Blair’s lips part from mine then brush my ear as she whispers, just for me, “I love you too.”
Those four words slam through me harder than the roar of the whole harbour.
Then Finn barrels into us, his arms wrapping around both our waists in a fierce hug. Gus, apparently having pulled free from Struan, bounds over too, lead dangling behind him, and suddenly we’re a tangle of arms and paws and laughter.
And then we’re surrounded, people pressing close, patting our backs, calling out their congratulations.
Struan finds me and, grinning, says, “When I told you to tell Blair how you feel, I was thinking more of a private conversation after Ellie’s speech. But what you did worked too!”
I clap Struan on the shoulder, then my eyes are on Blair again. On the woman who just chose me, chose us, chose Ardmara.
Turns out tonight isn’t an ending after all. It’s the start of something new. Something bloody brilliant.
EPILOGUE
BLAIR
A year later
“And so the boy whispered, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll come back tomorrow.’ And the otter answered with a little chirp, as if he understood.”
I close my copy ofThe Otter and the Boyto the sound of eager applause echoing through the storytelling tent. A sea of kids sit cross-legged before me, Finn front and centre, Isla, Logan, and Rosie squashed in beside him. All four beam up at me like I’ve just performed magic.
At the back of the tent, clapping along, are the children’s parents. And among them aremyparents, fresh off a flight from New York, their faces lit with pride.
And beside them? Lachlan. Standing tall, the warmth in his green eyes hitting harder than the applause, than anything else in this tent.
“Wasn’t that wonderful?” Ellie, seated to my right, flashes her MC smile as she addresses the crowd. “Let’s give Blair another big hand for sharingThe Otter and the Boywith us!”
The clapping erupts again, even louder this time, and I blink hard, willing myself not to cry in front of a bunch of kids. A year ago I was hiding in the granny flat, scribbling story notes and wondering if I’d ever find my way back to the career I’d lost. Now here I am, a published author—self-published, sure, but published nonetheless—reading to a tentful of kids hanging on my every word.
“Does anyone have any questions for Blair?” Ellie asks, and immediately a forest of little hands shoots up.
Ellie points to a girl near the front. “Yes?”
“Do the boy and the otter get to live happily ever after, like in fairy tales?” Her high voice is adorably serious.
I can’t help smiling, thinking of Finn last year, worried the otter might forget the boy after he was healed and had found a mate.
“Well,” I say, “the best advice I can give is to read the story and find out the ending for yourself. But let’s just say I’ve got a good feeling about that.”
We go through some more questions, but there’s no chance to get to every raised hand before our time is up. People start filtering out of the tent, chatting and laughing, some first taking a moment to come over and congratulate me.
“Great reading, Blair,” Douglas says warmly. “You had them hooked.”
“It was really good!” Rosie agrees.
Logan nods firmly. “But now... bouncy castle time! Bye, Blair!” The twins shoot off like rockets.
“Well, that’s my cue to go,” Douglas says. “Later!” He follows after them with a weary grin, but he’s not alone—Ellie threads her hand through his, flashing me a quick smile. I wave her off, warmth bubbling in my chest. It’s so good to see them together at last.
And they’re not the only ones. Next Struan comes over with Isla, and with them is Ainsley, the hairdresser who moved to town last year, and her little girl Lily. Lily’s younger than Finn and the others, but she more than makes up for it with sheer determination.
“I liked your story, Blair!” Lily announces, her small hand tucked trustingly into Isla’s, their bond already that of sisters.
“Thanks, Lily.”
“But now I want my face painted.” With her free hand, she gives her mom’s sleeve a bossy little tug.
