed, and he straightened his shoulders back. A crowd of curious faces peered at them through the open French windows. ‘False alarm,’ he said to a ripple of sighs, laughter and a despairing shake of her head from his mum.
The others moved back to give him and Nee room to re-enter the dining room. Alison adjusted the glasses on her nose. ‘Right, let’s get started, shall we?’
An expectant silence settled over the room as Alison raised her arms in welcome. ‘Family, friends, loved ones. We are gathered here on the cusp of a new year to celebrate and witness as Luke and Eirênê reaffirm their life commitment to each other. In the darkest of hours, there is always the promise of the dawn to come. Of new light to guide us even if we falter along our path.’ The celebrant reached for their free hands and held them in her own. ‘We, your friends and family, are here to remind you that, no matter what obstacles you may face, you never walk that path alone. Help is here, advice is here…’
‘Whether you need it or not,’ Madeline observed drily and Luke could only laugh.
‘Indeed,’ Alison continued with a smile of her own. With a nod to Sue, she held out her hand and her wife removed the ring from the box on the table and passed it to her. ‘This ring is a symbol of your love for each other. A perfect circle with no beginning and no ending. Eternal.’
She offered the ring to Luke, and he fumbled it with trembling fingers before securing it in his grip. It might have been easier with two hands, but he couldn’t unlock the death grip he had on Nee’s right hand, and her own fingers were locked tight around his. The slight tremor in her left hand as she raised it eased his own nerves as he slid the band of gold back where it belonged. Lifting their joined hands, he pressed his lips to her ring finger, feeling the metal already warmed by her skin.
Standing tall, he let his eyes roam free over Nee. The Roaring Twenties style of her outfit might be a bit unconventional for a wedding dress, but the beads caught the light from the fire, turning into a million shimmering rainbows, just like the figure in the portrait behind her.
Holding their joined hands out wide, he let all the admiration swelling in his heart burst forth as he spoke. ‘Look at you, you take my breath away. When I think about the first time we met, there’s only one word which comes to mind – incandescent. You were so full of fire, I knew I had to have you. To bask in the warmth of your spirit. I wanted you so much; too much, perhaps, before we were really ready for it.’
A tear glistened on her lashes and he released one of her hands to catch it on his thumb. ‘But I’m ready now. Ready for anything as long as you promise to stay with me.’
‘I’m ready. I promise.’ He captured that promise on his lips, careful not to smudge the ruby-red gloss. Later, when he had her all to himself, he’d kiss her the way he’d been longing to all night, until they were both smeared in her lipstick. But that would be just for him. Just for them.
Alison touched his arm, and they turned back to face her. She offered them the wide pillar candle from the centre of the table, wrapping their hands securely around the base before she lit the wick. ‘We light this flame as a symbol of the love Nee and Luke share and as a pledge of their commitment to one another. Who will help them keep the light of their love burning bright?’
‘I will.’ Mia was the first to step forward, accepting a smaller candle from Sue and tilting it to catch the flame from the one he and Nee held.
‘I will.’ His dad and Aaron spoke together, and Luke couldn’t help the hitch in his shoulders as they lit their candles and stepped back.
One by one, the rest of their family pledged their support, lit their candles and moved to join the semicircle forming around them. Even Charlie, helped by her big brother, clutched a little candle in a special holder to protect her fingers. Alison and Sue lit their own candles, standing side by side to close the circle around them. ‘If ever doubt, or pain, or conflict threatens to extinguish the light you share, turn to us and we will be there.’
Beyond speech, Luke could only nod as he stared across the flickering flame and into Nee’s eyes. ‘I love you,’ she said, and it was all he needed to know. Then and for ever.
The candles, still lit, were placed on the table, which had been moved to the corner, away from any breeze which might blow through the door. Luke accepted the hugs and congratulations from everyone, one hand still firmly entwined with Nee’s. His mum and dad hung back until the crowd cleared, then stepped up to face them. ‘Congratulations!’ There was no disguising the pleasure in his mum’s voice as she kissed first him, then Nee. ‘It’s wonderful to finally be able to welcome you to the family properly.’
