Epilogue
Cornwall
One week later
Seagulls squawked overhead as Annabel and James walked hand in hand across the golden sand of Smugglers Cove.
It was a perfect summer’s day; the sky was the deep, Cornish blue that Annabel so loved and the sun felt warm on her skin.
She enjoyed the feel of the soft sand between her toes and the scent of the salty sea air.
Monty trotted along beside them, barking his reply to the noisy birds above.
It had been an idyllic few days at the farmhouse.
After his trip to visit Jessica for her birthday, James had returned to spend time with Annabel.
Her parents had taken themselves off to visit friends in Exeter for a few days, so they’d had the place to themselves.
And they had spent it in a bubble of blissful happiness, savouring each other’s company and exploring each other as they made love morning, noon and night.
They had fallen into a routine of breakfasts in bed, long leisurely walks on the beach, bubble baths and cooking dinner together. It had been perfect.
Annabel glanced at her watch. ‘Time to head back up, I think,’ she told James.
He nodded and squeezed her hand. ‘How are you feeling?’
She gave him a smile. ‘Ready as I’ll ever be!’
James wrapped an arm around her shoulder, pulling her close against him.
‘I’m glad you’re here,’ she said.
‘Me too,’ he replied, before bending down to kiss her softly.
They left the beach and made their way back up the winding track.
Ahead of them, further along the clifftop path, they made out the familiar figures who were waving at them and waved back.
Noel and Jeanette, and William and Sarah greeted them with kisses and handshakes.
Annabel was pleased at how easily James had fitted into being with the family.
They were gathered around a brown wooden bench that had been delivered that morning and placed in the spot that Dotty had declared ‘the finest view on the North Cornwall coastline.’ The bench had been Noel’s idea, feeling that he wanted a special place to come and sit peacefully and remember his ‘dear old mum’.
Annabel read the engraved inscription: ‘For Dotty, who loved this place.’ It was simple, but perfect.
‘Well, everyone, I think it’s about time,’ Noel said to them. He took out a silver-plated urn from his bag.
William tapped on his phone and within seconds the rousing introduction of Glenn Miller’s ‘In the Mood’ filled the air, making them all smile.
James turned to Annabel, looking surprised. She grinned at him, her eyes sparkling with tears as she explained, ‘It was one of Dotty’s favourites.’
Noel took the lid off the urn. ‘Goodbye, darling Mum,’ he said, a catch in his voice as he lifted it and began to shake it out over the edge of the cliff. ‘Thank you for everything.’
‘Goodbye, Dotty,’ Annabel whispered as the breeze carried the tiny fragments away over the beach and towards the sea. ‘We love you.’
She felt James take her hand in his.
The family stood watching the ashes float away, listening to the music and deep in thought as they each remembered Dotty in their own way. The music finished and Noel thanked them all for coming.
‘We were lucky the wind was blowing in the right direction!’ William quipped.
His mother raised her eyebrows at him, ‘Oh, for goodness’ sake, William! Must you ruin the atmosphere?’
Annabel chuckled, glad that, for once, it was her brother’s turn to get their mother’s reproach.
‘What?’ William replied, feigning innocence. ‘Much as we all loved Dotty, we didn’t want to end up wearing her!’
Everyone chuckled at his irreverent humour, apart from Jeanette who tutted at her son and shook her head. ‘I think it’s time for a cup of tea, shall we head back?’ she asked.
‘You all go.’ Annabel nodded at her. ‘I’d like a few minutes with Dad.’
James bent down to kiss her and William gave her a supportive wink. They both knew what was coming and managed to deflect Jeanette’s curiosity with the promise of freshly-baked scones back at the house.
‘Fancy a little walk, Dad? It’s such a lovely day.’ Annabel took her father’s hand and led him away from the others.
‘James is a nice chap, Annie, I like him very much.’ Noel nodded his approval as they walked along the clifftop.
‘I’m sorry to say that there was something about Luke that I could never quite get on with.
I always felt that you deserved better. And I’m glad that you seem to have found it in James.
’ He bent down and kissed his daughter’s cheek. ‘I hope things work out for you two.’
‘Me too, Dad,’ she replied with a smile. ‘It’s complicated, but there’s no rush. We’ll just take it one step at a time.’
‘I’m glad I’ve got you on your own, actually,’ Noel said. ‘You never told us much about your trip. I know you said you stayed with a friend, but what made you go to Singapore?’
Annabel chuckled. ‘Well, it’s funny you should ask that, Dad, as that’s exactly what I wanted to talk to you about.’
‘Oh?’ Noel replied.
She hooked her arm through her father’s and they walked side by side along the path, enjoying the invigorating salty breeze and the sight of the wildflowers in full bloom.
This had been Dotty’s home for over seventy years and it was Annabel’s home now.
She loved this place, there was nowhere else she would rather be.
Above them, a skylark soared, singing its distinctive melody. Annabel smiled.
‘Let me tell you a story, Dad. It’s the story of a very brave lady, a promise that she made and a secret that she kept for many, many years.’
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