“No, she’s not eloping. I think they should get married here on the beach and do a big shindig across the pond later. If that’s what they want to do, I mean.Iwill wish on that damn lamp and I know I will get my way. Besides, this island is your home, we are your people, you’ve got to do it here.” Lacey hugged her and smiled.

“I think itsounds like a marvelous idea, and I have to talk to the hubby to see first, he may not like that. Hubby-to-be? What do you think? Can we get married here while we’re on vacation? It’s not a lot oftime to plan a wedding, but I’m up to the task.” Horst felt his eyes well up with tears and he let them fall without concern.

“My love, whatever makes you happy will make me happy. Belle,it’s a smashing idea, and it gets my vote. I’ll make the calls, orderthings, but yes, we’llget married here.” He kissed her on the cheek and she turned her face and pulled him close, locking her lips upon his. Kissing him deep, she only stopped when she realized that silence had descended upon the party. Laceylooked around at the smiling faces and turned red.

“What can I say, pregnant women have unrestrained hormones, sometimes I just need to lay a little love on my man.” She giggled as everyone raised their glass and toasted the happy couple. Philippe downed his Dr. Pepper with a grin and looked at Stella like a puppy begging for a biscuit. She motioned her head to the kitchen, and he sprinted in, the sound of the refrigerator door slamming made her smile.

Lacey glanced over at Stella and held out her arms, as Stella walked into them, collapsing in a blubbering heap. Her tears fell, dampening her shoulder and Lacey whispered in her ear.

“Can we walkand chat for afewminutes? I have something important to ask you.” Stella wiped the tears from her face and nodded.

“Yes, I’d like that. It’s been too long since I’ve been able to talk to youor hear your voice. These folks canhold down the fort, you deserve my undivided attention.” Stella led the way as Lacey glanced back to Horst, whonodded, then sat down and began talking to her friends.

The moon was high once more and Lacey inhaled the scent of the salty air. She felt her toes digging into the warm sand and exhaled. Stella reached out and grabbed her hand as they moved towards the water’s edge.

“Let’s head towards the caves. The light’sgood,and I can tell you have something on your chest. I’m delighted that you and Horst have hit it off so well, and a baby. Well, that’s just icing on the old cake, I’d say. I’ve missed you, girl, you don’t know how much. Every day since you’ve left,you and Philippe have been onmy mind.” Lacey listened to the soft lilt of her voice and squeezed her hand.

“I’ve missed you too, Stella. This whole thing feels like a dream to me. I thank the heavens for that lamp and how it brought Horst into our lives. Maybe it had something to do with saving me, although I wasn’t aware enough to ask it to. The baby was a surprise. She was conceivedon our first time together, the day you and Willie surprised us down at the beach. There’s been so many changes in my life and I’m happy to be back home. I love it over there, but there’s nothing like familiarity to soothe the soul.” Lacey stopped and gazed out over the water.

“Philippe is blossoming over there. He’s excelling at his schooling and it’s better for him to get a proper education that he can’t get here. I have to think ofmy boy. Angel will be fine with whatever we do, but with a new baby coming, I want the best in the world for my children. Wouldn’t you agree?” Stella held her breath and nodded, then gazed into Lacey’s eyes.

“When you gotshot and lay in the hospital, I was afraid I would lose you. I prayed a thousand words asking for anyone to save you, to heal you and bring you back to me. It broke my heart to know you could have died. It still bothers me that there’s someone out there who wanted to do one of us harm. I’d take a bullet for you any day of my life Lacey, it would be the least I could do.” Lacey shook her head and smiled.

“That’s what I figured. I’ddo the same formy children. It’s important to me to be around to watch them grow into themselves, to become their own person. I could never live not seeingmy children grow. That’s part of what brought us back down here. I had a strange dream a few weeks ago, it has been gnawing at me. Another wish for the lamphasn’t come true yet, and I can’t bearnotasking the question. Stella…Are You My Mother?”

To be Continued….

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