Chapter 30
Chapter Thirty
G race ran to search the kitchen drawers before putting a piece of paper, a pen, a tealight and a box of matches into her bag.
It was thankfully quiet on the beach. The tourist season was coming to an end and people were leaving the island to go back to their full-time homes. Grace drew a single heart on the piece of paper and folded it into the shape of a boat, the way she’d done for generations of pupils over the years. She lit the tealight with a shaking hand and placed it in the centre of the boat. It wasn’t exactly a Viking long ship, but it would do.
The warm sea caressed her body as she waded out up to her thighs. She took a moment to scan the horizon before she placed the little boat on the surface of the water and pushed it on its way, its fragile light burning bright.
Grace followed its progress through the waves with an aching heart.
‘Goodbye, my darling. I’ll never forget you as long as I live.’
Her voice caught in her throat, but she forced herself to continue. She hadn’t been able to speak at Phil’s funeral, it would have undone her, but she could speak now.
‘You gave me two wonderful daughters, and a life full of love and laughter every single day we were together. You’ll always be a part of my life, and you will live on in our girls and our unborn grandson. I’m so sad you’ll never meet him, but you’ll always be a part of him.’
Grace blinked away the tears that blurred her vision.
‘But it’s finally time to move on, like you always told me I should. I’m sure you don’t want the details, but honestly, you’d like him. He’s a good man, and I know that I can be happy with him, like I was happy with you.’
Grace watched as the tide took the boat further and further away, the tiny flame of the tealight dancing in the breeze until it disappeared from sight. She touched her fingertips to her lips and let the kiss float free.
‘Godspeed my love, until we meet again.’
* * *
Grace’s arms and legs were heavy as lead as she walked back up the beach. She shivered in the heat of the afternoon. But the sight of Will standing waiting on the terrace made her heart lift.
He opened his arms wide.
‘Come here, you. I was watching from the balcony… You’ve been to say goodbye to him, haven’t you?’
Grace nodded. She couldn’t keep anything from this man. She flew into his arms and laid her head on his chest. She could feel his heart pumping away madly as he stroked her hair. Gently he pushed her out of his embrace.
‘Let’s go back upstairs and talk. It’s time.’
Grace nodded and followed him, all the way to their favourite chairs on the balcony.
Once they were seated, Grace went to speak, but Will leant over and put his finger on her lips.
‘Let me go first, please.’
Grace turned to face him.
‘I need to say it out loud. I love you, Grace. I love you like I’ve never loved any woman. I’ve realised I can’t live without you. And it’s not just because you’ve been bringing me breakfast in bed every morning.’
Grace swallowed back more tears.
‘But seriously, I knew I’d have to wait until you were ready. That there was something stopping you from acknowledging that you– I hoped– felt the same. When I realised that night on the beach that you hadn’t finished grieving for your husband, it all fell into place. I tried to give you some distance, to stay away from you, but I failed miserably.’
Grace looked down at her hands.
‘You drive me crazy, Grace, in both senses of the word. You’re impetuous and you always think you know best. Although I have to admit that you usually do.’
Grace raised her head again and smiled.
‘You’re also the bravest, smartest, funniest and sexiest woman I know– have ever known, I should say. I’ve not been big on commitment in the past, but I’m offering you the rest of my life to do with whatever you want. Yours, and only yours, now and for ever.’
It was all she’d wanted to hear him say, and more, but she still had to make one hundred per cent sure that he meant it.
Grace reached for his hand and looked him directly in the eye.
‘I have to ask you this one last thing. I’ll be a grandmother soon; it’s a boy, by the way…’
Will’s face registered bewilderment.
‘Er… congratulations.’
‘Thanks. Look, you’ve only just turned sixty…’
‘And? Where is this going?’
‘You could easily be with someone younger.’
‘So could you!’
‘Yes, but my childbearing days are well and truly over. Are you absolutely sure you don’t want to have any more children?’
Will’s laugh echoed across the balcony, but the effort turned into a painful-sounding cough, and he clutched his side.
‘Bloody hell, Grace. Only you could hear my heartfelt declaration of love and then ask supplementary questions. I already have a much-loved son. There’s no way I want any more kids. Do you really think I’m fantasising about dealing with teenagers in my seventies? I can assure you, hand on heart, that that bit of my life’s done and dusted. And when it comes to other women… how many times do I have to say it? I don’t want another woman as long as I live. You’re more than enough for a lifetime. You… are it for me.’
His speech brought on a prolonged bout of coughing that had Grace rushing to his side.
‘Let me help you back into bed.’
Will attempted to smile through the pain.
‘Well, if you’re offering.’
Grace got Will settled and passed him a glass of water, which stopped the cough. He still seemed uncomfortable though. She’d let him recover a bit before she spoke her truth. She didn’t want to make things worse. As she went to fluff his pillow, her left breast in her bikini top grazed his face for a moment.
‘For God’s sake, Grace.’
Will’s voice was almost hoarse.
‘How much of this do you think I can take? Cover up or get in here.’
Will flung back the sheet, and Grace was faced with the reason why the man was so uncomfortable. She climbed in beside him, and his mouth came down on hers with a hunger that matched her own. She pulled away a moment.
‘I don’t want to hurt you.’
‘We’ll be careful.’
Grace pulled on the ties at the sides of her bikini bottoms and the fabric fell away. She climbed astride his body with one fluid movement and kept eye contact with him all the way as she helped him slide into her. His brown eyes had almost turned black.
It had been no fluke the first time on the beach, which was good to know, but it didn’t alter her decision. At last, they peeled apart, and lay back against the pillows to get their breath back.
Grace put her hand on his chest to check his heartrate.
‘Are you OK? I wouldn’t call that careful exactly.’
‘Bloody fantastic though.’
‘Agreed.’
Will leant up on one elbow.
‘Grace? I’ve poured my heart out to you. And as wonderful as it is, it’s not just sex I’m after. It’s a whole life together. Am I on my own here? Or do you just want to use me as a sex toy?’
Grace put her head on one side.
‘It’s a serious consideration.’
Will frowned and pursed his lips.
‘I’ve never seen a man pout before.’
But it was finally time for her to speak. She mustn’t keep him hanging any longer, however much fun it was. Grace rolled towards him, so they were almost nose to nose, and looked into the face that had become so precious to her.
‘You’re not on your own.’
She kissed his lips.
‘I love you too, Will Lancing. With my whole heart. I’m in it for however long we both have left on this earth. It feels like a miracle that we’ve found each other. You’re it for me too.’
His smile at her answer lit up his whole face.
It didn’t matter where they ended up living, whether they stayed in Greece, travelled to Australia to see the baby born or toured Europe in a camper van, as long as they were together.
She knew Will would agree that they’d never have been right for each other years ago. They’d both had other lives and known other loves. But she knew deep in her heart that they were right for each other now. Those previous lives and loves had shaped the people they were today and were never to be forgotten. There was still plenty to discover about each other, and they’d enjoy every moment of doing so. It had taken her all her time in Greece to realise that for her, home wasn’t a location; it was a person. And that person was Will.
He bent to kiss her again, and just his touch on her skin was enough to light the flame inside her again. His body made it obvious that it did the same for him. She stared into his darkening eyes.
‘Are you sure you’re well enough?’
He pulled her underneath him with one stroke.
‘Absolutely sure, my love.’