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A week later, Bea arranged for a group of friends to come to the cottage for a party and a bonfire on the beach as a send-off for Dani, who was headed back to Sydney the next day to attend university. Bea and Dani spent the day cooking, cleaning and packing up Dani’s things. They’d managed to go to Airlie Beach the previous weekend to buy a few items of outdoor furniture, but had asked the guests to all bring chairs since nothing had been delivered yet.
Bea made slow-cooked chicken and sliced up all the toppings needed for tacos and nachos. Dani made cheesecake and pavlova for dessert, to be served with fresh whipped cream.
When Penny arrived, she brought what looked like a cat carrier with her. “I thought you might like to see your pademelon. She’s doing well, but if you could let her stay in the cottage with you for a few days to make sure she’s fed and watered, I think it would help her adjust back into life.”
Bea was shocked by the request but didn’t have time to do anything but agree. She locked the creature in her bathroom and returned to the task of getting everything ready for her guests.
Dad, Aidan and Bradford had arrived early to help set up the bonfire on the beach. They’d collected a tower of sticks and driftwood and piled it up in a clump on the sand. Bea monitored their progress by speaking to her father on the two-way radio she’d gifted him until he was irritated with her interruptions and switched it off.
Evie arrived next, followed soon after by Taya. Bea had already set up the taco station as well as the drinks station on an outdoor table she’d borrowed from her father, so she sat with the other ladies around the newly lit bonfire.
It was a wonderful evening of good food, conversation and fun.
“How’s it going with Aidan?” Evie asked as she set her plate of tacos in her lap.
Bea chewed a mouthful of nachos and swallowed. “It’s good.”
“Good, or really good?” Penny asked.
They all laughed. Taya wolf whistled.
“Wow, that was an impressive whistle,” Bea said, covering her ears.
Taya winked. “I have a few hidden skills.”
“What, like burping the national anthem?” Penny quipped.
Taya pretended to pout. “You said you’d keep that between us.”
“Oh, come on. Now you have to show us,” Bea shouted, laughing along with the others.
“Maybe later,” Taya said. “We want to hear about Aidan. It’s so romantic, the two of you getting back together after all these years. I just knew you were perfect for each other.”
Bea’s heart swelled. It did seem too good to be true. She could never have imagined she’d get a second chance to be loved by Aidan Whitlock. “We’re taking things slowly.”
“That’s the best way,” Penny said with a wink.
In the cottage, the sound of a bell ringing caught Bea’s ear. “What on earth?” She stood and peered back through the darkness at the well-lit cottage.
Dani walked up the beach towards them. “I think that’s the doorbell, Mum.”
Bea huffed. “Who would ring the doorbell on a night like this? Just come around the back!” She yelled the last as loudly as she could manage.
Everyone fell quiet, waiting to see who it would be.
“Everyone I invited is already here,” Bea mused.
A teenaged girl walked around the outside of the cottage on the wrap-around porch. She stood beneath the porch light, her brow furrowed. Bea didn’t recognise her, so she hurried to meet her and find out what she wanted. The other ladies all followed.
“Hello!” she called as she puffed through the sand. “I’m Bea Rushton. Are you looking for me?”
The girl pressed her hands to her hips and studied Bea. “Actually, I was told Aidan Whitlock might be here. I tried his parents’ house first, but they said he’d gone to a party on the beach and gave me directions.”
Bea spun about and looked for Aidan. He was stoking the fire with a long, thin stick and talking to her brother. He threw his head back and laughed, and the golden light of the sunset glanced off his hair in a way that made him look gorgeous, young and carefree. It tugged at her heartstrings. If only she could put her past behind her and give herself over to loving him fully.
Two people finding each other again after so many years wasn’t impossible. There was a good chance everything could work out between them. But her heart was still tender from her divorce, and she wasn’t sure she was ready to take another chance so soon. She was grateful Aidan was willing to wait, to be patient. He’d had years to get over his own loss. He knew it would take her some time to get over hers too.
“There he is,” she said, pointing.
