Page 95 of The Summer Swap

She smiled as she remembered. There had been good times. Many of them.

Todd was watching her. “Take a closer look at the walls, Nanna.”

What had she missed? She’d thought the walls were plain white, and only now did she see the small seashells, hand-painted in a creamy pearlescent shade that caught the light. Each seashell was subtle and exquisitely beautiful.

“Todd! You did this?”

He laughed. “I’m flattered that you think I have those skills. Sadly, I don’t. This is Lily’s work.”

Cecilia stepped closer and traced one lightly with her finger. “It’s beautiful. Did you do this freehand or use a stencil?”

“She did it freehand,” Todd said, and Cecilia heard the pride in his voice.

“Which is the reason some of the seashells are different sizes. And it’s not all shells—” Lily pointed to a spot above the bed. “There is the occasional seahorse, too. And a dolphin or two. I did sneak a killer whale in near the bathroom. I’ve never done anything like this before. It was fun.”

Seth took a closer look. “This is extraordinary. I’m going to hire you to redecorate the room my grandchildren use when they stay with me. Gemma is obsessed with starfish. Could you do a starfish?”

“She can do anything. You see?” Todd gave Lily a triumphant look. “I told her she’d be booked up for the rest of the year once word gets out.” He put his arm round her, not bothering to hide his feelings.

Cecilia glanced from her grandson’s face to Lily, who was all smiles and flushed happiness.

“I wouldn’t complain about that. We’ve had the best time doing this.”

“You’ve both worked so hard.”

She had no idea what had happened between the two of them during the few nights she’d been staying at Seth’s, but it was clear that it wasn’t just her cottage that had undergone a change.

“What do you think?” Lily was nibbling the corner of her nails. “Does the place make you feel calm and happy?”

“I think you’ve done an incredible job.” She walked to the balcony and gazed across the dunes to the ocean. She remembered spending hours on that beach with Cameron, and before that with her friends. And with Seth.

Seth.

She’d only been back in the cottage for a short time and yet everything had changed. She’d felt trapped, like a butterfly in a net, not knowing what to do next.

But now she knew. She knew how she was going to move her life into the next phase. And knowing had freed her.

“Nanna?” Todd stood next to her, waiting, and she reached out and hugged him.

“Thank you,” she said. “Thank you to both you and Lily.”

“It was our pleasure. Come out on the deck and have breakfast.” Todd stepped back into the bedroom. “There’s freshly squeezed orange juice and pastries. I was in the bakery the moment it opened this morning, and I may have overdone the quantity. I hope you’re hungry.”

Cecilia was about to agree that breakfast sounded like an excellent suggestion when her phone rang.

She checked the caller display and felt a flicker of surprise. She answered it immediately. “Kristen?”

“M-Mom?”

Cecilia heard something in her voice and felt anxiety tighten in her stomach. She gestured to the others to go downstairs without her and waited until they’d left the room. “What’s wrong? Has something happened?” She closed the doors onto the balcony so that her voice wouldn’t carry outside.

“I’ve left Theo.”

Cecilia closed her eyes briefly. So she hadn’t been catastrophizing. They really were having problems. Where did Jeff fit into this? Why hadn’t she asked Kristen about it? She should have found a way to offer support. She hadn’t helped, but she could help now. And underneath her maternal anxiety was a feeling of relief and satisfaction that Kristen had chosen to call her.

It felt like a second chance, and she was determined not to waste it.

“You’re upset. Are you driving? You shouldn’t be driving.”

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