Page 73 of Sun, Sea & Strawberry Shortcake
‘So where is she? Can I meet her?’ Bee gazes at me,wide-eyed with excitement. ‘She fostered other kids before I arrived. I thoughtshe would have forgotten all about me long ago.’
I shake my head. ‘She never forgot you. In fact, she’sthought about you every day since you left. And she’s going to be over the moonto see you again.’
‘Oh, my God!’ She hugs her daughter fiercely. ‘You’re goingto meet that lovely lady I told you about, Jodie. The one I spent such happytimes with when I was little.’
Jodie looks up at her mum, wide-eyed. ‘She called you hercherub.’
‘Yes. She did. And she’s going to love you, my darling. Sowhen can we see her?’ She looks at me, her eyes shining. ‘Where’s Auntie Emliving now? I don’t care where it is.’ She laughs. ‘We’ll drive all the wayover to France if we have to!’
‘Oh, I don’t think that’ll be necessary.’ I smile, hot tearsspringing up. ‘We’ll take you to see her today.’
Bee flops back in her chair and stares at me in disbelief, asMitch comes back in, blowing his nose on some toilet tissue.
I grin at him as he sits back down. ‘You okay?’
He nods. ‘Bit of a cold coming on, I think.’
The doorbell rings and I get up. ‘That’ll be the pizzadelivery man.’
‘Er, it might not be,’ says Mitch, as I go into the hall andopen the door. ‘I made a phone call...’
My heart skips a beat when I see who’s standing there.
Emerald.
‘So when can we see her?’ calls Bee.
I exchange a smile with Emerald. Tears are glittering in hereyes.
‘You can see me right now,’ she says, walking into thekitchen.
Bee gives a little gasp. ‘Auntie Em.’ She laughs. ‘Am Idreaming? I can’t actually believe this.’
‘Well, if it’s a dream, I definitely don’t want to wake up,’says Emerald, her hand over her chest as they gaze at each other in wonder.
With a little sob, Bee gets up from the table and rushesover, and I’d defy anyone to remain dry-eyed, watching those two women hug,reunited at last, after so many years of wondering and wishing and hoping...
CHAPTERTHIRTY-SIX
When I wake, the sun is filtering through thecurtains.
It’s the last day of our holiday.
After the excitement of Bee’s happy reunion with Emerald theday before, I’m looking forward to spending the day quietly, just Hudson andme. No drama. Just lots of lovely relaxation and alone-time.
Emerald invited Bee and Jodie back to the cottage she’sstaying in and I imagine they had a lovely time last night, reminiscing andcatching up on all the years they’d missed. It was clear to me as I watchedthem go off together, Jodie dancing happily between them, that the bond they’dformed all those years ago was still strong. And I felt so happy that two suchlovely people had found each other again...
I can hear Hudson moving around downstairs, and a minutelater, he appears with a mug of tea for me.
‘Where’s yours?’ I ask. ‘Aren’t you coming back to bed?’
‘Got a few things to do,’ he says. ‘But I won’t be long,okay?’
‘Okay.’
‘I promise we’ll have plenty of quality time together later.I just need to...’ He points at the door and I laugh.
‘Okay. Go.’
