A Light Between Oceans Episode 45
“Are you sure you’re all right to stand?” Lucas asked, taking Sandy’s elbow as they stood inside the entrance of the lighthouse two years later.
“I’m fine, darling.” She smiled, her hand resting on her rounded tummy. “I’m only four months!
“I had a good rest this morning. How long until we open?” she asked.
Lucas looked at his watch.
“About five minutes to go. I’ll uncork a couple of bottles.”
“I hope there are enough glasses.”
“It’s hard to say how many people will come, but I can always nip out and try to find some more if it looks like we’re going to run out.”
“Oh, Lucas, where is she?” Sandy asked. “I hope she gets here in time. What on earth could she be doing?”
Suddenly the door burst open.
“Here I am!” Hattie cried. “Sorry to be last minute.
“You should see the queue out there! Everyone is so excited.”
“Hattie, you look lovely.”
“That’s very sweet, Lucas. All I can say is thank heavens for Sandy’s sewing skills.”
“The fabric suits you perfectly,” Sandy told her. “But we were getting a little worried. What held you up?”
“It was the earrings. They were a present from someone and were tricky to put on,” Hattie explained.
“They’re beautiful,” Sandy replied, admiring the tasteful silver that glinted from under Hattie’s curls.
“It’s exactly five o’clock,” Lucas announced. “Shall I?”
“Ready!” Sandy agreed with a grin.
Lucas opened the door.
“Welcome to the grand opening of the Belmouth Lighthouse Gallery,” he announced.
“Do feel free to wander round. There are signs to guide you.”
Warm greetings echoed through the lighthouse as Sandy, Hattie and Lucas chatted to the visitors, adding to the information printed on placards that explained about the history of the lighthouse, and how all the machinery worked.
Beside the huge curved dresser was a large photo of Donald, with a tribute printed in gold beneath it.
“We’re thrilled to have four of Donald Ashford’s paintings here,” Lucas told the visitors.
“And you’ll see there are other paintings here, too, by local artists we thought he would admire.”
People continued to drift in.
“Good evening, Hattie.”
“Charles, how nice to see you.” Hattie smiled.
“Thank you for the earrings,” she added as quietly as she could, but Sandy’s ears pricked up and she threw Hattie a glance.
“Sandy,” Hattie said. “Come and say hello to Charles Derwent.”
“Hello, Sandy.” Charles smiled. “We met briefly in the office, though it was some time ago.
“I gather you and your husband are here for an extended visit?”
“Yes. We divide our time between New York and Belmouth, but we’re staying until the baby is born, and for a while after that,” Sandy replied.
“Lucas has been put in charge of a new international branch of his company,” she added.
“How nice. I do hope you will join us for supper one evening,” Charles said.
“Where shall we take them, Hattie? Our favourite?”
Hattie’s face flushed.
“That would be perfect, Charles.”
“Splendid. May I excuse myself for just a moment? I see a client there who I must say hello to. I will be right back.”
He moved across the little room and Sandy raised her eyebrows.
“Our favourite?” she repeated.
“Darling, I’ve been meaning to tell you about Charles,” Hattie admitted.
“We got to know each other round about the time that you and Lucas became engaged and bought the lighthouse.
“We’ve been seeing quite a lot of each other . . .” Hattie smiled shyly.
The room was filled with friendly chatter, and Sandy stepped outside for a moment and into the garden of the newly decorated cottage, with the pretty summerhouse where she and the baby would play, sheltered from the wind.
Below, the freshly painted red boat jostled in the gentle waves.
The sun glinted off the lighthouse, sending a dazzle of glitter across the water.
Sandy’s heart bubbled over with the joy of this moment and the adventures that lay ahead for them all.
It could guide people in other ways, too.
Her dad had been right.