Absent in the Spring

by Carrie Elks

  The old Lucy would have felt panic at that thought. She’d have been planning to somehow corral them all together. But letting go meant accepting that right now their lives wouldn’t allow them all to be in one place. For now, video calls would have to be enough.

  ‘The four Shakespeare sisters together is a sight to be seen,’ Adam said. ‘The world may never be the same if it happens again.’

  ‘Good job nothing scares you, baby,’ Kitty said, grinning. She tucked her hand into Adam’s, leaning her blonde head on his shoulder.

  ‘And it’s not just the four of us any more,’ Lucy said. ‘We have Poppy, too.’ She smiled. ‘Not to mention you guys.’ She looked at Adam, Sam and Lachlan. Three such different men, yet they fitted into the family perfectly. The pieces of the puzzle none of them realised they were missing.

  They were the gold lacquer to the sisters’ broken pieces of china. Or maybe it was the other way around. All Lucy knew was that together, they were more than the sum of their parts.

  They made broken look beautiful.

  The fireworks began just after ten that night, the sky exploding into a rainbow of colours that reflected on the faces of the guests. The loud bangs were interspersed with the oohs and aahs of the crowd, as everybody inclined their heads to watch the spectacle above them.

  Lachlan was the only one not watching the fiery flowers bloom above them, as the peonies and chrysanthemums unfurled into a cornucopia of blazing stars. He was too busy watching Lucy, taking in the way her bare shoulders glowed in the reflected light, the way her eyes were wide, her mouth slightly agape as she looked up into the sky.

  How the hell did he get so lucky? It was a question he asked himself all the time. It was as though every time he looked at her he saw something new, and it made him want to never take his eyes from her.

  He walked up behind her, looping his arms around her waist, the silk and lace bodice of her dress beneath his palms. He pressed a kiss to her neck, breathing her in, smelling her floral fragrance, her skin warm in spite of the evening air. She leaned her head back on his chest, her blonde hair a contrast to the black of his jacket. For a moment they could have been anywhere – a girl and a boy at the end of prom, making out in the open air.

  ‘Things always make sense when we’re together,’ he whispered in her ear.

  ‘That’s because we’re meant to be.’ Her words were simple, but they tugged at his heart. He’d spent a lifetime being rejected by the family he’d wanted so badly. To step into this ready-made one felt like a gift. He wanted to be worthy of it.

  ‘Do you think you can be happy with me, wherever we end up living?’ he asked her. ‘I don’t want you to end up resenting me.’

  She twisted in his arms, until her front was pressed against his. Lifting her hand, she gently stroked his jaw. ‘I know I keep joking about us being old and grey and still living in different countries,’ she tipped her head, ‘but I’m as determined as you to work it out. Look at Cesca and Kitty – they manage, and I know we will too.’ She looked over his shoulder, smiling. ‘It doesn’t matter where we are, as long as we’re together.’

  Was it possible for a heart to melt? He wasn’t used to feeling these emotions, but he embraced them anyway. ‘Together,’ he said, his voice soft. ‘I like the sound of that.’

  He looked over his shoulder, following her gaze to the imposing lodge behind them. It was strange how pivotal it had become in their relationship. It was the thing that had brought them together, and it was the place where he’d first held her in his arms. And even if he hadn’t realised it at the time, it was where he’d first started to fall in love with Lucy Shakespeare.

  And now it had provided them with the means to be together. It was more than a lodge, it was a home.

  ‘I’d like our children to visit here often,’ he murmured, turning back to look at her. Her head was inclined, but it was him she was looking at, not the fiesta exploding overhead. ‘I’d like them to know what it’s like to have a real history, a real family. I’d like them to understand where they’ve come from, because without that, they’ll never know where they’re going to.’

  Were those tears he saw forming in her eyes? It was hard to tell beneath the glow of the fireworks. ‘I’d like that, too,’ she told him, twisting her arms around his neck as he pulled her in tight.

  As the fireworks reached a crescendo, a rapid series of bangs drowning out all but the loudest of voices, he lowered his lips to capture hers. Their kiss was familiar yet new, demanding yet giving, and it set him on fire inside the same way the sky was blazing.

  He’d lost so many things in his life, but winning the heart of this determined girl felt like the biggest prize of all.

  Acknowledgements

  As ever, huge thanks to Anna Boatman and all the team at Piatkus for being so lovely and hard-working. Making Lucy’s story shine was a big team effort, and I’m very grateful for your wise counsel.

  Meire Dias at the Bookcase Agency isn’t just an agent, but a friend. Thank you for your never-ending support and kindness. Thanks also to Flavia and Jackie at the Bookcase Agency for everything you do.

  To my family – the lovely Ash, Ella and Oliver – thank you guys for always being there. Your encouragement and love is everything.

  Finally thank you to all of you who have read and supported my books. Whether you’re a reader, a blogger, or a reviewer, I truly appreciate it. There is a whole world of books out there, and the fact you took the time to read mine is an honour.