Page 98 of Midnight Surrender to the Spaniard

‘I won’t tell her today, but, yes, I think so.’ She looked at Willow and then back to him. ‘It’s the right choice.’

‘You know that old Chinese saying...’

‘Which one?’

She gave a vague frown—a pathetic attempt at a lie, because she still did not want to admit that it had been her screensaver for months, that she knew it off by heart and she read it every morning and again at night. A girl had some pride!

When the shoe fits, the foot is forgotten; when the belt fits, the belly is forgotten; and when the heart is right, ‘for’ and ‘against’ are forgotten. No drives, no compulsions, no needs, no attractions: Then your affairs are under control. You are a free man.

‘I don’t agree with Zhuangzi on everything,’ Sebastián mused. ‘Certainly there are needs and attractions. But with you...’ he looked deeply into her eyes ‘...the heart is right.’

She nodded.

Her heart felt right too.

EPILOGUE

PUERTOBANÚSLOVEDa wedding! There were cheers and whistles as the very blushing bride stepped out of the car to walk along the marina to the waiting yacht.

Anna wore a silver shot-silk dress that was high at the front and then dipped at the back.

Willow wore the awful green flamenco dress that Emily had brought back from her first trip to Spain.

And a mantilla.

As well as that she carried a fan and smiled at the cheers and waves of the people.

‘I’m so excited,’ Anna said—because it wasn’t nervousness she felt, just utter joy as she and Emily held Willow’s hands as they made their happy way to the boat.

‘Welcome aboard,’ said a smiling Dante. ‘Everything is ready.’

‘Thank you, Dante.’

‘You look stunning,’ he said—and not just to the bride, but to the delighted five-year-old who really was having her day of days and would soon be spending precious time with her grandparents while Anna and Sebastián enjoyed their honeymoon...

It turned out that Anna’s parents really didwant lots of holidays with Willow! And they’d surprised Anna by suggesting that instead of having a wedding in the village she and Sebastián should marry in Spain, with her father there to give a blessing.

‘We could have Willow for a few nights while you go on your honeymoon,’ her mother had said, as Sebastián had sat on their sofa drinking tea, having first asked permission for his daughter’s hand from Anna’s father.

Anna had never envisaged a honeymoon, and certainly not a wedding on a yacht, but now she relaxed in the cool saloon, sipping icy water beside an impatient Willow.

‘How much longer?’

‘Too long!’ Anna laughed, because she was as impatient as her daughter, but eventually the engines slowed as the yacht reached its destination and the moment she had never thought would be hers was here.

‘Good luck,’ Emily said, and gave her a hug. ‘I’m so happy and...’ She moved her head in and whispered, ‘I was so wrong about Sebastián.’

‘He says the same about you!’ Anna said, and they shared a laugh. Friends for ever.

She climbed the steps very carefully, not wanting to make an inelegant entrance, and as she stepped onto the deck she stopped for a moment to take it all in.

Everyone she loved was there: her parents, smiling widely when they saw little Willow, Carmen looking pale but smiling, about to head for America, Alejandro holding a still-tiny Josefa...

And there was one person whom she didn’t love...

Maria wore alotof black ruffles and a black lace mantilla, and she held a black fan. However, she wore suitable shoes for the yacht. Sebastián had not cut her out, but he was keeping a close watch.

Even Maria’s presence couldn’t unsettle Anna today, because she felt as calm as the gorgeous Mediterranean. A beautiful stillness and peace filled her as she took a breath and looked to Sebastián.

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