Sarah Bennett - Wedding Bells at Butterfly Cove - A heartwarming romantic read from bestselling author Sarah Bennett

He shook his head. ‘There’s more than enough room for the three of you at Honeysuckle Cottage, for as long as you need it.’

‘But then…’ Kiki caught the determined jut of her sister’s jaw and understood. Now her brief flurry of tears had passed, she was in full-on protection mode. If Kiki let her, Mia would take over everything. For a fleeting moment she indulged the idea. But if she wanted to live in someone else’s shadow for the rest of her life, she could have stayed with Neil. Not that Mia would be anything other than loving and supportive, but Kiki would still be surrendering responsibility to someone else. ‘I think staying at the cottage makes more sense.’

Mia shook her head. ‘Don’t be daft, Kiki. Family should stick together.’

Kiki yanked her shoulder free from Mia’s hand and stepped back. The barb had struck too close to home, too similar to Neil’s constant undermining of her with his accusations of stupidity and incompetence. It was clear from the way the colour drained from her face that Mia regretted her hasty words almost as soon as she’d said them. ‘Kiki Dee… I didn’t… I’m sorry…’

‘Why don’t Aaron and I take the kids for a walk on the beach?’ Daniel’s tone was light, but Kiki didn’t miss the pointed stare he fixed on his fiancée.

Richard chimed in. ‘Good idea. I think I spotted a ball in the garages somewhere. I’ll dig it out and we can leave the ladies to sort things out between them.’

Kiki crouched down in front of Matty. Little furrows creased his brow and she smoothed them with her thumb. ‘Would that be okay with you, little man? Do you fancy a kickabout on the beach with Aaron and the others before we go and see our new home?’

He stared up at Aaron, who’d kept that reassuring hand clasped around his shoulder the whole time. ‘We’re coming to stay at your house for a while?’

Aaron nodded. ‘If that’s what you, Charlie and your mummy would like. It’s a bit lonely there on my own, and it would be nice to have some new friends to spend time with. We’d only be down the road so you could come and see your Aunty Mia every day.’

‘I’d like that.’

Mia stepped forward to touch his cheek. ‘I’d like that too, poppet. Why don’t you let Uncle Daniel and Aaron show you the beach, and when you come back you can have some chocolate cake with your tea.’

‘Do we all get cake?’ Aaron batted his eyelashes at Mia and Kiki felt another one of those tight notches loosen.

Mia laughed. ‘Only if you’re a good boy.’

‘No chance of that!’ Richard snorted as he returned from his foraging. Dust clung to the leg of his crisp chinos, and he looked to have a cobweb clinging to his silvering hair. He held a bright-red ball aloft like a champion brandishing a trophy. ‘Come on then, last one to the beach is a rotten egg!’

The two men looked at each other for a split second before sprinting after Richard’s retreating back. Matty glanced once at Kiki and she gave him a nod. ‘Wait for me!’ His boyish giggles drifted back to them on the light afternoon breeze and Kiki let herself relax for a moment. It would take time, but she’d make sure he laughed like that every day.

A light touch brushed her arm. Mia. ‘I truly am sorry, Kiki Dee. I’ve just been so worried about you.’

‘I know, Mimi, but this is my mess to sort out, not yours.’ Hurt clouded her sister’s expression and Kiki turned away, unable to cope with that on top of everything else. This wasn’t working out how she’d expected it to at all.

‘Let’s go inside and have a cup of tea.’ Madeline held her hands out to the two of them and made a beckoning motion. Kiki allowed herself to be herded along by the older woman. Unlike her husband, there was no trace of silver in her vibrant bob, and her white linen trousers and lime-green T-shirt were fresh and crisp even this late in the afternoon. Kiki glanced down at the creases in her navy cotton skirt with a sigh. The hair Charlie had pulled free dangled past her cheek and she winced. If she wanted them to believe her capable, then she needed to start looking like it. Pulling the elasticated band free, she wound her hair back into a neat bun and secured it at the nape of her neck as she followed the others into the kitchen.

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