By the following morning, it was time to say goodbye and for everyone to return to the city.

The beach house, once alive with music, chatter, and laughter, now rested in solemn silence, its walls holding on to memories of the night before.

Suitcases rumbled softly against the sandy driveway, mingling with the whisper of the waves, as embraces stretched a little longer than usual.

Blaze guided Amelia gently toward their private jet, his hand steady on her arm and his smile filled with affection.

Maria trailed quietly behind the couple with baby Noel cradled in her arms, his innocent sleeping face a tender reminder of new beginnings.

Gregory came next, his stride calm yet thoughtful, with Hilary and his family walking up close, chatting happily, while Henry busied himself ensuring every suitcase found its place inside the plane.

Soon, each family and friend was settled into their respective aircraft in readiness to leave.

With one last lingering look at the enchanting island–the haven that had held their laughter and their hearts for weeks– they raised their hands in a final goodbye, before the engines roared to life and lifted them back toward reality.

******

Following the Christmas and New Year celebration without the love and warmth of family or even friends, Harriet went about her monotonous routine for the day.

Her movement was very slow and her eyes were dim, like someone who had seen too much of life and lost the will to fight.

With her children far away, spending the holidays with her maternal relatives, she prepared for her biweekly visit to the state maximum prison.

She had been faithfully visiting Desmond in prison, not because she loved him anymore or had genuinely forgiven him.

Rather, she was doing all of this for her children and in the hopes that Amelia would one day forgive her and accept her as family.

Harriet was busy packing Desmond's food into his lunch bag when her solitary life was interrupted by the sound of someone knocking on her front door.

She lifted her gaze, a frown etched on her forehead as she wondered who cared enough to remember her on a cold Wednesday morning.

The knock came again, jolting her out of her thoughts and forcing her to move towards the door.

"Who is it?" Came her weak and lifeless voice.

"It's Ferdinand, Harriet. Open up. I'm freezing out here." The slightly cracked voice of a man echoed from behind the door.

"Ferdinand?" Harriet peeped through the curtains as she tried to match the name with the list of people she knew.

"Yes...uncle Moses' son."

"Oh...that Ferdinand." A weak smile stretched across Harriet's pale lips as she slowly unlocked and opened the door.

The biting January cold air rushed in with a ferocious intensity as the averagely tall bearded man in a thick winter jacket hurried past her, murmuring a thank you.

"How is your father?" Harriet joined him in the sitting room after shutting the door behind her and cleaning the snowy mess on the floor.

"Worried sick about you." Ferdinand slowly took off his winter jacket and headed straight to the cackling fireplace, where the warmth coming from the fire felt like heaven.

"Why would Uncle Moses be worried about me?" Harriet went back to packing all the things she would need for her trip to the prison, completely ignoring the young man now staring at her.

"No one has heard from you, Harriet," Ferdinand said, watching her hands tremble as she busied herself.

"My wife tried calling you the other day but you refused to pick up. My father sent you and your children an invitation to join us for the festive celebration, but you never showed up. We sent you and the children a parcel but we never heard if you received it."

His gaze swept across the room, observing the deafening silence all around them. "Talking about your children, where are they?"

"With their aunt in Chioblin."

"Oh...okay. How have you been holding up?" Ferdinand offered himself a seat since she didn't think it necessary to do so.

"What do you expect?" Harriet finally lifted her sunken, tear-filled eyes up to him. "My cheating husband is serving thirty years' imprisonment. His evil brother, who used to be my support system, has finally been executed for his crime. I can't access Gregory because he is out of the country to be with his daughter."

Harriet paused briefly to catch her breath before continuing.

"My children are disappointed in me for being a weakling. My business has folded up because I couldn't maintain my clients, show up for work, or even pay my workers their salaries. My neighbours gossip about me, and my friends do not want to associate with me. Amelia had a child, and I wasn't invited to his christening. In a nutshell, I am doing just fine."

Ferdinand let out a sigh.

"Harriet..."

"Please..." Harriet raised her right hand in the air, silencing him. "Tell your father that I am doing well and I do not need any family member's sympathy. I am better off on my own. Desmond is my cross and my punishment for greed. Let me carry it with dignity to my grave." She resumed packing the last items for her trip.

"Are you aware that Amelia is back in the city with her son and everyone else?" Ferdinand asked after a few seconds of silence.

Harriet's hand froze midway, her widened eyes meeting Ferdinand's sympathetic gaze.

"She is?"

"Yes. They've arrived since two days ago and everyone has been going to pay them a courtesy visit."

"Really!" More tears streamed down Harriet's pale face.

"Yes. My father and I were at her husband's house yesterday. We were welcomed with open arms by Amelia and her husband I need lots of food and drink. My wife was even allowed to carry the baby, who, by the way, looks so adorable. Father was surprised that you hadn't come around to visit irrespective of the past. To be more precise, he was disappointed, knowing you are in the wrong."

"That's because I wasn't aware." Harriet sank into the couch beside her, cupping her face with both hands as she wept bitterly. "I have been all by myself in here for weeks. I have not been communicating with anyone. No one cares about me. No one wants to see the wife of a murderer."

"Come on Harriet." Ferdinand stood up and walked up to her, perched on the couch armrest beside her. He placed his hand across her shoulder, his voice soothing as he spoke.

"You know too well that no one in the family blames you for your husband's wrongdoing. Rather, you're the one who has been avoiding everyone like a plague. People will talk but that shouldn't stop you from living. You've been keeping to yourself ever since Nana's burial, refusing to reconnect with the rest of the family. This is not nice and you know it."

"That's because Amelia said she would never forgive me. She told me I wasn't welcome at her father's house. How do you expect me to go where I'm not welcomed?" Harriet lamented between sobs.

"That was in the past." Ferdinand waved her excuse off. "The Amelia I saw yesterday is a whole new person. You know how motherhood changes people. You should visit her now before the crack deepens and the relationship turns sour."

Harriet nodded, lowering her head.

"If you want, I could ask your brother-in-law Gregory to accompany you," Ferdinand added.

"You'll do that for me?" Harriet lifted her teary gaze upwards.

"We are family, Harriet. Irrespective of our past mistakes, families stick together. We do things for one another."

"Thank you." Harriet clasped her hands together, her tears falling uncontrollably. "Thank you very much."

"You're welcome." Ferdinand smiled, wiping her flowing tears with the back of his hand. "I can see you're going somewhere." He noted eyeing her packed bag.

"Yes. Today is Desmond's visiting day. I was just preparing to leave."

"Would you like some company?"

"You would like to accompany me to visit him in prison?" Harriet raised a brow, her tone filled with incredulity.

"I don't see why. Except there is a law keeping me from visiting my cousin in prison. Moreover, I'm currently on leave and I don't have any important place to be at the moment."

"Thank you, Ferdinand." Harriet stood up and embraced him warmly. "God bless you real good."

"It's all right, Harriet." Ferdinand pulled away from the choking hug. "But before we leave, can I at least get a cup of hot coffee or cocoa?"

"Sure." Harriet smiled and hurried off to the kitchen while Ferdinand dialled his father's number to inform him of a change in his plans.