“What will they think of the ice?” Liam asked.

“It won't matter,” Rose said. “We'll tell them to wear warm clothes!”

“The ice can be the most beautiful part,” Lily said, holding Liam's hand and gazing into his blue eyes. She thought of that old photo, of the whaling ship covered in ice, its spars and rigging black and glistening under layers of silver, the fjord's cliffs rising majestically behind, faced with ice and snow.

That was Lily's landscape now. She had traveled north to find ice and snow, the aurora borealis, white whales, and more warmth than she had ever dreamed possible. She had had her daughter there, and she had met her true love—the great-great-grandson of that dark ship's captain; just when she thought her winters would last forever, she had met Liam Neill.

Seasons change, she thought. And roses bloom all year round, somewhere in the world. Her Christmas wedding would be full of roses, regardless of the fact that it would take place in Cape Hawk. She'd order them from somewhere warm, where the sun was always shining. Her friends and family would gather round, on the shortest day of the year, and they would celebrate Lily and Liam's wedding.

As they walked through the crowd, Lily and Rose reached into the basket and gave each person an invitation. Tara tore hers open right away.

“December twenty-first,” she cried. “The winter solstice!”

“My new life with Rose began on the summer solstice, the longest day of the year,” Lily said. “So we thought we would bring some light to the shortest day . . .”

“In Cape Hawk,” Bay added.

“We want you all to be there,” Lily said. “Please say you'll come. We'll rent a bus, a motorcoach, do whatever it takes to get you there . . .”

“We'll be there if we have to swim,” Tara promised.

“Marisa and Sam, will you please play at the wedding?” Lily said, smiling at her friends.

“Fallen Angels?” Liam asked.

“The Flying Angels,” Sam said, with her arm around her sister. “My niece gave us a new name.”

“I like it better,” Jessica said.

“Names are important,” Rose said.

Liam nodded, and Lily leaned her head against his shoulder. Around them, the moonlight sparkled on mica, ledge, and sea.

The waves were gentle now. They beat in rhythm against the rocks, the force of life that bound everyone together, the salt of blood and hearts and sea. Ghost Hills were gone; time and tide swept north to Cape Hawk.

Lily felt Rose's hand slip into hers. She tugged, and Lily and Liam bent down to pick her up. A breeze whispered, and so did Rose.

Lily watched her press her lips to Liam's ear. Overhead, seagulls flew, their cries sounding for all the world like expressions of love, of joy. She couldn't hear her daughter's words, but from Liam's smile, she thought maybe Rose had just called him by the name she had dreamed of calling him for so long.

“Daddy . . .”