"Are you girls going to the Forsythe's bonfire or somewhere else?" Jack asks Aimee that is sitting down for breakfast. 

"Wherever Josie has planned I guess." she shrugs, "Where are you going?" Aimee enquires while eating a bowl of fresh-cut fruit.

"I always spend the evening with Charlie and Matt. Josie usually also comes if she doesn't have something else up her sleeve." He pointedly looks at his distracted daughter that is FaceTiming Tessa on the balcony. "She really likes this friend of yours, huh?"

Aimee looks at the smitten look on Josie's face. "Pretty much." Jack takes a seat at the dinner table and stares at his hands, lost in thought. "Are you ok?"

"You know what was my biggest mistake in life? Not supporting your father when he came out. Our father, your grandfather, was a conservative man. He had a very clear set of ideas on what was the role of a man in society, and when your father came back from London, with another man by his side, it didn't go well. Our mother was gone by then and I should have stood by my only brother. Instead, I lost him, and you guys all these years." 

He looks at Josie that is laughing at something that Tessa said. "I'm not going to lose her too. If this girl makes her happy, then this makes me happy." 

Aimee gets up and embraces her uncle.

"And, I will make it right for you and your brother too."

She places a gentle kiss on his temple. "You already have."

Jack pats Aimee gently on her arm and steals another glance at Josie. "I'm on my way to their place. I always take over the barbie. Great people, shitty cooks."

Aimee chuckles at the remark, "I'll check where Josie wants to go." Aimee says while sitting back down. 

"What about Callum? Are you meeting him?"

Aimee plays with the fork in the bowl. "I don't know. Maybe."

"He told me he will be at the Forsyth's with Ana, so maybe you girls can make an appearance. It's your last night here and I think everyone would be more than happy to spend some time with you." 

Aimee nods and stares at the imperfectly cut strawberry poking from the fork. 

"So, I'll see you guys later?" Jack probes further. 

"Where are we going?" Josie asks while walking back inside the kitchen area and closing the sliding door behind her, with the iPad still in her hands and a happy smile all over her face.

"To the Forsythe's for bonfire night," Jack responds and gives her a kiss on her temple. 

Josie glances at Aimee, "I have some friends by the lighthouse that have a party there."

"So, go there but then came back around to Charlie's and Eva's. Everyone wants to see Aimee one more time before she leaves tomorrow." 

Josie glances again at her cousin that still has her head hanging low. "Ermmm... I guess?" she says hesitantly. 

"Great!" Jack takes his car keys and walks out of the kitchen. 

Josie sits down in front of her cousin in silence, observing her. Aimee finally lifts her eyes and reveals tears streaming down her face. Josie's face contorts, "Callum?" 

Aimee shrugs her shoulders in response. 

"Liam?" 

Aimee spins the fork around itself in silent contemplation. 

"So, both." Josie answers for her. "Yeah, that sucks but maybe this is the opportunity for you to clear the air with your brother, and make up your mind."

Aimee lifts her eyes and stares at her cousin in a puzzled frown. "Make up my mind about what?"

"If you should stay or you should go." 

 "I'm going."

Josie hums half-heartedly, "We will see" she gets up. "Come on. Let's get ready."

Aimee looks at her attire. "I'm ready."

Josie takes her hand. "No, you are not." and drags her to their room. "That is not the outfit you are wearing to confront all your fears."

Aimee is pulled inside the bedroom. "All my fears?" Once inside the room, Josie digs through her closet for clothes. "No need to take your clothes. You can wear something mine." Josie throws on top of Aimee's bed one pair of jean shorts, a white tank top and one of her flannel shirts. "Try this." 

Aimee goes to the bathroom and changes her clothes. Her heart does somersaults at the thought of seeing Liam. 

"Have you collapsed in there or what?" 

Aimee opens the door and reveals her new look.

"Now, that is what I'm talking about. Let's show him what he's missing."

The ride to the Forsythes' was silent, only interrupted with Josie's humming of the songs playing on the radio. The usually darkened path towards the grand house is illuminated by tiki torches. Josie decelerates slowly and stops just before the turn to the white mansion. 

"What happened? Aimee asks her cousin. 

Josie sighs, "Are you sure you want to go there?"

Aimee slumps in her seat. "Sure? No. But, everyone is counting on me showing up so I'll get it over with now." 

"Ok then." Josie presses the accelerator pedal and continues the drive up to the house. "You still have time to change your mind. I can always turn the car around." 

Josie makes the turn to the illuminated house and immediately they see Eva that stands talking with another woman around the same age. Eva notices the car and immediately waves at them. 

"Or not." Josie looks at her cousin that gives a small wave in return. 

They both exit the car and Eva immediately approaches them both and gives each a small hug. "You both look beautiful." she stares at Aimee. "Your hair looks so gorgeous tonight." 

Aimee offers her a small smile, "Thanks, Eva." 

"Make your way down to the beach. Everyone is already there but we still have some guests arriving, and I'll catch you later, yes?" she directs the question at Aimee that nods silently. 

Josie and Aimee make their way to the beach with torches illuminating their path. Through a narrow path with wooden planks that leads to the vast ocean, the two girls merge with the other guests that make their way to the grand affair. 

"I don't think I can do this." Aimee puts her hand on her stomach feeling queasy with nervousness. 

Josie stops her cousin and allows guests to pass them by before talking. "You can do this." 

Aimee closes her eyes and takes deep breaths.

"You really love him, don't you?" 

Aimee opens her eyes, "Yes." she blurts. 

"What about Scott?"

Aimee looks up to the starlit sky. "Scott makes me laugh. He is an easy companion to be with."

"But?" Josie pushes gently her elbow. "Say it."

"I don't feel for him what I feel for Liam." Aimee sighs. "But, you told me yourself, Liam is complicated."

"Yeah, I know I have." Josie puts her hands in her pockets with her eyes displaying an internal struggle of her own conscience. "He's complicated. His life is a mess. But, he does care for you." 

Aimee lifts her eyes from the sky and to Josie. "What do you mean?"

"Let's just say that the gig at the Northern. He set it up for you." 

Aimee's eyes widen, "What?"

"I found out by accident and I'm only telling you this because I think you need to know. I'm not endorsing you and him, FYI." 

A few more people come down the stairs, including Eva. "What are you two still doing here?"

"On our way down," Josie responds. 

Eva loops her arm around Aimee's. 

The three women make their way down. Once on the beach, there is a fire pit that illuminates the beach, along with a bar, and a barbecue spot where Aimee immediately spots Jack, with a beer bottle in his hand chatting with Charlie, and the ocean as a backdrop.

Author's Note:

Photo by Chuttersnap on Unsplash