Chapter 36
GAYLE
The temperatures that New Year’s Eve may have plummeted further as they ventured out, but they were graced with a clear sky and very little wind.
They found the spot they’d agreed on and spread blankets on the ground.
Alex had carried down a couple of fold-up chairs.
Gayle was sure he’d only brought two so she wouldn’t feel singled out, and she gladly took one of them and Isaac took the other when nobody else wanted it.
Seconds after his bottom touched the seat, he jumped up when he saw his little friend approaching.
Gayle smiled. Samuel was here. He seemed nice, and it was clear from the body language coming from him and Addie that this pair were on the verge of something special. At least, that’s what she hoped.
‘Time to serve.’ Louisa pulled tin bowls from the bag while Susanna took charge of opening up the big bag of boxed-up pudding portions and distributing them. They would all be full and warm in time for the midnight celebrations.
Gayle got up to help them get organised. Puddings had always been her thing, after all.
She called over to Samuel, ‘Pudding?’
‘I don’t want to intrude,’ he said drawing closer to the party with Addie at his side.
‘You’re not.’ And with that she turned and thrust the steel bowl she’d just had Louisa fill with steamed jam sponge into his hand. She passed him a spoon from the bag. ‘Custard?’
‘Guess I’m eating the pudding.’ Amused, with eyes only for Addie, he took the spoon in his thickly gloved hand.
‘I guess you are.’ Addie smiled up at him and Gayle didn’t miss that twinkle in her niece’s eye.
Louisa hooked her arm through Gayle’s to stay warm. ‘It’s almost time for the fireworks.’
‘And I’m grateful to be seeing in another New Year,’ she said, ‘with all my family together.’
‘Same,’ Louisa replied.
She took a deep breath, inhaling the night air, the feeling of excitement and promise all around as they waited for the first firework to launch into the sky.
* * *
The next morning, with their tummies satisfyingly full – more so after Susanna’s legendary cooked breakfast – and bundled up against the cold, the four Rafferty women lined up their bicycles on Bay Street.
On New Year’s Day, the road was deserted as the island slept off last night’s celebrations.
Gayle had had a practice pedal up the front path to her cottage and back again, three times, and although a little unsteady had declared herself ready.
‘I can’t believe we’re doing this,’ said Gayle with a big smile on her face.
‘Neither can I!’ Louisa giggled nervously.
Addie tugged the strands of her hair from the bottom of her helmet to make it more comfortable. ‘Watch out, Anchor Island!’
Susanna began to laugh. ‘It’s been years!’ And then she counted them down. ‘Ready, steady, go!’
They set off, slowly at first, and Gayle was glad to see she wasn’t the only one wobbling.
It was a good job nobody was around to witness this – at least not in Bay Street – and as they turned the corner and began making their way down towards the harbour where they would ride along near the water, Gayle felt the cold wind whip against her cheeks, against her smile and her laughter.
The Rafferty girls. All four of them. Here on Anchor Island, together. And as they raced along gathering speed – yes, she was going as fast as the others! – she sent a silent thank you to Harry that he’d been the one to bring these wonderful women into her life.