Annie’s eyes meet his.
“I think you did the right thing.”
Shaun looks at her confused. Then, I feel him let out a deep breath.
“Thank you for helping Mam.”
There’s nothing more to say. He lets go of my hand and embraces Annie.
“And what about that?”
Annie signals to me as they move apart.
“What?”
Tane and Callista are still talking together, their heads close as they sit over in a shadowy corner of the dune away from the open bonfire and the other partying guests.
I shrug.
“Old dogs, new tricks.”
Annie laughs lightly.
“Good on ‘em, I say.”
Shaun’s arm settles around my waist and he moves his hand gently touching my belly. Because new life is within me too. Still a secret between us and the world, it’s no bigger than a thumbnail yet, barely more than a line on a plastic stick.
Shaun whispers, his lips brushing my ear, “And this, Claire, is just the beginning.”