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Back The House by the Sea Save as PDF
Chapters (71)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. 1
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  68. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
  69. MORE FROM LOUISE DOUGLAS
  70. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
  71. ABOUT BOLDWOOD BOOKS

And now the Madonna is back from the restorer, and it looks as vibrant as it must have looked the day it was painted. We’re going to send it to auction. It will provide us with the money we need to pay our debts and to set ourselves up. I hope it goes to a good home, somewhere where it will be displayed, where everyone who wants to see it will have the opportunity to do so. We don’t need it any more.

Now, Gina’s portrait of Anna hangs in the alcove in the hallway of the villa, which we’ve renamed Villa Anna. Valentina, Francesco, and baby Mia, live in the restored cottage where the Ganzarias used to live, and the stable block restaurant belongs to them too. We are family; we eat together most days, we share our joys and our problems. It’s wonderful to have them so close.

Joe lays the painting down carefully on the table. He pulls his chair closer to mine and sits beside me to drink his coffee. His left arm bridging the small space between us.

We will never regain what we have lost, but we have accepted that the losing was not the end we thought it was.

There are hours and days and years ahead of us still, and we’re going to fill them and make the most of them. Daniel will be with us, every single moment he’ll be here, running beside us. I feel him now, close by, beloved. We love him as we’ve always loved him and always will. He is not lost. He never was.

Joe and I are looking forward, in every sense, to everything that life brings to us. We know that happiness is ours; all we have to do is choose to take it.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Thank you to everyone who’s been involved in bringing this book into the world. I’m more grateful than I can say to Marianne, to Alison and also to Vicki and Pat, all of whom have been so patient and supportive. I’m thrilled to have joined Boldwood Books and to be working with such a talented, enthusiastic and friendly team, especially Sarah, who’s done so much to shape the book. Many thanks also to Jade and Rose for their insight and Becky who designed the beautiful cover, but also sincere and heartfelt thanks to everyone in the wider team.

Thank you also to everyone who supports me and my books in real life and social media, family, friends, booksellers, bloggers, libraries and readers you are the best and I really do appreciate you.

MORE FROM LOUISE DOUGLAS

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If you’d like to gift a copy, this book is also available as a paperback, digital audio download and audiobook CD.