EPILOGUE
24 June 2024
CARA
The midsummer sun bore down relentlessly, turning the air into a tangible weight that pressed against my skin. Each breath felt like inhaling from an oven, the dry heat magnifying the scent of resinous pine and dusty earth as I trudged along the trail in the Gorges de la Restonica. Heat rippled off the sun-baked rocks, casting wavy mirages that blurred the rugged edges of the valley.
The sound of the nearby river was a constant presence, its gurgling waters a slight relief against the overwhelming warmth. I gravitated toward the sparse shade of towering pine trees, their needles shimmering in the harsh sunlight, casting a mosaic of light and shadow on the ground. The trail was a mix of gravel and sand, and each step kicked up a crunch, breaking the silence of the hot air.
Ahead, Andy and Chloe navigated the path with ease, with their son Sebastian securely strapped to Andy’s back, his little face shaded by a white hat. His wide, brown eyes remained fixed on me, brimming with curiosity, as if he was expecting me to stumble any moment, or maybe he was just fascinated by the sweat dripping down my face. Sometimes, he’d wave his hands and giggle, and I’d muster a smile at him.
Further up the trail, Jason and Olivia moved in sync with Alex and Ivy. The gap between us had steadily widened since we started our hike about half an hour ago, but I resisted the urge to hurry, knowing my limits. I was carrying extra weight, after all. In my womb.
‘Would you like some water?’ William asked from behind me, his tone wary, as if he feared triggering my temper. My fuse was already short thanks to my raging hormones, and the stifling heat only made it worse.
For a fleeting moment, I regretted my decision to join this hike. I could have been relaxing on Alexander’s yacht, lounging in the cool shade and dipping into the refreshing blue waters at my leisure. But Jason, having talked about this destination for months, had sparked a stubborn determination in me. I needed to reach the mountain lake at the top. Absolutely had to.
‘Yeah,’ I replied to William, pausing to steady my breath. He quickly slid his backpack off, pulled out a water bottle and handed it to me. As I took a long drink, he grabbed my cap, jogged to the river, and soaked it. When he returned and placed the cool cap back on my head, the relief was immediate. My nascent headache ebbed away as the coolness seeped through.
‘Better?’ he asked, a smile playing on his lips as he watched my reaction.
‘So much better,’ I said, touching the damp cap. ‘Really clever, that. What a hack.’
‘Got to keep my team healthy,’ he said, his hand coming to rest lovingly on my belly. ‘Five months along, and here we are climbing mountains. If it gets too much, just say the word. We can head back. No point pushing too hard.’
‘No, turning back isn’t an option,’ I said firmly, giving him a strict look. ‘I need to see it.’
He smirked, his eyes flicking toward Jason, who was already a small figure in the distance, and then back at me. ‘All right, but don’t rush yourself. They’ll wait for us at the top.’
I nodded, letting my eyes wander over him as I drank some more – his light-blue T-shirt, his strong arms, and the scar on his left bicep, a memento from a past that had tried to tear us apart.
‘You might want to slap on some more sunscreen,’ I said, noticing the reddening tint creeping across his sun-kissed skin.
He inspected his arms, then nodded in agreement. As he applied another layer, my thoughts drifted to the stack of transaction files sitting on my desk back in London.
‘Do you reckon we’ll be able to finalise the merger agreement with Brightwell Technologies before I go on maternity leave?’ I asked, watching absentmindedly as William’s hands splayed over his tan legs, rubbing in the lotion.
He looked up, his expression neutral, though he knew my work on this deal could set my career on a new trajectory. ‘Yes,’ he said confidently and stretched back up. ‘I’ll make sure of it. I’ll burn the midnight oil every day if that’s what it takes.’
I reached out, my hands finding his, and drew him into a kiss, my heart swelling with a profound gratitude.
‘Thank you – for all that you do,’ I murmured softly as I pulled away, knowing his tireless dedication was a cornerstone of not just our careers, but our life together.
