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

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.