The blankness faded as Ben stared down at the box, thinking through what they’d done. His gaze lifted, meeting hers. Beside him, Benjy stood watchful. Lily had explained to Benjy who Bethany was. Kira’s death had made Benjy more mature than his years. He knew enough now to be silent, and he knew this moment was important. He held Ben’s hand and Lily thought that this was right. Ben was holding his son as he thought about a little sister he’d loved a long time ago yet had never said farewell to.
‘I love you,’ Ben whispered.
‘I know,’ Lily replied, trying to hold back tears. ‘But Bethany was your first love. Benjy and I would like to be with you while you say goodbye, but if you don’t want us…’
‘Of course I want you.’ He tugged Benjy closer and hugged him. ‘You know that. You know how much.’
She did. The world settled a little. This was the right thing to do, Lily thought, feeling a sense of peace and absolution sweep over her.
She held out the box to him, then gestured to Benjy. Benjy came to her as Ben took his sister’s ashes in both his hands.
‘If you want to do it here, now, the pastor is waiting,’ Lily told him. ‘And Rosa and Doug are just through the trees. They loved Bethany, too. They’d also like the chance to say goodbye.’
‘Yes,’ he said softly, and then more firmly, ‘Yes. This is a good time to do this. The best.’
So this memorial service became the memorial service for one other. The pastor came forward quietly and said a prayer and a blessing, and Ben opened the box and scattered his sister’s ashes over the wildflowers of the churchyard; over the graves of those who had gone before; over the calm and lovely headland of this, their island home.
And when it was over, they turned and walked together, Ben and Lily, with Benjy walking behind between Rosa and Doug. A family going home.
‘It was the best thing,’ Ben told her, holding her close. ‘To let me say goodbye…’
‘It’s a lovely name, Bethany,’ Lily whispered. Her hand was warm in his, secure, loved. ‘Do you think we should consider using it again?’
‘For…’
‘For a new little life,’ she whispered, and she smiled and held his hand tighter. ‘Today we’ve said goodbye to some of our family, my darling Ben, but in a seven months’ time…time to say hello.’
That night, in the waves around Kapua, the tiny phosphorescent creatures came again.
The lights went on in their sea.
Miracles happened.
Marion Lennox
