Chapter 29

The evening had a lazy, languorous quality to it. The light didn't seem to be real, it was soft and indistinct. The sky was the strange muted colour that came when the day had been as sunny and hot as today and it didn't want to give in to the night.

Everyone was still sitting on the chairs outside, some with their faces up to the retreating sun, catching the last of its rays before they lost their strength. For the last five minutes, no one had spoken. They had been talking non-stop as the champagne flowed earlier - but now it was as if the evening had cast its magic spell over them. A glass was lifted occasionally but in general, there was no movement.

Only the taller stalks of the wildflowers caught the breath of the breeze and moved ethereally as if caught in the same spell. The blooms were being caressed by the glimmer of the evening sun as it played down on them and the trees next to the stone boundary wall showed a golden glow, displaying it proudly to all the garden's residents.

Flora could see Pookey wood beyond the meadow. It was mostly now in silhouette but with the very tops catching the sun. She could see the rowan tree planted for her mother and her thoughts went back to an hour ago when she had taken her father up to see it. He had been offered the chance years ago but wouldn't take it. He thought it might have been where she had died until Flora explained it was just her ashes and a memorial tree. Then he allowed her to show him.

*

‘Just wait there a moment.'

He smiled at her as they walked slowly up the narrow, central grass path between the flowers, watching the bees flit between the blooms. He reached for a multi-purpose pen knife in an inner pocket. She laughed.

‘I bet you were a boy scout.'

‘I was - but you wouldn't believe how handy these have been in my work. And now, with your permission?'

‘Of course' she smiled.

He moved amongst the wildflowers, picking the brightest and most beautiful, as Matty had been to him. Then he followed their daughter up to the wood. He knew even before Flora told him, that this was the tree. The rowan for protection watching over what would have been her cottage. She would be so pleased it had passed to her daughter. Flora….they had discussed the name. She had been sure it was a girl and of course, she had been right.

He walked forward. He could see that there was twine wrapped loosely around the tree and suspected that Flora had been doing exactly the same as him. He reached out and put the bunch of flowers inside the twine. A fitting tribute from some where she had loved and from some one she loved.

‘I'll leave you alone for a while' said Flora.

‘Perhaps later but for now I think she would like to feel we are together, saying hello to her.'

Flora went up to him and he put his arm around her. They both faced the tree. Ralph began to speak in a low, rhythmic voice.

‘Matty. I know you are there and listening to us. We both love you so much. I will never forget you and I will make sure our daughter knows all about you. I believe you have engineered this somehow' he smiled.

‘You could always wind us round your little finger – Sybil, Binky - and especially me. Believe me, finding our daughter after all these years is the best thing that's ever happened to me since I met you. I promise you now that I will stop wandering the earth trying to forget but will at long last stay here and remember. We love you, Matty. Brightest blessings, my darling'

He squeezed Flora's shoulder so hard it hurt. They were both in tears with Flora sobbing quietly. After a minute or two to gather themselves, they turned to go back down to the others. Flora put a hand on his arm.

‘You said you would stay here. Did you mean it?'

‘Flora, I have neglected my duties for far too long and left Binky dropped in at the deep end. I am not neglecting you now. I have decided to come back to be near you, my sister and my home. What I will do I am less sure of. I do know that I will set things in motion when I return to Africa tomorrow.'

Flora hugged him and they both went down the path laughing and trying to avoid tripping over the little black cat.

*

Now on the patio, Liv, Jen - and Steve who had come to join his wife - were starting to make a move. Jen started to clear up the coffee cups and champagne glasses they had used, to take into the kitchen.

‘Leave those Jen. I'll do it later' said Flora, ‘My brain is buzzing so much, I don't think I'll sleep at all tonight.'

‘I'm not surprised. What a successful day you've had. One we've all shared, thanks to you. The best thing about it is that you're not coming here with modern, opposing ideas that disrupt the balance of the village. Although you've injected new life into it, you are also bringing age-old traditions, almost back from the dead. Generations of Gardwickes will be thanking you!'

Jen laughed but Flora knew that, however sarcastic she wanted to sound, she was at last starting to feel like she was part of the Gardwicke family and part of Farstone itself.

They all hugged and as Flora let go of Jen, she patted her stomach and started to say

‘and don't forget young–' She stopped suddenly.

‘No, don't tell me if it's a girl or a boy. I don't want to know' laughed Jen.

‘I honestly can't tell at the moment it could be either. Mixed messages?'

She shrugged as she tried to explain but Jen was already on her way out. Strange, thought Flora, it was as if... She looked across at Binky who probably had no recollection of her prophecy, but it came back to Flora like it had slapped her in the face. She smiled to herself. That's it, she thought.

Passing the others on the way out of the gate was a young, healthy-looking man with blond curls and red cheeks. There was a shriek from Mary which she tried unsuccessfully to subdue. She ran over to him. Flora looked from one to the other and noticed their embarrassed smiles.

I er - I wondered if Mary wanted someone to walk her home?' the lad stammered.

…And you just happened to be passing… Flora tried to stop her thoughts putting a smile on her face.

‘Yes please' said Mary, going over to his side and gazing up into his face. ‘Oh, Flora, this is Arnie Peterson.'

‘Pleased to meet you' she smiled after waiting a few seconds in vain for the addition of ‘my boyfriend'. It was probably a very new romance.

They went out into the street, arm in arm and she went back to sit down. Cal and her father had deserted her. They seemed to be getting very pally over there at the far table, heads together in discussion again.

The sun had started to set, giving the whole garden, meadow and wood that mystical quality that made you believe that anything was possible. That mythical creatures may come out of the woods and off the moors. It was the sort of evening that made you happy to be alive. Binky broke into Flora's spiritual thoughts with a distinctly unspiritual utterance.

‘Peggy! Stop snoring. You sound like an old warthog with its head underwater. Come on.'

She prodded Peggy who then sat up and said promptly,

‘ I wasn't asleep. I was just resting my eyes' to general derision and loud laughter.

‘I didn't realise that shutting your eyes made such a loud noise' grinned Binky, winking at Flora. ‘Come on. We'd better be going home, sun's nearly down.'

‘We're not vampires dear' said Peggy, getting up to give as good as she got.

Flora hugged them both. She couldn't imagine life without them now - or any of them. She felt incredibly happy and this village was her happy place. Ralph hurried over, also hugging Flora then he put his forehead against hers.

‘I have to go' he said reluctantly. ‘I have a ridiculously early start tomorrow but believe me, I will be back as soon as I can.'

She believed him.

They all walked towards the gate together, leaving just Cal and Finn in the garden, which was now almost in the semi-darkness of a beautiful summer's night.