‘Told you what?’
‘I was talking about you—’
‘You talk about me with your shrink?’
‘A little.’ I run a hand over her hair, closing my eyes and letting myself soak this up. I came here to Australia without a single shred of hope this would ever work, that she’d still love me, but lying here with Cora I honestly wonder why I ever doubted this. Because we fit together; we’re meant to be. This is as right as anything I’ve ever known in life.
‘What kinds of things do you tell him?’
‘That I love going down on you?’ I can’t help teasing her and she responds by punching me lightly on the arm. I grin.
‘I’m serious.’
‘I wasn’t.’ I return to stroking her hair. ‘Why did your dad call you Cora?’
‘Oh.’ I feel her confusion. ‘I’m not really sure.’
‘Was he into mythology at all?’
‘He did some literature subjects at Yale. Why?’
‘Cora is another version of the name Persephone.’ She props her chin on my chest, her beautiful eyes tunnelling into mine. ‘And Persephone was the much-feared queen of the underworld. Hades’ wife.’
Her smile is slow to spread. ‘Really?’
‘Yeah. He abducted her—as you do—and they lived happily ever after. Hades and Cora, a love for the ages.’
‘Well, that seals it then.’
‘Hmm?’
‘We’ll just have to get married after all. It’s written in the stars.’
I laugh and I kiss her because, even though she’s joking, I believe there’s truth in it too. If I were ever going to believe in myths and magic, I would believe Cora was sent to me, that every part of our falling in love was in some way preordained.
‘And so we shall.’
EPILOGUE
‘I STILL THINK we could have had a double wedding.’
I’m teasing Cora. It’s one of my favourite pastimes. She pokes her tongue out at me, pressing her hand to mine. In the three months since getting engaged we’ve laughed about lots of places to get married, but ultimately decided to wait until after Theo and Asha’s wedding.
‘I don’t know if I’d want to be compared to Asha on my wedding day.’ She sighs. ‘Doesn’t she look amazing?’
I eye Theo and Asha. Their happiness is so apparent—the kind of happiness I would have resented twelve months ago, before I found Cora and my own heart’s desire.
‘You kidding? She can’t hold a candle to you.’ I lean closer. ‘No one can, Persephone.’
She flips a smile up at me. The day is perfect. Sunshine, clear skies, everything just as it ought to be. The ceremony was simple and short and now, in the grounds of Asha’s vineyard in the Loire Valley, it feels as though life is full of all that is good and right.
A little shape hurtles between my legs and I look down to see Felicity there, her tentative steps no encumbrance to speed. I scoop down and pick her up, throwing her into the sky so she giggles, the sound so rich with happiness that I laugh in response—how can I not?
‘What are you up to, Mischief?’ Cora leans towards her, tickling her tummy so Felicity laughs again and I look at Cora, capturing this moment and trapping it in my mind. It’s strange how I didn’t think of Felicity as ‘mine’, a part of me, when she was first born. I got so caught up on the biology of our blood relationship—or lack thereof—that I didn’t understand. I love her. She’s a part of my family, just as Cora loves her despite the fact they don’t share blood.
I find my old thoughts and behaviours completely foreign now. A year with Cora, a year of happiness, has shaped my opinions so differently. They are almost the complete opposite to what they once were. I may never know the truth of my parentage, I may never understand why Ryan chose to raise me, but I can look at his decision with gratitude now. He did love me, in his own selfish way. He gave me a good home but, more importantly, he gave me brothers, and without them I don’t know who or where I’d be.
‘You’re buzzing.’ Cora smiles up at me and I’m so wrapped up in my own thoughts it takes me a moment to hear her, let alone comprehend what she’s saying.