Epilogue
EPILOGUE
I T WAS TO be the tiniest wedding, with a small celebration to follow when they returned to London.
At least, that was what Grace assumed.
The hotel staff, when they’d packed for her, had included the strappy oatmeal linen dress, and it was gorgeous to slip on,
Her hand was shaking as she tried to tie her hair, but Malay came in and helped her twist it and pin in a water hyacinth.
‘Everything is ready.’ Malay smiled at her. ‘How romantic to get married at sunset...’
‘I shan’t be long.’
She picked up her phone. Gosh, this was going to be a surprise.
‘Violet!’
‘Grace, you look—’ Violet stopped. ‘Oh, my God, I don’t even know his name. Grace, you cannot get married. Honestly. Whatever—’
‘Violet...’ Grace gave her dear friend a smile. ‘I love you, and we’re going to have a proper reception in a few weeks.’
‘Grace...’ Violet gave in then. ‘I’ll be here for you.’
‘I know.’ Grace smiled. ‘And I love you for it.’
She took the stairs and saw Jamal, dressed in pale shimmering pink. She handed her some flowers.
‘Don’t be nervous,’ she said.
‘I’m not,’ Grace said, but then her hand went to her chest. ‘Perhaps a little...’
Or was it just excitement? They walked towards the ancient ballroom, but as she stepped in she saw, instead of Carter, the French doors wide open.
‘Your groom is waiting for you outside...’
She stepped out and gasped. The pool was lit, and the pathway too, all the trees dotted with lights, and she walked with Jamal through the beautiful grounds to an ancient banyan tree where Carter stood waiting.
And he was so loved... For it wasn’t such a small wedding after all—there were many of the local people, dressed exquisitely, playing soft music, as she walked to be by his side.
‘How did you do that?’ Carter asked, and kissed her. ‘Do you travel with a wedding dress?’
He made her laugh, and they kissed again before they were man and wife.
‘You look perfect,’ he told her.
And for someone who had spent three decades numb, Carter could never have envisaged being surrounded by so much love.
He knew there was no one else he could have shared this with.
The gorgeous tree, the scents and the moonlit sky, and the sounds of the jungle settling for the night. The caws of birds, the chatter of monkeys, and then a certain quiet, as if thousands of eyes were watching them.
The celebrant welcomed everyone in both English and the local dialect, and Carter translated when needed.
And then he took a breath.
‘Bashim, Arif’s father, is going to speak...’ Carter told her, and watched as Arif helped his father to the front.
The man who had searched for a missing boy and carried him home.
Carter’s voice was husky as he translated. ‘He says that no one is ever lost here...that souls remain...’ He squeezed her hands and she squeezed it back. ‘Gotong royong,’ Carter said. ‘It means life is lighter if we share the burden together.’
And now it was Carter who wanted to speak.
‘Grace...’ He thought for a moment. ‘This morning, when I saw the sunrise, I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you... To come back home and find you waiting here for me was the greatest gift of my life. I shall never stop loving you.’
She believed it,
‘Carter...’
She looked up at the man who had claimed her heart the day he had woken her to hand back her passport.
‘I have loved you from the moment I laid eyes on you...’
She would never forget opening her eyes to this man, and knowing, somehow, that he was the one for her.
‘You have my love.’
For ever...
That was how long true love lasted.
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