THE SOUND OF CHILDREN’S laughter echoed all the way along the private beach at the Hawkesbury estate making Lily smile. It reminded her of all the summers that had passed not only since Henry’s return, but before, when she, Victoria, Malie and Zoe – each of whom were here with their families – were just a little older than their own children were. It made her happy and hopeful for all the summers that were to come as she entwined her fingers with Henry’s, his hand never far from reach. Just as he’d promised all those years ago.

‘Thank you for doing this,’ he said, gazing into her eyes.

‘Thank you for thinking of it. It’s a beautiful thing to do and a wonderful way to honour her memory. We’ll take lots of pictures for Claudia’s family. I’m sorry they couldn’t be here,’ she said, resting her head on her husband’s arm.

‘They’re with Caroline – Claudia’s sister. They’re where they should be. As are we,’ he said, looking out at the four families gathered on the beach.

The others had gone ahead, giving Lily and Henry a little space on a day that was difficult for all of them, but that had become something beautiful as they came together to commemorate that night twenty years ago. Coming out from the tree line and onto the beach, Lily followed her husband’s gaze to see Todd and Ollie playing football with Koa and Kalani, Malie’s two irrepressible boys, and Victoria’s adopted daughter Isobel who was turning into more of a tomboy than Malie had ever been.

Instinctively scanning the beach, Lily found her son Jamie and daughter Rose, playing with Louis, the beautiful little boy Victoria and Ollie adopted a few years after Isobel. Her heart easing unconsciously just at the sight of them, Lily felt complete in a way that she could never have imagined.

‘I think you should stick to surfing,’ Malie called to her husband from the sprawling picnic blanket beneath a gazebo structure that Henry had made permanent in the year following Victoria and Oliver’s wedding.

Todd pulled up short, stopping the game, a look of such indignation on his features that everyone, even the children, couldn’t help but laugh. ‘Wash your mouth out right this minute, Mrs Masters!’ he said as he dribbled the ball between his sons, before Isobel came from the left and ran straight into him. Scooping her up in his arms, he fell dramatically to the ground where all the children piled in and Ollie creased up, bent almost double with laughter. Lily’s heart warmed to see Victoria capturing the entire event on her camera.

Lily led Henry towards the canopied gazebo where Zoe was sitting with Malie, who was nursing her gorgeous eight-month-old baby girl.