Closer to the Heart (The Heart Trilogy Book 3) (43 page)

Epilogue

They walked onto the sand in the beautiful summer sun of New Zealand's Bay of Islands. Charlotte pulled her shades off so she could see the ocean in its full glory. It was the same beach they had been married on. A small smile played on her lips as she remembered that joyful day. Francis was so serious and solemn as she carried the flowers. Johnny was full of mischief carrying the rings and nearly dropping them in the soft sand. She could still hear Patrick Swayze singing the words to them.

“
She rides the night leads me through moonlight, only to burn me with the sun, she's taken my heart but she doesn't know what she's done”

Charlie turned to Mitchell, the tears already glistening in her eyes. Leaning down he wiped the first one away from her cheek. His hand left an invisible mark on her skin, heat spreading to her heart in the tender gesture.

“Why” she asked. Mitch shook his head and replied.

“Because they always wanted to be together”

“I know it was inevitable that Dad was going to die so I guess Mum didn’t want to be alone again without him” she sobbed, hiding her face in his solid chest.

The crumpled letter that Seb had given her was folded in her pocket. Charlotte guessed it would explain their actions. She pulled out the St Christopher that had been found on the deck of the deserted yacht.

Holding it up to the fading light they both read the inscription, faded and worn over time.

“JC till the end of time SM”

“I’d like to keep it” Charlie said “but I think it will upset me too much”

“It needs to be with them, wherever they are” Mitch said, softly. He covered her hand with his and breathed in, aware that he didn’t want to break down in tears here when he had to be strong for her. They walked into the surf together and stood for one last moment as the sun was dipped half into the ocean ahead of them. It cast a perfect path across the ripples of the waves to where they stood. It reminded them of the carefree time they had spent togethe
r
i
n
Miam
i
a
t
the start of their relationship. It had been a happy holiday where the twins had been conceived by accident.

Mitchell took a glance at his wrist to see the watch that still adorned it. It was old and worn now but still kept time perfectly. His gaze travelled up the slender body of his wife and at her throa
t
la
y
the pink heart necklace, the chain had been replaced many times but the pendant still sparkled in the fading light.

“You do it” Charlie whispered, handing him the necklace
.
Taking if from her shaking fingers he took the moment to brush his lips over her forehead in a tender kiss
.
Then he pulled his arm back and threw the St Christopher into the waves.

“Bye Mum” Charlie murmured.

“Bye Dad” Mitchell whispered, his voice breaking on a sob that he couldn’t hold down.

Charlie thought back to the year when their meeting had bought their parents back together. That first year in each of their relationships had been tested to the core by the woman who would remain nameless, but they had stuck together and made it through to where they were now.

Looking up she could see the tears falling down Mitchell’s cheeks that matched her own and she hugged him tighter. Finally as they driedthey turned and walked back onto the beach and their family. Leo toddled over to show her his bucket of shells and she smiled down at him and took his small hand i
n
hers
.
France
s
stoo
d
up and enfolded her Dad in her arms; she could still see the trail of his tears on his face. Her husban
d
Marty
n
stood a little to the side with Stella, as Johnny hugged his Mum. His wife Emily resting in the sand, pregnant with their first child.

A bit further back on the beach was Darren and Sophie, their daughter Maggie and her partner Lynn.

“I’m hungry” Leo suddenly chimed in “What’s for tea”

“I don’t know but we’ll go and find something to eat” Mitchell said, picking him up and placing him on his shoulders.

“Let’
s
g
o
home” Charlott
e
replied, her hand in his.

She paused for one last moment on the dune to stare out to sea, a song playing in her head, one she hadn’t heard for many years. One she'd heard her Mum play many times before James and Mitchell came into their lives.

“Somewhere out there

If love can see us through

Then we’ll be together

Somewhere out there

Out where dreams come true….”

THE END

Acknowledgments

First of all I’d like to thank you, the reader for finishing a trio of novels that has taken me nearly three years of my life to write. But write I have and I hope that you enjoyed reading the story as much as I did writing it. Just a quick ask to you all if you could pop a few words of review up on Amazon or Good Reads for me and help spread the word by telling your family and friends about the novels. It all helps to keep me writing.

I am aiming to write a companion novel to the Trilogy about Felicity’s life and what has made her the way she is, so keep your eyes peeled for “Bloodstained Heart” coming in 2016.

I hope to have paperback copies available of all three by the end of 2016 so if you would like to buy a copy and have me sign it then I am more than happy too. Just get in touch through any of the following channels and it’s also a great way to find out what’s coming next!

Website:
www.audrinalane.co.uk

Email:
[email protected]

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/#!/audrina.lane

Twitter: @AudrinaLane

Once again there is a fair amount of music mentioned in the book and I still have to thank the great DJ’s at “Sunshine Radio” for providing me with such great tunes to write too.

List of songs and artists mentioned:

Faith George Michael

Father Figure George Michael

A different corner George Michael

Together Forever Rick Astley

Hold me in your arms Rick Astley

(I’ve had) the time of my life Bill Medley & Jennifer Warnes

She’s like the Wind Patrick Swayze

Closer to the Heart Rush

Casey Darren Hayes

Other Side Jason Derulo

Chasing Cars Snow Patrol