Page 104 of Winter at Wishington Bay
‘Hello.’
‘Hello,’ I said, twisting my head a little to see him as he leant forwards. ‘Conference call done?’
‘Yep. All good.’
‘I was just going to get some fish from Mac down on the front for dinner.’
‘Want some company?’
‘That would be lovely.’
He grinned, kissed my cheek and stood back.
‘Do you need anything while we’re out?’ I asked Flora as I bundled the scarf I’d taken off in the warm shop back round my neck.
‘No, I’m all right, love. Thanks for asking though.’
‘OK, just ring me if you think of anything.’
‘Will do,’ she said, smiling with a look of indulgence at us both.
‘Stop looking like that,’ I laughed.
‘What?’ she asked, innocently.
‘You know what.’
She gave me a shrug, still grinning, and we headed out of the shop with a wave and set off down to the seafront to see what delights Mac had on his fresh fish stall. I loved this aspect of living here. Being house-proud wasn’t the only thing I’d discovered I liked since moving here. Cooking had also been another revelation to me, as Nate had experienced in his first days of staying in Wishington Bay. And as he still was now. The difference now was that it was often a joint affair. Having spent months living off ready meals, the dishes I’d cooked for him had reawakened his love of food. I knew his mum was a good cook but, over the years, his enjoyment of it had become sidelined. Serena had never cooked so they’d either had takeaway or eaten out, but, more often or not, she’d already eaten by the time he came in, having lunched with friends and, forever counting the calories, would be uninterested in having anything more. The fact that her husband may have only had time to grab a sandwich all day seemed neither here nor there to her.
Nate had not only rediscovered his love of eating good food but had also begun to learn to cook, remembering lessons from his childhood when his mother had ensured both of her boys had at least known one end of a saucepan from the other. And he was already getting pretty good, never afraid to experiment and happily going off-piste from the recipe book – something I never did! It had become another shared enjoyment. Just as our life together now was. And, finally, after both having been so alone for so long, together was a very special place to be.
Epilogue
Eighteen months later
Through the open window, the sound of the waves made a gentle shooshing sound, soothing and restful, as the sea washed the sand, ready for what looked to be another beautiful summer’s day in Wishington Bay. I pushed myself up the bed as the door to the bedroom opened, Nate nudging it with one broad, bare shoulder. My stomach did a little flip. I’d thought that feeling would eventually lessen, but apparently not. He was still the sexiest man I’d ever met, and when he gave me that grin, as he so often did, a whole flutter of butterflies set loose within me.
‘Good morning.’ His softly accented words added to the butterflies.
‘Good morning. What’s all this?’ I asked, accepting the kiss he placed lightly on my lips as he set the tray down on the bed.
‘Breakfast in bed.’
‘Did I forget something? Is it my birthday?’ I asked, laughing.
He shook his head, smiling as he settled himself next to me in the bed and leant over to take a piece of warm, buttered toast.
‘I didn’t think there had to be a special occasion to make my fiancée breakfast in bed.’ He turned to me, his smile widening before he stole another kiss along my collarbone. I felt the smile on my own face, so wide it almost hurt. It wouldn’t have surprised me to learn I’d had a bloody great grin on my face all night. Admittedly, part of the night I’d been otherwise occupied, hence the slightly late hour of my rising, although those exploits had only added to the pleasure.
Getting married again was something I had been sure I would never do, and I guess I’d assumed that, because his own experience of the institution hadn’t exactly all been roses and sunshine, Nate felt the same way. But apparently he didn’t. And when it came to it, I realised I didn’t either.
Last night, as we’d strolled barefoot on the sand in the bright moonlight beside the ebbing tide, Nate had stopped, got down on one knee and presented me with the most beautiful ring I’d ever seen. And, with my background, I’d seen a lot. Moonbeams caught it, causing it to sparkle brightly as it rested on a midnight blue cushion of velvet. I’d hesitated for a moment, not because I was unsure of my answer but because I was so sure. So immediately, entirely sure, that it had taken me by surprise.
The moment Nate had slid that ring on my finger, it felt as though everything I had gone through to get me to here had been worth it. Without all the heartbreak, I wouldn’t have the overwhelming joy my heart was struggling to contain and that, I felt, was worth anything. The man in front of me on the beach last night. The man sat relaxed, at home, beside me in the bed right now was worth all of it.
‘Have you told Gabe, yet?’ I asked.
He nodded, swallowing a mouthful of strong, rich coffee. ‘His reply came back so fast, I’m pretty sure him and Holly were practically sat on top of the phone waiting to hear what you said.’
