A Recipe for Love

Epilogue

The grassy bank that led down to the Low Bridge was bustling with visitors and locals alike. Bella scanned the scene. People were milling around, chatting and sampling the drinks and canapés that Flinty had strong-armed Molly and Katy into handing out in freshly pressed black skirts and white blouses. Dipper was lolloping between the groups of guests, helpfully hoovering up any crumbs that were dropped. Claire and Cath had appointed themselves unofficial cookery school ambassadors and were singing Bella’s praises to anyone who would listen. Anna and Nina were overseeing proceedings with an attitude somewhere between proud mother hens and imperious sergeant majors. Darcy was charming the pants off a rather mousey looking man from the local tourist board, who seemed thoroughly delighted to be talking to the actual lady of the manor. Everyone, it seemed, was in their element.

Bella stopped in front of the new wooden sign they’d erected at the entrance to the castle. Netty was already admiring it. ‘The artwork you did looks amazing,’ Bella told her.

‘Happy to help.’ Netty smiled as she went off to refill her glass.

‘I heard her!’

‘What?’ Bella felt a touch in the small of her back, accompanied by a waft of familiar aftershave.

‘Netty talked to me, and I understood.’

Adam looked blank. ‘OK,’ he nodded slowly. ‘And that’s exciting because…?’

‘It’s just I can never normally.’ She shook her head. Bella didn’t need to explain. It was enough that it had happened and she knew. She looked around the gathered friends. ‘It’s going OK?’ she asked.

‘It’s going brilliantly. Those little pastry things are amazing.’ Adam leaned in and kissed the nape of her neck.

‘No snogging. Your grandma’s on her way over.’

‘As is yours.’

The two women hadn’t exactly seen eye to eye since Nan’s arrival, but Bella was overjoyed to have her here for their big moment. She pulled her into a hug. ‘Thank you for coming. Are you having a good time?’

‘I’m having a great time. That Iain fellow with the very red face wants to take me out on his boat and show me his salmon farm.’ She turned to Adam. ‘I’m assuming that’s some sort of posh Scottish euphemism.’

Adam shook his head. ‘That’s Sir Iain Macwillis, and I think he has an actual salmon farm. More than one probably.’

Bella’s nan looked momentarily disappointed and then rallied. ‘Well I don’t think I’ve ever been to a salmon farm before. Every day’s an adventure isn’t it?’

‘Tomorrow the world?’ Bella asked.

‘Always.’ Her nan squeezed her hand. ‘For me anyway. I think it’s time for you to let the world come to you.’

Darcy extricated herself from the tourist board man and joined the group, followed a second later by Flinty, who fixed Veronica with a hard look. ‘Have you properly told them yet?’

‘Not exactly.’

‘Well then.’

Veronica rolled her eyes. ‘Very well. So I don’t want any fuss or nonsense, but, as I said to Adam already, I’ve decided I’m moving out of the dower house.’

‘You know you don’t have to,’ Adam replied.

‘I know I don’t have to, but I wish to. I will be moving into a cottage in the village.’

Flinty cleared her throat very pointedly.

‘I’m getting to it, Margaret.’ Veronica flushed. Bella had never seen her flustered before. ‘I will be moving into Margaret’s cottage in the village. With Margaret. As, well…’

Bella could not risk a look at Adam’s face. She was too scared the shock she was feeling would be mirrored there. Be cool, Bella, she told herself. Be cool.

‘As her companion.’

‘I’m her bit of rough,’ Flinty added.

Bella’s nan recovered her composure first. ‘Well that’s great news, I’m sure. It’s never too late for a fresh start, is it?’

‘Fuck me…’ Darcy hadn’t quite got the ‘be cool’ memo.

‘OK. Well, erm, congratulations,’ Adam managed. And then he hugged his grandmother. Bella watched the old woman stiffen and then relax just enough to pat his back.

‘Thank you dear.’

Bella stepped forward. She remembered the words in Veronica’s letter about closing off a part of herself. She hugged her soon-to-be grandmother-in-law gently. ‘I’m glad you’re happy,’ she said.

‘Yes, well. This is all well and good, but there are speeches to be made and this day is about the two of you, not about me, so…’ She nodded at Adam. ‘Off you go.’

Bella followed the love of her life onto the tiny raised platform they’d erected next to the bridge and watched as he turned on the microphone and called for quiet.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, thank you all so much for coming on this very special day for me and for Bella and for everyone here at Lowbridge. It’s fantastic to have so many of you here to celebrate with us and to sample a few little tasters of Bella’s amazing cooking. I’m not going to go on, but I do want to ask you all to raise a glass to the most incredible woman I have ever known. She’s positive when I lose hope. She’s practical when I get my head stuck in the clouds, and willing to dream big when I’m overwhelmed by the details. She takes things in her stride that would floor any lesser soul. And I’m so unbelievably lucky to have her as my partner, not just here at Lowbridge, but in life. Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glass to Bella Smith!’

She looked out across the faces. New friends and old. New family and her grandma who’d supported her all her life.

Adam returned to the microphone. ‘And, as so much of this is her doing, I think it’s only right that she gets to do the final honours.’

He waved her forward. Bella shook her head. He was Laird Lowbridge, and for the first time he looked as though he was finally comfortable living the role. She wasn’t anybody. In front of the stage Pavel clapped his hands together and called out, ‘Bella! Bella!’

Others started joining in. She shook her head but accepted the inevitable and took the mic from Adam, grabbing his hand with her free one at the same time to keep him close. If he was going to make her do this, then he was going to be at her side while she did. ‘Thank you everyone. OK then. Well not much more to say, other than thank you for coming to our launch party, and…’ She looked around in a panic, until Darcy dashed forward and thrust a pair of scissors into her hands. Bella leaned down from the platform and dragged the microphone cable towards the ribbon they’d strung across the newly rebuilt Low Bridge. ‘I am delighted to declare the New Low Bridge, and also the Highland Cookery School, open for business!’

The guests clapped and cheered. Glasses were raised. And on the stage Adam pressed his lips to hers. ‘Next time we stand up in front of people and give speeches it’ll be our wedding.’

‘I know.’

‘No cold feet.’

‘Freezing feet. We’re outside in Scotland at night!’

‘You know what I mean. You’re not going to run away again?’

‘Never.’ She looked around. This place, these people, this man. Bella Smith had, finally, found her home.