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“Ah, okay, then. I suppose I’ll see you next week. I’ll be in Sydney for a series of meetings on Wednesday. Does that work for you?”
“Wednesday is fine. See you then.”
She hung up the phone, then stared at it for several minutes. How would this work? What would it be like to divide up an entire life? They’d already sold the house and split the proceeds. But there were so many other things they had to consider — their real estate and stock portfolio, the furniture, the artwork, the priceless collection of sculptures that Bea had spent countless hours researching and accumulating over the years. What about the photo albums and home videos? How could anyone divide up a lifetime of memories and sentimental bits and pieces?
Back inside, Dad was washing dishes in the kitchen sink. “Everything okay?”
She nodded. “He wants to talk about the divorce settlement.”
“Are you going to ask for alimony?”
“I hadn’t thought about it.”
“You should, you know. You spent a lifetime raising his children and gave up your career to do it. Meanwhile, he makes a fortune in his job and retirement savings because he had your support at home, and you’re left virtually unemployable.”
“Gee, thanks, Dad. When you put it like that, it sounds so warm and fuzzy.”
“You know what I mean.” He wiped his hands dry on a tea towel and faced her. “Don’t let him get away without contributing something to you and the kids.”
“I’ll think about it. Did I tell you about the café idea?”
Dad’s brow furrowed. “What café idea?”
“Evie has a café attached to her bookshop. She said I could have it and run it. I just have to pay her rent.”
“Is that what you want?”
“The idea is appealing. I didn’t come here thinking I’d stay on the island. But now… I don’t know. I’ve felt so at home here. I have friends here. And now the opportunity to open my own café, something I’ve always wanted to do. The beach cottage is coming along nicely and is going to be gorgeous—I’m so excited to move into it. Things are looking up.”
He smiled, crossing his arms. “Sounds like it’s all coming together. Don’t forget, though, that it hasn’t been very long since your husband walked out on you. Maybe you shouldn’t be making any big decisions for a while.”
His words irritated her. Preston was no longer in her life. They’d sort out the divorce settlement, and then she could put him behind her for good. Even thinking the words stirred a vat of grief in her belly. Maybe she was moving too fast. But that’s just how she operated. She was a doer. She didn’t sit around stewing or wondering—she got in there and made things happen.
It was what she’d done on the PTA when they needed a new school hall, it was how she’d managed the fundraiser for the local choir to get a tour bus, and it was how she’d tackled her marriage separation — don’t think, just do. It was almost a life motto.
“It’s going to be fine, Dad. Maybe things are working out because it’s time. I don’t know. But I’m going to Sydney next week to meet with Preston. And then I’m coming back here to start my life afresh.”
He leaned over to kiss her cheek. “I’m happy for you, love. And I’m glad you’re finally home.”
By the time Bea had caught the ferry the following Tuesday, the beach cottage had a brand-new kitchen and bathroom, she’d picked out the paint colour for the walls, and the landscaper had sent through the designs for the yard for her to look over while she was away on her trip. She’d signed a lease agreement with Evie for the café, and she’d asked Brett to look over the space and give her a quote for fixing it up the way she wanted it to be.
Everything was coming together, and she couldn’t have been more excited to face the prospect of a future alone. If she must be alone, at least she’d have a café and a quaint beach cottage to dull the pain of her solitude. And with Dani helping her navigate each step of the process, they were closer than they’d been in years. They spent all day every day together — talking, laughing, swimming, walking, planning and enjoying life on the island. They’d even been snorkelling a few times, although wetsuits were definitely required in the cool water at that time of year.
She missed Harry, but had arranged to spend some time with him on her trip to Sydney. She couldn’t wait to see him. On the video call they’d had the day before his hair was so long he couldn’t see through it. She’d pressure him into a haircut if she had the chance, although she had to admit it looked cute on him, and at what other time in his life could he get away with looking like a human Labradoodle than during his university days?
While she stood on the ferry looking out across the ocean, the wind buffeting her in her thin jacket, her phone rang. She pressed it to her ear with one hand, holding her hair out of her eyes with the other.
“Hello?”
“Hi, Beatrice. It’s Aidan.”
Her heart thudded against her rib cage. She’d told Evie that she was leaving town for a few days, but she hadn’t called Aidan. She didn’t want to explain to him that she was going to finalise her divorce. It shouldn’t bother her to say the words. After all, he knew she was getting a divorce. But talking to him about it seemed wrong somehow.
“Hi. How are you?”
“I’m fine. Listen, I’m working over at Blue Shoal again today and wondered if you wanted to come with me. We could grab some lunch at the inn and say hi to Taya. Maybe we could have a swim after. I know it’s cold, but actually, the water is nice.”
She groaned inwardly. It sounded like the perfect day. “Wow. I’d love to do all those things. But I’m on the ferry.”
