Page 73 of Salt Love

“I believe I can speak for Aunt Maeve in saying that she’s proud of us.” I gestured to the urn next to me. “Proud that fences have been mended and?—”

“Oh my God!” Mom exclaimed, cutting me off. Her hand slapped over her mouth and she moved forward as if in a trance. She came right up beside me, but her gaze was focused on the urn. “Where did you get that?”

I glanced quickly over at Dec, but he looked as confused as I was. “It’s Aunt Maeve’s urn, Mom.”

Mom’s eyes went impossibly wide and then she was sobbing. Or laughing. Or maybe both at the same time? I wasn’t really sure. I put a hand on her back as she bent over, that same watery yip filling the room.

“Mom?”

She straightened, her gaze still on the urn. The sobs died down and she wiped frantically at her eyes. “It’s not an urn!”

Dec came over, putting his own hand on Mom’s arm. “I had strict instructions from Maeve to pick up her urn from the funeral home and they assured me that was the urn she picked out.”

Mom smiled up at Dec, her mascara leaving black streaks down her cheeks. “Oh, yes, I understand that, Dec. But that’s not an urn. It’s the cookie jar our mother had bought us at a yard sale when we were little. Maeve and I loved that hideous thing. Our mother kept trying to get rid of it over the years, but Maeve and I never let her. We used to say the old mermaid was our spiritual guide, mostly to make Mother roll her eyes, but we started to believe it.”

Our friends gathered closer and we all gazed at the busty mermaid with new eyes. Mom reached out a hand and brushed a finger over the mermaid’s face.

“It must have been her last little way of reaching out,” she whispered. Daniel pulled her into his chest and let her cry against him.

I felt for Mom, I really did. Her pride had kept her from having time with her only sister before she died. I promised myself not to make that same mistake.

Lifting my glass of champagne in the air, my charm bracelet tinkling lightly, I looked around the room at the people who’d loved Maeve and my family the most. The giant mural on the far wall, painted lovingly by Laurie, and the plants remaining on the wood shelves Dec had built were all a reminder of the incredible woman that had lived and loved here. Dec had framed a picture he’d taken of me just a few weeks ago. I was out on the beach, staring at the sunset as my wild curly hair fluttered in the breeze. I almost didn’t recognize myself as he’d placed it on the wall. I’d changed so much in Sunshine Key, all thanks to the aunt I’d finally gotten to know. I had her to thank for so many things.

“To Maeve!” I offered, a wobble in my voice.

Glasses were lifted, Maeve’s name repeated, and then we drank the expensive champagne she would have approved of. The gathering turned into a party and at the center of it was Maeve and her lusty mermaid wink reminding us life was to be lived.

As the sun sank into the ocean and the string lights overhead on the patio flicked on, Dec grabbed my hand and sank to one knee right there in the living room of Maeve’s house. He held out a ring I couldn’t see because of the tears gathering in my eyes. In front of my family and friends he promised to love me forever, always my protector and friend. When he asked me to marry him, the answer was simple. I knew myself now. Knew what I wanted, what I deserved.

Without a single second of hesitation, I answered, “Yes!”

Everyone cheered and Dec spun me around before dipping me over his arm and kissing the hell out of me. The diamond ring found its way onto my finger and congratulations rang out. Dec tucked me into his side and didn’t let go of me the rest of the evening.

Sometime later when he and Harley got into a heated discussion about boat engines and Liz and Char were planning a girls’ day for us at the local spa and Mom and Daniel were snuggling on the couch, I let the happiness of my life settle over me like a warm blanket after a long winter. I’d finally found my home. My place in the world that was all mine.

Looking over at the urn on the mantel I shot Aunt Maeve a returning wink.