Marina looked around. Everyone was there tonight—her sisters and their husbands and all their children.
“Hello, everyone,” Ginger said, sitting with Oliver and spreading thick blankets over their legs. Oliver had a pair of thermoses.
Marina smiled at her grandmother; she looked happy tonight, surrounded by family. She and Oliver held hands and bent their heads together, speaking softly.
Jack followed her line of sight. “Look how sweet they are with each other. They’re like us—completely in love.”
“They are, aren’t they?”
Having been lucky enough to find love again herself, Marina could hardly begrudge Ginger a second chance. Oliver was a prince of a man whose manners and attitude were reminiscent of Bertrand. And he adored her just as much.
No wonder Ginger had fallen in love with him. Marina let out a sigh at the sudden thought.
Jack put his arm around her. “Are you okay?”
Marina whispered, “I’ve been thinking about Ginger and Oliver. I know what they’re considering. They’ve led brilliant, adventurous lives and are still in excellent health. If they want to start their life together elsewhere, we should send them off with our best wishes.” She must be prepared for the possibility.
“They would be deeply missed.” Jack took her hand and kissed it. “But no one can predict the future. Let’s just enjoy the holidays with them. This year will be one to remember.”
“They all are,” Marina said.
Just then, the lights flickered, indicating the show was about to begin.
12
Marina wrapped her jacket tighter around her shoulders as an ocean breeze swept through the venue. The aroma of hot cocoa and the sound of lively conversations filled the air.
All around her, the faces of her loved ones glowed in the light of thousands of twinkling bulbs. She tipped her head back, taking in the stars flickering above them.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Jack squeezed Marina’s hand, and she leaned into familiar warmth.
Soon, the stage lights illuminated the stage, and the audience applauded. A thrill of anticipation filled Marina.
The decorations were breathtaking—crystalline snowflakes suspended in mid-air, garlands of silver and gold draped elegantly across set pieces, and at stage right, an enormous Christmas tree decorated entirely in coastal themes: starfish, shells, and glass orbs in the colors of the sea.
Marina knew Kai had overseen the set design. She tapped her sister. “Everything looks gorgeous.”
“Wait until you hear them,” Kai replied.
They didn’t have to wait long for the choir members to file onto the stage. The women wore floor-length, cranberry-red dresses, and the men sported matching bow ties with black suits.
The conductor strode onto the stage to thundering applause.
“Welcome to the Shell,” the conductor said. “We hope you enjoy yourselves this evening as our award-winning Coastal Community Choir performs A Very Choral Christmas for you. Let’s also honor one of our most beloved benefactors, Ginger Delavie.”
Ginger looked pleasantly surprised, yet she stood and turned to wave as applause swept across the venue. “Thank you very much.”
“I had no idea,” Marina said to her sisters.
“None of us did,” Brooke said. “But that’s our grandmother.”
As the choir launched into its opening medley, Marina let the familiar holiday music with a beach twist wash over her, lifting her spirits.
She smiled at the opening notes of “Deck the Palms,” which swapped holly and ivy for seashells and starfish in the lyrics. The audience clapped along with “Jingle Shells,” and seashell tambourines echoed through the night.
Everyone cheered at “I’m Dreaming of a Sunny Christmas.” Their celebrations by the beach might not include snow or sleigh rides, but they still had love, family, and sunshine.
When soloist Allyson Chang stepped forward for her “Silent Night” solo, her crystal-clear soprano soaring into the sky, emotion overcame Marina. Tears pricked the corners of her eyes.