‘We’ve got you a little something.’ Brian held out a sheaf of papers, neatly stapled at one corner.
‘What’s this?’ Nee leaned closer to scan the top sheet, letting out a soft gasp of surprise.
‘We made good use of a certain folder full of honeymoon ideas Mia found in your room. We’ve paid for the cruise, and George is contributing the spending money.’
A lump formed in his throat as he read through the itinerary in disbelief. The two-week Mediterranean cruise would take them to some of Europe’s most glittering capitals. ‘I don’t know what to say…’
His mum touched a finger to his cheek. ‘Don’t say anything, it’s our pleasure.’ His dad took her hand and they moved away before he could find the right words to express his gratitude.
Luke glanced down at Nee. ‘Did you know about this?’
Eyes wide, she shook her head. ‘Not a thing. I’ve been locked away finishing the painting. It’s… it’s too much.’
Folding the papers carefully, he tucked them in an inside pocket of her jacket. ‘It’s a lot, but they obviously wanted to do something special for us, and it sounds like a group effort if your dad’s giving us some spending money too.’
‘A cruise,’ she whispered. ‘Two whole weeks of just you and me on the high seas.’
‘With about a thousand other people, though I’ll only have eyes for you.’ His attempts to draw her close were thwarted by his brother’s approach, and Luke bit back a sigh. Those two weeks away from everyone couldn’t come soon enough.
Aaron kissed his cheek, then slung an arm around his shoulders as he nodded at their still-joined hands. ‘When are you going to let that poor girl go?’ he teased.
‘Never.’
‘Don’t blame you. I must admit I had a lump in my throat through most of that. It was beautiful.’
Not one to miss an opportunity, Luke gave his brother a quick dig in the ribs. ‘Not too late, Bumble. Why don’t you grab Kiki now and get on with it? I’m sure Alison won’t mind.’
The arm around his shoulder threatened to slide up into a chokehold. ‘Keep that kind of talk to yourself. For one thing, I’ve already crashed one wedding with my proposal to her so I’m not about to repeat that by horning in on your celebration. And for the other, I’m not getting married dressed as bloody Christmas elf!’
A champagne cork popped behind them, making them both jump and sending Tigger into a paroxysm of excited barking. Glasses were handed round, and Aaron raised an eyebrow at Kiki before taking one. She slipped between Luke and Nee, circling their waists with her arms. She’d abandoned her cap somewhere, leaving her hair to cascade around her shoulders. ‘Fill your jingle-belled boots, elf-boy, because I’m not planning on going home any time soon.’
‘If you’re sure?’
She nodded. ‘Grab me a glass too, whilst you’re at it. Dad’s already decamped his stuff from the garden room to one of the suites in the barns. Mia’s changed the bed so we can put the kids up there if it all gets too much for them.’ Their eyes all gravitated to wher
e Charlie was dancing with her Nanny-Cat and Grandad Brian. ‘Although my money’s on them wearing us all out.’
She gave them a quick squeeze before wriggling out to accept a glass of straw-pale champagne. ‘Here’s to you, my darlings. Second time lucky, eh?’ She slid a sideways glance at Aaron. ‘For all of us.’
‘Cheers!’ They shared the toast, and Luke closed his eyes as the sharp bubbles fizzed over his tongue and palate. When he opened them again, his brother and Kiki had moved away to dance together, and he relished the moment of peace.
‘Come here, wife.’ He released Nee’s hand so he could curl his arm around her back and draw her close.
Eyes more effervescent than the bubbles in his glass, she leaned in to his chest and smiled up at him. ‘What do you need, husband?’
Tightening his hold, he swayed them gently to the music. ‘Just you, love.’
