Epilogue
TEN MONTHS LATER
Gulls caterwauled and vapour trails streaked the cerulean-blue sky.
Warm spring sunshine heated the air as a gentle breeze lilted.
Lucy breathed in the briny air deeply, feeling its goodness cleanse her lungs.
The air was different here: it was purer, fresher than the smog-filled air in Dublin.
She instantly felt her heart rate start to slow.
This place always felt like coming home.
As they made their way to the cove, Kyle took extra care as he made his way down the steps.
Baby Lizzie, who was named after her grandmother, was strapped to his chest in an infant carrier.
Sometimes, when Lucy looked at her husband protectively caring for their infant daughter, her heart surged with a love so powerful that she thought it might rip through her ribcage.
This was their first trip to Inishbeg Cove since baby Lizzie had arrived, roaring and wailing, into the world just over three months ago.
Lucy had wanted to bring her daughter to Inishbeg Cove – a place that meant so much to her – as soon as she could.
Although she hadn’t realised how much baby paraphernalia they would need for this weekend away – the car was crammed with a travel cot, an infant seat, a steriliser and all sorts of other equipment, but even though the journey to the west coast of Ireland with a newborn was daunting, it was important to Lucy that her daughter would grow up loving this village just as much as she had.
They were staying in Elizabeth’s cottage with Faith, who had decided to relocate permanently to the village.
She and Jack had recently got engaged and Lucy had never seen her sister so happy.
As they reached the honey-blonde sand of the cove, Kyle shielded his eyes from the blinding sun and looked across the horizon. The Atlantic stretched out endlessly before them.
‘What a day,’ he said.
‘There they are!’ Lucy cried excitedly as she spotted Faith and Jack spreading a blanket across the sand.
Madeleine was unpacking the wicker picnic basket.
They began making their way over to them and they all hugged warmly.
Then Lucy helped Kyle to unstrap Lizzie from the carrier.
She pulled off the baby’s rosebud-pink socks.
Lizzie’s socks were so ridiculously small that whenever Lucy saw them in the laundry pile, they made her feel like she could burst with love.
She loved every part of motherhood, even the sleepless nights.
Her mother and Faith teased her that she was an earth mother.
‘What are you doing?’ Madeleine cried, watching her. ‘I know it’s sunny today but there is still a chill in the air; she’ll catch her death.’
Their mother had surprised them all by transforming into a protective and doting grandmother. She would call Lucy with titbits of information and was forever sharing safety advice.
‘She is the latest in a long line of strong Brennan women and I want her to plant her feet on the same sand as her ancestors,’ Lucy replied as she gently lowered the baby’s feet to the sand.
Lizzie immediately curled up her tiny toes and Lucy took care lowering the soles of her feet delicately onto the soft sand.
Lucy thought about her dad and Elizabeth and all the generations of her family who had walked on the same sand.
It gave her comfort to know that her baby – the next generation – was now touching it too.
‘Now you’ve got that out of your system, we’ll get these on again,’ Madeleine said brusquely when Lucy was finished.
She hurriedly replaced the baby’s socks before taking Lizzie from Lucy.
Madeleine cradled her granddaughter in the crook of her elbow and gazed lovingly at her.
Lizzie gripped her index finger inside her tiny palm and clung tightly.
‘Look how strong her grip is!’ Madeleine remarked in amazement. She adored her granddaughter. ‘She’s so advanced.’
Lucy laughed. ‘I’m pretty sure she’s hitting her milestones like every other baby her age.’
‘Nonsense,’ Madeleine scoffed. ‘Baby Lizzie is very advanced, aren’t you?’ she cooed, lowering her face towards her granddaughter. ‘You’re the most advanced three-month-old I’ve ever met.’
The baby broke into a grin as she gurgled back at her grandmother.
‘You see – she knows we’re talking about her.’
They all laughed.
Faith produced a bottle of champagne and uncorked it. Golden froth rushed over the neck of the bottle and fizzed onto the sand. Kyle held out the flutes for Faith to fill. As she handed them out, her diamond engagement ring glinted in the brilliant sun.
‘To the next generation – and new beginnings,’ she toasted.
‘To the next generation – and new beginnings!’