His smile was warm, filled with a promise of unwavering support. ‘Anything for you, darling. Always. Same goes for this one,’ he murmured, bringing our entwined fingers to my belly.
I grinned and kissed him again, my heart throbbing with boundless affection. Every day, I loved him more and more.
‘Oi!’ Andy’s voice floated down from ahead, his silhouette framed against the sky as he stood on a large boulder, surveying the trail below. ‘Everything all right back there?’
‘Yeah!’ William replied. He quickly put on his backpack and took my hand again as we pressed on up the steep path.
The hike was gruelling. My clothes clung to my skin, drenched in sweat that made every movement a reminder of the oppressive heat. The soaked cap on my head provided some relief, yet my legs weighed down heavily with each step. The dryness in my throat returned swiftly as we pushed higher, each breath a battle against the sweltering Corsican summer.
Finally, the landscape opened to reveal Lac de Capitello, its waters free from ice and shimmering under the late-afternoon sun. The stark beauty of the lake, cradled by steep rocks and open skies, was breathtaking. Most of our group was already frolicking in the water, their laughter echoing across the surface. Chloe, sitting at the lake’s edge, gently rocked Sebastian, soothing him against the backdrop of rugged peaks.
‘Cara!’ Jason called out, his voice bouncing over the water. ‘Come on, get in! The temperature’s perfect!’
Peeling off my sweaty T-shirt and shorts, I stood in my knickers and sports bra, my pregnant belly proudly protruding. William charged past me, having quickly stripped down to his shorts, a joyful laugh escaping before he dove into the water, his entry clean and swift. When he resurfaced, he slicked back his hair with one hand, a wide grin on his face.
‘He’s not lying – it’s divine!’
Encouraged, I waded into the lake, the cool water a balm to my heated skin. With a deep breath, I submerged myself, feeling the lake washing away the fatigue of the climb.
After a rejuvenating swim, we settled on the rocky shore to dry off under the sun’s persistent gaze. William and I, along with the rest of the group, unpacked our lunches, relishing the simple, hearty sandwiches and fresh fruit that tasted especially delightful in the clean mountain air.
As we lounged, Jason beckoned Olivia closer to the edge of the lake, pointing toward the horizon where the rugged peaks met the sky in a dance of natural splendour.
‘Look at that view. Isn’t it just stunning?’ he said, his voice laced with barely-contained excitement.
Olivia nodded, engrossed in the sprawling vista before us.
Jason shot me a quick glance, his twitching features betraying his anxiety. I gulped, my hand instinctively reaching for William’s and squeezing. Hard.
This was it. The moment I had been waiting for. The single thing that had motivated me up this steep trail.
Jason’s gaze shifted to William beside me, who gave him a subtle, encouraging nod. With a nervous swallow, Jason turned back to Olivia and discreetly pulled a small box from his pocket. As Olivia remained lost in the beauty of the landscape, he smoothly dropped to one knee behind her. The rest of us watched, a collective breath held in suspense. When Olivia finally turned back from the mesmerising view, her eyes found Jason, knee bent, with an open ring box in his hand.
Her hand flew to her mouth in shock before she uttered a joyful, tearful acceptance. Around them, our group and nearby tourists erupted into cheers, the echo bouncing off the valley walls.
Tears blurred my vision as I watched the scene unfold, my heart swelling with utter happiness.
‘Would you have wanted a proposal like that?’ William’s voice was soft, thoughtful, pulling my attention back to him.
I turned to meet his gaze, seeing a flicker of wistful regret in his eyes – regret that his own proposal hadn’t been as grand. I shook my head vigorously, my fingers playing with his wedding band.
‘No,’ I said firmly, the sunlight catching on the gold ring and making it gleam. ‘Your proposal was perfect. Absolutely perfect. And our wedding was, too.’ My mind briefly wandered back to that magical day at the old fort in Cornwall, where age-old stones and timeless vows had blended into one perfect memory, the sea whispering its blessings from afar.