Chapter Twenty-Two
The party spilled out onto the patio and beyond into the snowy garden. Boots, coats and scarves were piled on over costumes and the noise and laughter rose as the burgers from Daniel’s impromptu barbecue were washed down with more champagne, or in her case, Mia thought with a smile, sparkling elderflower cordial. Stepping back to take it all in, her eyes rose to study Butterfly House. Lights shone from every window, lighting it up like a beacon against the jet-black sky. She tilted her head further back, admiring the blanket of stars scattered overhead. With no streetlights for miles, the constellations were clearly discernible. Raising a finger, she traced the wonky W of Queen Cassiopeia on her throne, the glittering line of Orion’s belt, the little saucepan shape of Ursa Minor.
‘Stargazing?’ Kiki said as she approached, clutching fresh glasses for them both. ‘I should have got Matty to put his telescope in the car.’
‘It’s the perfect night for it,’ she agreed, accepting the glass with a sniff. ‘Champagne?’
Her sister shrugged. ‘It’s nearly midnight and I thought you might want a drop to see in the New Year properly. It’s up to you.’
Never that much of a drinker, she’d been scrupulous about avoiding it since discovering about the baby. A sip wouldn’t do any harm, she decided. Leaning to press her shoulder to Kiki’s she stared back at the house once again. Her house. Her home. Though, this time last year, she would never have dreamed she’d be standing where she was now.
The dreams she’d had for the rundown place had seemed beyond her grasp when faced with the reality. And yet here they were, a successful guest season under their belts, the studios in the barns tried and tested, and even Kiki’s teashop ready for the spring. She would likely have failed, too, had fate in the shape of an interfering old bag not delivered Daniel to her doorstep
Her eyes sought him out, and he was already moving towards her, Aaron, Luke and Nee beside him. His bright, white smile flashed through the dark of the beard she loved so much as he bent to kiss her. ‘What are you doing out here in the cold?’
She snuggled into his side. ‘Taking stock, admiring the view. Wondering how we’ve come so far in twelve short months.’
‘All of us,’ Aaron agreed.
‘And this is just the beginning,’ Luke added. He stood behind Nee, nuzzling the top of her head as she leaned against his chest. ‘I think Maggie might have been on to something,’ he said, more to her than the rest of them.
Intrigued, Mia turned to face them. ‘About what?’
Her youngest sister smiled, a little shyly. ‘Mags thinks our painting would be perfect on a card. Said I should think about doing a series of them. We could leave them blank and people could add whatever message they wanted.’ She shrugged. ‘I don’t know, it’s such a private thing, I’m not sure I want to share it.’
Mia could understand that. ‘So keep that image for yourself, but why not think about her series idea. Use it as inspiration. We could stock them in the teashop, and display them in the rooms here at the house too.’
Luke nodded eagerly. ‘I’ve got a mate at work who’s a whizz at graphics. We could talk to him about investing in a decent printer.’
‘If you’re going to do that, then I’ll chip in towards it,’ Daniel said. ‘I’m thinking about doing a series of limited prints. Some nice black-and-white shots of the cove. It’d be good advertising for the place, and add another revenue stream.’
Revenue stream? Where was that washed-up photographer who’d thrown up all over her bushes and turned his back on the art world? It wasn’t just the buildings around them that had been transformed. Butterfly Cove had worked its magic on them all, helping them grow and change. She grinned up at him. ‘Listen to you, Daniel Fitzwilliams, gentleman entrepreneur.’
‘Too right!’ He brushed a kiss on the tip of her nose. ‘I’ve given up all those lofty ideals, and I’m strictly in it for the money. I’m even thinking about trialling a couple of residential photography courses at the barns. I’ve a growing family to support.’ His hand slipped around her waist to cover her belly possessively. ‘Hey, Nee. We should talk about you teaching some art classes too, if you fancy it?’
‘I… can I think about it?’ The hesitancy in her sister’s voice reminded Mia they would need to tread carefully. One successful painting was still a far cry from Nee being comfortable with her art once more.
She didn’t need to say anything to Daniel, who’d obviously picked up a similar vibe. ‘Sure. There’s no rush, I’m just shooting the breeze.’
