A Light Between Oceans Episode 44
For a long moment Sandy was silent.
“Lucas, my dad lived a good life as a lighthouse keeper,” she began finally, “and I know he never painted again.
“I know what your father did seems dishonest, but there’s a strange rightness in it, too.
“I don’t think Dad would have lived a different kind of life if your father had sold the paintings and Dad became respected in the art world. I have no way to prove it, but I feel it very strongly.
“Your father did something very brave and valuable during the war, and good things happened as a result of what he did with Dad’s paintings.
“I hope that as time goes by you’ll be able to feel the same,” she finished.
“I certainly want to find those other paintings for you,” Lucas admitted.
They were quiet for a moment, then he turned to her.
“Sandy, there’s something else.
“After I talked to Pieter, I went into town to return the hire car and to draw up some loose ends.”
She looked at him quizzically and he reached into the pocket of his jacket, took out a small rectangular box and handed it to her.
She lifted the lid and found herself somewhat lost for words as she took out a tacky, badly painted miniature of Belmouth’s lighthouse.
The stripes were a little crooked, and it looked like it might have cost about fifty pence.
“Thank you,” she said with as much enthusiasm as she could muster.
It was, after all, a sweet thought.
“It was the best I could find,” he said.
“It’s a lovely memento.”
She smiled as she laid it back in the box.
“There’s something underneath.”
“Sorry?”
“Under the tissue.”
Sandy took the model out again and pulled out a piece of paper, which had been folded a few times to make it fit in the box.
She unfolded it and saw that it was a type-written letter with a signature at the end.
Lucas smiled.
“Aren’t you going to read it?”
She nodded and began to read.
Dear Mr Brook,
This is to confirm that your bid for Belmouth Lighthouse and cottage has been accepted, and as soon as the relevant papers can be drawn up we will contact you again with regard to finalising the sale.
It has been a pleasure doing business with you.
With kind regards, Charles Derwent of Derwent Alexander estate agents.
She stared, reading it over and over again, then she looked up at Lucas and saw his eyes lit up with love and delight.
“It’s only if you feel it’s what you really want,” he said.
He struggled to his feet, then kneeled beside her, sinking into the sand.
“Will you marry me, Sandy?” he asked. “We have so much to work out, and I don’t know what on earth we’re going do with the lighthouse, but –”
She laughed and threw her arms around him.
He tumbled down beside her.
“I love you, Finn Lucas Van Bakkar Brook,” she said. “And yes, I will marry you!”
She smiled into his eyes and he gently pulled her to him, cradling her face in his hands as he kissed her.
“It’s amazing that your bid was accepted!” she exclaimed excitedly. “Did the others bow out at the last minute?”
He shook his head.
“It’s all pretty mysterious. I had gone in to draw a line under the whole thing, but then he told me that if I were still interested, the lighthouse and cottage were mine.
“I did ask about the other bids, but he sort of waved it all aside and said that something unexpected had occurred and my bid would be sufficient after all.”
He frowned.
“Actually, now that I think back, it was a little weird, because somebody else in the office was there filing things in a drawer, and asked something about the extra funds that had been added, but Mr Derwent just carried on talking
and . . .”
Lucas stopped.
At that moment they turned to one another, a look of unspoken understanding slowly blossoming across their faces.
“She wouldn’t have. Would she?” he asked incredulously.
“She certainly would.” Sandy smiled.
“But my bid was thousands below the other one.”
“She never spends any money. And the guesthouse has been a great success for many years.”
“I could never accept –”
“She’ll insist,” Sandy interrupted him firmly. “She’s very determined, as you know.”
“Shall we go and see her?” Lucas asked. “Tell her everything that’s happened between us?”
“Somehow I expect she’ll already know.” Sandy smiled.