Sea Glass (WAYHAUGHT)

Six Months Later...

A sea of white twirled and swirled outside the bedroom window. It rarely snowed in these parts. When it did snow it rarely settled, the salty air not conducive to creating a winter wonderland scene. This year would be magical.

Warm and cosy, Waverly wished she didn't have to get up. Right here was where she wanted to stay, tucked up beside one smoking hot redhead. If someone had suggested a year ago this would be her reality, she would have asked what they were smoking. Yet, here she was, her life turned a full one-eighty.

Christmas day the previous year, she had awoken alone in bed, the rain lashing her parents' house, the wind toying with the boats moored in the harbour. Despite the foul weather, she had braved a visit to Willa's beach to wish her sister a merry Christmas. With little in the way of good news, she had spent the entire time repeating the long list of all she considered to be wrong with her life. How much it sucked, how Wyn had everything going for her, how she was essentially the Cinderella of the family, with a similarly non-existent love life. Not even the hint of a fairy godmother, to magically whisk her away to some fancy ball.

Willa's advice had been succinct as ever. "Fisshhh..."

That was it. Not exactly helpful, the meaning of her sister's one wise word entirely lost on her. Surely she wasn't suggesting she seriously consider Champ as a catch, simply because he hauled fish for a living. Or begin eating them. Both were a no. Had she known then what she knew now, she would have thanked her sister. Hugged her if she could.

She kissed Nicole's bare shoulder. "I need to make a start downstairs."

"What time is it?" Nicole said, in that oh-so-adorable husky voice of hers.

"Seven-ish."

Nicole rolled over, beautiful brown eyes still shuttered. "Want help?"

"You rest," she replied, leaning in to press her own lips against Nicole's.

"I don't mind."

Waverly readied herself for the dash to the bathroom. "What time is your aunt arriving?"

"Eleven. I told her to park next to Fifi. Mac knows she's coming. Cost me ten pounds, cash in hand."

Waverly booped her nose. "We pay ten, Emmets pay a big fine. That's how it works." Her finger traced a path over Nicole's lips to her collarbone. "She'll get to see what we've done with the place. Shame she won't be able to see the new house."

"She will," Nicole replied through a yawn. "Once we're in."

With one parting kiss Waverly abandoned the sanctuary of their shared bed. She donned Nicole's hoodie, wishing she had placed it on the one, barely hot-to-the-touch radiator in the bedroom. Steaming water compensated for their Tog 15 duvet, her mind running over plans for the rest of the day, tutting at having forgotten to defrost the prawns. That would be a job for Nicole.

The smell of fresh paint greeted her as she descended the stairs. Renovations to the pub were ongoing, although the bulk of the work was essentially done. A professional kitchen installed, new furniture in the dining area nodded at coastal charm, with a wink to quirky sophistication. Nicole's menu was already a success, their vegan range having won an award since re-opening late autumn.

After much discussion, they settled on a new name: Sally's by the Sea. Wynonna had thought it particularly apt. Currently holidaying in Australia she promised to call, Waverly counting down the minutes until her phone rang.

"Happy Christmas! Alice wants to say hello."

She heard Alice's over-excited voice. "I got a new baby."