‘If we’re investing in a printer, then maybe I could do some recipe cards for the teashop?’ Kiki touched Daniel’s arm to draw his attention. ‘Do you think you could take some photographs for me that we could use to illustrate them?’
‘That’s a great idea. Maybe you should think about putting together a cookery book. A nice glossy hardback. If we interspersed it with some interior and exterior shots of the house, it’d be perfect as a holiday memento for people to buy.’ His eyes gleamed – at the prospect of another revenue stream, no doubt.
Mia let the chatter go on around her, her mind already picturing a display rack on the wall of the teashop full of pretty cards and mouth-watering recipes. Or a copy of the book, strategically placed in each bedroom for guests to browse through… Once people tasted Kiki’s cakes they’d snap them up, hoping to recreate a masterpiece of their own to recapture a special memory of a visit to the cove.
The snow around her melted away as her mind’s eye filled with images of the trees and shrubs bursting with blossom, couples on the patio enjoying a warm spring afternoon before she served them a delicious meal for dinner.
Images continued to swirl in her imagination. A blazing summer’s day giving way to a cooler evening as a welcome breeze blew in from the ocean. A group of artists sprawled in a circle on the grass, enjoying a beer as they discussed their achievements and commiserated with one another about failures, enjoying the rich scents drifting from the barbecue.
Autumn leaves burnishing the garden in golds and bronzes as children ran laughing around the lawn, and a chubby baby with night-dark hair cooed from a blanket up at her.
And through every changing season passing through her mind’s eye, the people around her were an integral part of the scene. Nee, with her hands covered in clay, Kiki waving across from the doorway of the teashop, her apron dusted in flour. Aaron and Luke playing football with the kids on the beach, whilst Daniel cuddled the smiling baby and watched from a safe distance. She couldn’t wait for it all to unfold.
A warm, tender touch stroked her cheek and she looked up to meet Daniel’s moss-green gaze. ‘What’s put that smile on your face?’
‘You. This place. Everything. I’m so happy.’
‘Me too, pet. Me too.’ She was moistening her lips in anticipation of his kiss when a shout rose behind them.
‘Come on, you lot. It’s nearly time!’ Richard waved at them from the house, and Mia heard the first familiar chimes of the Westminster bells from the radio they’d put on the patio. They ran back, joining the rest of the group just as the firs
t tolling boom of Big Ben sounded.
‘Twelve! Eleven! Ten!’ They shouted out the countdown as each bong took them closer to midnight.
Daniel swept her up into his arms. ‘Happy New Year, Mia darling!’ Her own reply got lost in the heated kiss he pressed to her lips. When he finally set her down, her eyes swept the patio, watching her friends and family hug, embrace, and… oh, God.
She blinked, rubbed her eyes, and blinked again, but it did no good. Over in the shadows by the house, she could definitely make out the outline of a bearded Poseidon kissing a sixties go-go dancer. She gawped up at Daniel. ‘Did you know about that?’
He grinned and shrugged. ‘That pantry of yours has got a lot to answer for. Looks like everyone’s getting a happy ending.’
Turn the page for an exclusive sneak peek at the enchanting first book in the Butterfly Cove series,
Sunrise at Butterfly Cove!
Prologue
October 2014
‘And the winner of the 2014 Martindale Prize for Best New Artist is…’
Daniel Fitzwilliams lounged back in his chair and took another sip from the never-emptying glass of champagne. His bow tie hung loose around his neck, and the first two buttons of his wing-collar shirt had been unfastened since just after the main course had been served. The room temperature hovered somewhere around the fifth circle of hell and he wondered how much longer he would have to endure the fake smiles and shoulder pats from strangers passing his table.
The MC made a big performance of rustling the large silver envelope in his hand. ‘Get on with it, mate,’ Daniel muttered. His agent, Nigel, gave him a smile and gulped at the contents of his own glass. His nomination had been a huge surprise and no-one expected him to win, Daniel least of all.
Christmas at Butterfly Cove Page 23