Page 117 of Grace on the Rocks

“Then read it.”

“I can’t.”

“Of course you can.Youread my whole book.”

“Not out loud.Thestammer… it’s easier ifIrecite.”

“They’ll know it’s from the heart.Andif anyone teases you,DiegoandIwill kill them and dump their bodies in the ocean.”

He laughed. “Itreally doesn’t matter,” he protested.

“Don’t argue with the birthday girl.Whatdo you have to lose?” she asked, stepping away from him and over toLùc’sband to steal the mic. “Excuseme, everyone?MayIhave your attention please?”

Bryan rolled his eyes and shook his head desperately at her, but she ignored him as his neighbors fell silent around the bonfire, the sky painted in party pinks and golds behind them.

“I knowI’veonly been here a short time,” she said. “Butin that time,I’vereally gotten to know the character of this island.You’retough.Hard-working.Extremelyclose to each other and your history and traditions.”

The old-timers murmured their agreement.

“Thank you so much for sharing my traditions with me today.Itmeans the world.”

They clapped.

“I’m sure aspects of it were new and strange.”

She paused to let them laugh self-consciously.

“But it’s been fun, right?”

They cheered in affirmation.Howwas she so good at this?

“I didn’t get to have my quinceañera whenIwas fifteen becauseIlet fear and anger drive a wedge between myself and the peopleIloved, andI’veregretted it ever since.Sothank you, from the bottom of my heart, for sharing this double quinceañera day with me.

“But today wasn’t supposed to be about me.Itwas supposed to be about one of you and his commitment to all of you.Itwas supposed to be about this gorgeous cottage.I’msure by now you’ve all had a chance to see inside.It’sa symbol, for so many of you, of the island’s past, but the thing is, it could also represent the island’s future.Soplease, because it’s my birthday?—”

“And double quinceañera!”Wesshouted.

“—and that too, please listen to whatBryanhas to say with the same generous spirit you’ve listened to me.Lethim speak, and then decide.”

The crowd grew quiet, shifty and uncertain.HowwasBryansupposed to follow her?

Cait offered him his tablet, and his hands were so sweaty he almost dropped it, but thenGracepressed the worry stone into his palm, cool and soothing as it always used to be.

“Go on then, lad,”EllisStewartsaid.

“Give him a minute,” his father commanded before nodding encouraginglyBryan’sway.

So he took a breath and read them the speech he’d written, whichGracehad so thoughtfully edited.

“WhenIwas young and naive,” he began, clearing his throat before it cracked like he was twelve again, “Italked a good talk about making the island green.Idistinctly recall a few of you telling me ifItook my head out of my arse and looked inland instead of out, it already was green.”

A laugh went through the older neighbors, andEllisshoved his hands deep in his pockets, though he smiled and nodded sheepishly too.

“I was a wee eco-warrior, and you were, rightfully, amused.Wemay not have seen eye to eye all those years ago, but the one thing we did agree on was our love of this island.Allmy grand ideas were on account of how muchIcared.Iwanted to conserve it forever, for my children’s children’s children.”

They were all nodding now, agreeing with the sentiment.

“I’m an island lad through and through, and thoughIdid leave for many years,Itook the island with me.Itook all of you with me.Ilearned a trade—I’mgood at it.Ialso learned things about the world.Andmyself—thingsIcouldn’t learn here.”

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