The new garden gates that opened onto the lower track heading to the Islands stood open, and the sea breeze gently swayed through the trees as Sage watched the smiling Island people bringing their wares to their market day.

"Sage," Maddy called, "this was a brilliant idea for engaging the townspeople and the Islanders over a market day."

"We have to start somewhere," Sage smiled. "It has been a year, and hopefully, healing for both sets of people has started."

"How did you get the idea?" Maddy asked.

"Charlotte told me of times when the island people of the day and the towns folk had market days and bartered, bought and sold," Sage said, chuckling as Maddy looked around, "yes, she is still here, but she is in the basement at the moment."

"Oh my," Maddy whispered, "that must be a lot of memories for her."

Sage nodded, "Yes, and in a lot of pain, she asked her children to come with her," Sage said, sighing. "They refused."

"Oh man, that must have hurt," Maddy whispered, "I'm surprised they didn't sell her out."

"I think learning what their uncle wanted for their mother may have changed their thoughts on being on his side," Sage murmured, "but I'm grateful she is still here."

"When do you think she will leave?" Maddy asked.

"When she is ready," Sage said, waving at a young Island woman carrying two large baskets brimming with fruit, "oh, I think she may need help ... never mind."

"Why never mind?" Maddy asked, following Sage's gaze and chuckling. "Who knew? We all thought Thomas didn't like anyone."

"It's amazing what inclusion can do," Sage said, watching the young couple chat happily as Thomas carried the baskets to her market table, "there was a time I was worried they would have issues, but I forgot about the shared experiences even though they all come from different walks of life."

"Where are Stuart, Alistair and my dad?" Maddy asked, looking around.

"In the harbour," Sage smiled, pointing at the three rowboats in the middle of the harbour.

"It seems incredible that we had a harbour all along," Maddy chuckled, "we all thought it was just a deep piece of ocean."

Sage waved at the appearance of a person coming up from the beach. The large floppy hat and loose Summer clothes fluttered in the wind.

"Oh, she's calling me," Sage said, glancing at Maddy. "Did you need anything else?"

"No, go," Maddy said, smiling, "have fun."

"You know something I don't?" Sage asked, stopping on the stairs and giving Maddy a searching look.

Maddy shook her head, remaining silent. Sage gave her a narrowed look before she ran across the lawn to Rosemary, looking at something at a market stall. Sudden, intense emotion clogged her throat as memories of chatting with her mother drifted through her thoughts and heart.

A chilled breeze fluttered from the house, brushing into Maddy, and Charlotte's voice drifted through her mind.

"You still haven't told her," Charlotte whispered.

"No, I haven't, but how do you tell someone who thinks she received everything that not everything is hers?"

"By showing her this," Charlotte whispered, as an ancient piece of paper drifted onto the wide wooden railing, "you make peace with your past and future."

"How long are you staying?" Maddy asked, picking up the ancient parchment.

"As long as I'm needed," Charlotte whispered, "as long as you both need me. You keep asking, and you get the same answer. No. Sage doesn't ask; she understands more than she says or sees. She will be there for you and your father regardless of your decision."

You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.

The breeze brushed past, leaving Maddy with the parchment fluttering in her hand. Tears pricked her eyes as she read Charlotte Cooper Channing's last will and testament, the last of the white druids. She did need to tell Sage about what Charlotte had brought her, but now may not be the time.

"What've you got there?" Sage asked, running up the stairs and looking over Maddy's shoulder as she folded the paper. "Hold on ..." Sage whispered, reaching around Maddy, taking the paper and carefully opening it, "...where did you get this?"

"Charlotte just gave it to me," Maddy whispered, feeling panic rip through her. "I was going to tell you, but I wanted today to be different ... you know ... without any drama."

"Why do you think there will be drama?" Sage asked, her eyes running over the parchment, "That's why Charlotte had me unpack everything, huh ... she was looking for something no one knew about."

"Her last will and testament," Maddy said, frowning, "I didn't know they even made those back then."

"The wording isn't like we have it today, but it's along those lines," Sage said, "let's have a glass of wine, Maddy."

"Wine? Now?" Maddy checked the time on her watch, "It's ten in the morning ... are you okay?"

"Yes, but when a ghost gives you her Will made out centuries ago and has your name in it, does it matter what time of day you drink wine?"

Maddy shook her head. "When you put it like that ... I have to agree with you," she linked her arm through Sage's, asking as they ambled along the veranda, "Red or white?"

"Let's start with a bottle of white and a cheese board," Sage said, "we can talk about this," she lifted the parchment with her words, "If we're still battling with our new reality after that, we'll go onto red."

Maddy stopped, staring at Sage before laughing hard. They continued strolling the short distance before entering the kitchen from the garden door.

Rosemary watched them enter the house arm in arm, so Charlotte did what she said she would: "You found your will and gave it to them. Good for you."

"Where are they?" Matthew asked, his eyes twinkling.

Rosemary swung around, "Are you back from fishing?"

The pair looked at the boats in the bay, "No and yes," he said, "I swum ashore with something that they may like to know isn't lost."

"Wait, don't tell me you found all those coins Maddy used to toss into the water as a child?" Rosemary asked.

"No, those are probably fish food or the bottom of the bay," Matthew said, "look at this." Opening his hand, Rosemary gasped, "Right... no one ever thought they would see it again."

"That was ..." Rosemary cleared her throat, "that was your wife's..." she sighed, shaking her head.

"Now I can give it to Maddy," he said, "what is it now?"

"I think you should consult with Charlotte before you decide what you're going to do with it," Rosemary said, pointing at the wisp of white under the large tree, "that was originally hers."

Matthew sighed, "Fine if you insist."

Rosemary grinned as she watched him walk toward the tree and sit on the bench. If anyone who didn't live here saw him, they would think he was speaking to himself or a wisp of white air.

"Hey, wait for me," Stuart called from the beach, drawing Rosemary's attention to Alistair and Stuart racing up the beach toward the stairs, holding four large fish between them.

She chuckled as they battled for position until they burst into the garden and screeched to a halt a few feet from her, spraying her with water droplets.

"Nice fish," Rosemary smiled, pointing at their hands.

"Thanks," Alistair smiled, "it was a good swim back to shore."

"Where are Maddy and Sage?" Stuart asked, looking around.

"In the kitchen," Rosemary said, smiling.

"That doesn't sound like a good thing," Stuart said, "what are they doing there?"

"If I know them ... drinking wine," Rosemary said, chuckling.

"It's too early for that," Alistair said.

"Not when a ghost gives you her original Will," Rosemary said, grinning at the stunned looks on their faces.

"I'll be surprised if they're sipping it," Alistair said, "why are you grinning?"

"Charlotte showed me the will," Rosemary said. "She had already named them benefactors ... all that time ago."

"Yeah, chugging that wine," Stuart said, "we'd better make sure they are fed properly."

"Good idea," Alistair said, nodding, "and grab a glass before it's all gone."

"Oh, don't worry, I have a barrel of our island ale," Stuart said, smiling.

"Even better," Alistair said, grinning and waving at Rosemary as they strode through the market-goers toward the house.

Looking at the life in this place, the happiness, the joy, the love and the inclusion of everyone, Rosemary smiled, looking over to the bench where Matthew was showing Charlotte what he had found.

"Life is as it should be," she whispered as she moved to another table, taking in the grounds. "This is what Charlotte and her husband wanted from the start. It may be a late accomplishment, but it is as they wished. Charlotte ..." she felt a ghostly gaze on her, "... you did it, and I'm proud to be part of it all."