William looked down at my fingers brushing over his ring. ‘I didn’t think you’d want anything public, and I wanted to surprise you.’
‘You absolutely got it right. The coffee cup, with its quiet significance to us – every morning, every note – it was the most meaningful way you could have proposed, Will. Each cup you’ve brought me, each message scribbled on them, they’ve been little chapters in our story.’ I cupped his jaw, stroking his spiky cheek with my thumb. ‘Really, William, it was perfect. You’re perfect.’
He smiled, his eyes reflecting the deep love we shared, and I leaned in to kiss him. As we pulled away, still lost in each other’s gaze, Olivia hurried over to us.
‘Cara, we’re going to be sisters-in-law!’ she exclaimed, her voice a blend of laughter and sobs. She swept me into an embrace, and I hugged her tightly as she wept with joy, my chest shaking with sheer happiness.
Next to us, Alex rose to his feet. ‘Congratulations, Jase,’ he called out, clapping Jason on the back as he joined our little circle.
‘Thanks,’ Jason replied, his grin stretching from ear to ear. He glanced at Ivy, then looked back at Alex, a mischievous twinkle in his eye. ‘I suppose we’ll have a chance to gather some wedding inspiration at your and Ivy’s ceremony in August.’
Olivia pulled away from me, her eyes wide with excitement as she turned to Alex. ‘I hadn’t even thought of that! Oh, I can’t wait to start planning ours now!’
Ivy chuckled beside Alex, then reached out to bring Olivia in for a warm hug. ‘Congratulations, Livy. I’m so happy for you both. Jason couldn’t have chosen better.’
Chloe chimed in, ‘Absolutely, he’s lucky to have you, Livy. We all are.’ She stepped closer, joining the hug.
Meanwhile, Andy, holding little Sebastian, manoeuvred closer to the joyful assembly. ‘Say congratulations, Seb,’ he encouraged, gently guiding the toddler’s hand to wave at Olivia and Jason. Sebastian giggled, his small hand flapping enthusiastically as his big brown eyes took in the excitement of the adults around him.
As if prompted, I felt a flutter in my womb, the little one moving around. I looked up at Jason and Olivia, stroking my belly. ‘This one says congratulations, too.’
William’s hand flew to my stomach, his eyes wide. ‘It kicked?’
‘Something like that.’
He smiled, the kind of smile that lit up his entire face and warmed me from the inside out.
Jason chuckled. ‘I’m sure it will keep kicking once it’s out – hopefully its father’s arse more than anything else.’
His comment drew a round of laughter from all of us.
Looking skyward, Jason’s smile lingered. ‘Shall we start heading back?’ he asked.
‘Yeah.’ William stood up and helped me onto my feet.
Hand in hand, we slowly made our way from the vibrant scene at the lake’s edge. The trail back seemed less daunting now, the setting sun casting a golden glow over the landscape. As we walked, a sense of completion washed over me. We had witnessed the beginning of a new chapter for Jason and Olivia, a beautiful parallel to the life William and I were nurturing together.
‘Today was perfect,’ I murmured, squeezing William’s hand. ‘Just like us. Just like everything we’ve built together.’
William stopped, pulling me into a gentle embrace. ‘Every day with you is perfect, Cara,’ he said. ‘This baby, our family… It’s more than I ever dreamed of.’ He planted a firm kiss on the top of my head.
‘I love you,’ I said, hugging him tighter.
He squeezed me in response, then drew back a little, his gaze meeting mine with unspoken vows. ‘And I love you.’
At that moment, the rest of the world seemed to fall away, leaving just the two of us, bound by a love that had only grown deeper with time. And as the stars began to pepper the sky, I knew these moments would be the stories we’d tell our child, stories of love, and the beauty of a life lived fully together .