She shook her head, smiling nervously.
“Please sit,” Edward said to them both, glancing down the porch and then pulling a chair over to Luke.
“Callie and Olivia, The Beachcomber is just gorgeous. I wish you two so much success,” he said as he sat down. His words were very kind, but they all were on the edge of their seats to hear if Luke had been able to change Edward’s mind at all.
“Thank you,” Callie said.
Olivia smiled uncomfortably and nodded.
Edward took in a deep breath and smiled. He looked out over the ocean again from his chair and then turned to Lillian. “I’m sorry,” he said finally, shaking his head. “I’m sorry that I pushed you away for the sake of the business. I was young and overly eager, and I didn’t realize what I was doing.”
Luke and Juliette looked at each other in surprise, probably in disbelief that Edward would admit this in front of everyone.
Edward continued, “We didn’t handle things in the right way—either of us. But I’m truly sorry for all those nights I left you alone.”
“It’s done now,” Lillian said, kindness on her face. “But I’ve never worried about myself. My concern has always been Luke.”
“I’ve been wrestling with all this,” he said as he looked into the faces of everyone there, and Callie could see that expressing himself in this way was very difficult for him. “I’ve been thinking a lot about you, Luke. I’m sure all of this has been a terrible shock to you too.”
“I can deal with it,” Luke said. “I just don’t think it should affect the company.”
“You’re right.” He pursed his lips, thoughts on his face. “How would you change it?” Callie watched closely, her protective nature kicking in for Luke, but Edward was clearly ready to listen. He’d leaned toward Luke, his head slightly tilted, his demeanor unguarded.
Lillian threw an excited but still slightly uneasy look over to Juliette, who had scooted on the edge of her rocker. No one moved a muscle as they waited.
“I’d like to have Aiden on board,” Luke said, his words careful. It was clear that he knew how big this was for Edward. “I want to expand Blue Water Sailing, incorporating more retail—not just my own designs; possibly more. But we could start there. I’ve started painting surfboards.”
“He’s talented, Edward,” Aiden said, speaking up. “I have the business sense, certainly, but Luke has the vision. He sees things that I don’t. We’d make a great team.”
Edward nodded, reflecting on this as he looked back out at the ocean. Then his eyes met Luke’s and then Aiden’s. “I trust you two,” he said. “You know, when I started this business, I was told it wasn’t lucrative, that the area was just too rural. But I had a vision and when the boom hit, we soared. I believe you two could have success, albeit in a different manner than I achieved mine. I’m willing to put my trust in family. Maybe we could put your business model down on paper and get started.”
Lillian burst into a smile. “Oh, Edward,” she said, her eyes glassy. “That’s fantastic.”
“I’m excited to see how it goes.”
“We need to celebrate,” Juliette said, getting up and wrapping her arms around Edward. “Let’s pour ourselves a drink, kick off our shoes, and go downstairs. They’ve got that wonderful band down there. We should dance, Daddy.” For the first time, Callie saw Edward really smile. He patted his daughter on the arm and nodded.
Luke stood and pulled Callie up, his smile still directed at Edward. “I think that’s a great idea,” he said.
They all went down to the patio and settled at the tables by the band. With a hoot of laughter from the few who’d lingered from the crowd, Luke grabbed Callie and pulled her onto the patio to dance. Gladys joined them, dragging Frederick onto the dance floor, followed by Aiden and Olivia. Edward and Lillian were on the side, grinning. While Juliette poured the champagne, Edward held out a hand to Lillian with a conciliatory smile, and she let him lead her out to the patio.
As they danced, Gladys winked at Callie. “Stardust,” she mouthed.
Callie took a look back at the magnificent cottage in all its glory, the paddle fans going on the porches, the mass of glass showcasing the beautiful furnishings inside, the tables of food in the window of the new sitting area. There was a thrill that she couldn’t deny. This old house had been renewed, made into something different, something better. Just like this unexpected group of people around her. The sky was an unusually brilliant shade of orange and pink, a burst of color over them, and Callie wondered if Alice was looking down on them—all her family together. In her house. Finally.
Epilogue
Callie stared at the enormous rock of a diamond as it swung around on her nervous finger. This was the last time she’d wear it without a band beside it.
She’d never expected Luke to propose when he had—he’d completely surprised her as he often did. They’d gone camping, and she noticed he’d brought along mason jars. He pulled one out and showed her the lid punched with holes, like she’d remembered doing as a kid. “For catching lightning bugs,” he’d said over a glass of local wine as they sat next to the campfire. They’d gone deep into the woods, where the last of the moonlight was hidden by the thick brush, and—she could still remember it like it was yesterday—the black expanse before her had lit up with them. The whole forest had seemed as though it were strung with dancing twinkle lights.
She caught one in her hand and Luke helped her put it in the jar. “We’ll let it go later,” he said, catching another one. When they’d gotten back to the campfire, they had a whole mason jar full. He set it on the small portable table he’d brought. He was pensive and she asked why. He turned to her and said, “This jar represents the present.” Then he pulled a second jar out of his bag and handed it to her. It had something in it. “The past,” he said.
She unscrewed the lid and pulled out a black and white photo of her grandmother. She had pin curls, her face so young. The image blurred in front of her. She ran her fingers along the diamond bracelet on her wrist, emotion welling up.
When she’d finally blinked away the last of the tears, Luke gingerly placed the photo back into the jar. “So we have past…” He set the jar down on the table. Then he picked up the lightning bugs and unscrewed the top. He released them, the golden lights filling the dark sky all around them. “And present…” Under the glow of the fire and the lightning bugs, he pulled a third jar from his bag. “And hopefully,” he said, “we have a future.” Suspended from the lid, from a red velvet ribbon inside the jar, was the ring that was now on her finger.
He’d told her that he’d contacted her mother, driven all the way to Richmond, and asked for Callie’s hand in marriage. Later, her mother had said he’d charmed the dickens out of her, making her laugh. He’d brought her flowers and he’d taken her out to lunch.