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𝑇𝑊𝐸𝑁𝑇𝑌 𝑇𝐻𝑅𝐸𝐸

The pillow under her head was the comfiest she'd ever lay on. It was only every other day that Josephine would let her sleep in her room, on the nights that were too cold to be alone or on mornings when they'd have to be up early to meet Will down by the markets. But Anna savoured those short nights- she lived the warmth, the company of her best friend and the little chats that would keep them up for hours. The softness of the mattress was just an added bonus.

Anna sighed, her head feeling heavier against the bed than when she'd first went to lay down. But then she remembered the day she was dreaming about and the day that would follow it. It was then that Josephine's presence became obvious beside her too, her bushy hair tickling her cheek.

"What will you do?" The older girl asked, turning over beneath the blanket to look at her.

"When?" Anna asked, only to be shushed when her voice was too loud.

"When you find your family," Josephine whispered. "What's the first thing you'll want to do with them?"

Anna swallowed, staring up at the cracks on the ceiling. "I don't know," she said. "I've never thought about it."

"You must have!"

Anna shook her head. "Never."

"Think of something now then."

She paused, breathing out. "I'd ask them to take me to the beach. I want to have another memory of one of my favourite places with them, just like the one I have with you an Will."

Josephine's hand squeezed Anna's. "I think they'd love it. Birmingham is just like here. It's probably be rare they ever get to go to the beach."

"It's a shame," Anna whispered, rolling over to face her friend. "I love the beach more than anywhere in the world."

Josephine smiled, squeezing her hand again.

"Then let's make it happen."

"Tomorrow."

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The image of last nights dream filled Anna's head. It made her heart ache both with happiness and a wrongful longing. She missed Josephine longingly but... it had come true. Her want from that day had happened.

The sand was cold beneath her feet- nothing like the trickling, golden sands of Australia's shores. And the waves were loud as they crashed against the beach, a loud roar as the water's darkness brushed against her toes, sending shivers up her bare legs. The wind was passionate too, whipping at the tails of her powder blue dress, sewn new by her mother from an old set of curtains from a baby's room.

It took them almost two hours to reach the beach by car, which in itself was a short amount of time given the anticipation that bubbled her with excitement. Even Michael was more joyful than usual, laughing along with their mum as if family business had been left at home in Small Heath. July brought them the best that English weather could give: a pale sun, white clouds and a gentle breeze.

"Isn't this amazing!" Polly exclaimed after Anna had made the small walk from the water's edge to the small blanket that her mother had laid out for them beneath the dunes. "How long it's been since I'd been to the beach! Though I suppose it's nothing to the golden shores of Australia."

Anna fell to the blanket giddily, laying backward as she bathed in the warm sun. In a way this was better than Australia. While she'd been surrounded by new friends there, and the weather was warm enough to detest even a skirt and thin blouse, here Anna had her family. Which was better than anything she could ever ask for.

"No this is great. Australia was beautiful. But this..." she paused, thinking of a word that could even describe what she thought. "It's different. In a breathtaking way."

Michael smiled. "But have you ever seen London."

Polly rolled her eyes. Anna laughed and shook her head. London was never somewhere she'd thought about. Not after she'd sailed her way to Australia and seen the beautiful city there. Something about the idea of smog and ride crowds was off putting, and rightly so.

"Now that's something exciting," he said.

"But it's a plain old city. How could that ever beat the seaside?"

"Easy," Michael said, eyeing his sister, as if trying to get at another meaning. "Wouldn't you love to go? Even just for a day?"

Anna nodded eagerly. "I'd love to."

"You'll not catch me anywhere near then damned place," Polly broke out with a snap, dark eyes glaring at nothing in particular. "I hate it."

"That's fine though, mum," Michael said. "I could take Anna for the day. I can drive and show her around. She'll love it. It'll give you time to do that thing you've been planning."

Polly's eyes widened as she glanced to her daughter. "Oh yes," she exclaimed. "Well, I suppose it's not a terrible idea. But wait until closer to November. It's terribly busy in the summer."

"But it's only July, mum!" Michael complained, head tilting back in annoyance.

"November. That's my condition," she said.

"Fine. That's great," Michael said shortly, before turning to his sister. "You'll love it."

After a lunch of cucumber sandwiches and tea, the clouds disappeared into nothing, revealing a bright sun and warm sky. The sand was hot under their feet, the cold sea now a pleasure rather than something they avoided. And still, not a single face had showed themselves over the dunes or at the bottom of the path that had lead the trio there.

The siblings brought a small ball toward the bottom of the beach, toying dangerously at the waters edge as they kicked a ball about, laughing as someone tripped or missed the ball. It reminded her sweetly of the day she'd met Elliot, when she'd gotten a ball to the head.

"What's in London?" Anna shouted when they were far enough away from Polly.

Michael shrugged, kicking the ball back over. "Work."

"And?" She pressed, chuckling to herself as she saw him roll his eyes.

He sighed. "I think you should meet Tommy."

Anna paused, letting the ball roll to a stop at her feet. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah. Yes," he said. "He's family. He's important."

"I gathered," Anna murmured. "But what about mum? It's break her if she knew we went behind her back."

"But she won't know. And this is about you, Anna. This is our family," Michael pressed, walking forward to pick the ball up in his hands. "You want to know your family. There's more than just me and mum. We have cousins. They were as good as brothers no more than a year ago. And we will be like that again. If you'd help."

"How could I help?"

"Family meant the world to them. If you showed up, they'd be eager to welcome you. I just know. Besides, Tommy has a plan. He always does. And he needs to know you," he said. "So?"

Anna nodded hesitantly. "Okay. I'll do it. But mum can't know. Not yet."

"Not yet. I promise," Michael said, nudging her arm.

Polly shouted them over, startling Anna. It was almost as if she'd heard them and times it. The two ran over, sand kicking out from beneath them. But for the rest of the day, as they walked across the vast stretch of untouched sand, all Anna could think about was the family she hadn't met, and the formidable man she would encounter very soon.

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