Epilogue
I pick up the cup of tea Lily has made me and go outside to sit in the sun. I look up at the sign above the door: ‘The Wild Oyster Shack’.
‘Look, we have plenty of help getting ready for tonight,’ Sean reassures me.
‘Lily’s laying up the restaurant. Seamus and Padraig are going to help me bring in the last of the native oysters.
Grandad’s coming up later to do some storytelling and man the visitors’ centre.
The donkeys are ready to do some rides. Evelyn’s sending up more fishcakes and going to work the kitchen.
Maire is going to decorate and put up some new paintings.
It’s all sorted. So … come with me, I have something to show you.
’ He leads me to the edge of the green grass in front of the barn and then turns me round.
I’m looking at the barn. It looks the same, red front door, whitewashed walls and window frames, flowers in the window boxes, and it takes me a while to spot the blue plaque beside the door frame.
‘Huh!’ I take a sharp intake of breath and my hand shoots up to cover my nose and mouth in surprise.
‘We got it!’ I shout, and hug Sean.
‘You did, you mean. All of this is down to you, Fi. It was you who saved the oysters and it was you who thought we could bring the customers to the farm. You’re the face of The Wild Oyster Shack.
It’s you they’ve awarded New Restaurant of the Year to.
It arrived this morning.’ He beams at me and I hear myself letting out a little squeal and jumping up and down, which isn’t a good idea, so I stop and just hold my hand over my face with excitement.
‘Now, tonight we’re going to have a party. It’s going to be great. But then the oysters will be out of season and it’ll be time to put your feet up. Promise?’
I nod. ‘Promise. Good job Betty’s finally retiring and coming out to spend some time with Grandad. She’ll be so useful for babysitting come September.’
‘What, when the restaurant reopens?’
‘When I compete to hold on to my shell-shucking title!’
Sean takes me in his arms and kisses me and then he takes something out of his pocket. It’s a small black box. He opens the box and takes out a pearl ring. He holds it out to me.
‘It’s the one from your necklace. I had it made into a ring.’
The tears are rolling steadily down my face, as they often do these days.
‘I wanted you to have it to remind you of the day we made our own little pearl.’ He puts his hand on my big bump. ‘If you like,’ he clears his throat, ‘we could make it an engagement ring …’
I take the ring.
‘Y’know what? I don’t need to marry you to know that we’ll always be together. I don’t need a big dress or a piece of paper. I love you.’
Sean’s eyes wrinkle at the edges as he smiles. I take one more look out over the bay. Seamus and Padraig are out in the boat, arguing about who’s steering.
‘And I’ve only just found Fiona Clutterbuck.
Would you mind very much if I stayed being me?
I don’t need to change my name to know where I belong any more.
’ Grace nudges my legs and the donkeys start braying with all their might.
‘But I wouldn’t say no to a christening party once baby Pearl is born.
’ I’ve come out of my shell and I’m not going back in.
Sean slides the ring up my finger and kisses me long and slow—
‘Oh no! Who the feck let the donkeys out?’ he shouts as he pulls away from me.
‘Oh, don’t tell me there’s another one.’ Sean marches off to the donkey field and I can’t help laughing.
I’m not so much at the end of the earth any more, but at the centre of the universe, my universe, Fiona Clutterbuck’s.