Epilogue
SEVERAL WEEKS LATER
Poppy
‘They’re in the car!’ I look up from my phone and grin at Tristan. He grins back, but then I have a troubling thought. ‘We should have met them at the airport. Should we have met them at the airport?’ I ask, suddenly doubting myself.
Tristan captures me in his arms and lands a soft kiss on my mouth. ‘Darling, your mum insisted that we not do that. It was a miracle she agreed to us sending a town car. Now, what’s really got you so out of sorts?’
I peer up into his whisky-brown eyes.
‘I want to tell them. I know it’s early but?—’
‘I do too,’ he says, cutting me off.
‘You do?’ I ask, my eyes wide.
‘Darling, this is the most brilliant news we’ve ever had to share. I’ve barely been able to contain myself – I’ve nearly told Ravi half a dozen times.’
‘You have?’
‘Yes,’ he says with a laugh. ‘ And you’re nearly seven weeks along.’
‘True. And Dr Prior was pleased with how it’s going.’
‘Exactly. So, let’s tell your mum and dad that they’re going to be grandparents.’
I grin at him again, excitement infiltrating every part of my body, every nerve ending, every hair follicle, every cell .
We’re going to be parents!
And with Baby Sharma arriving in a couple of months and Shaz and Lauren another step closer to becoming mums, it won’t be long until our friendship family will grow by three.
‘Meow.’
Saffron appears at our feet, her tail curling around Tristan’s legs. He bobs down to scoop her up.
‘What do you think, Saffy?’ he asks. ‘Ready to be a big sister?’
She mewls disdainfully, struggling in Tristan’s embrace. He lets her go, and she drops to the floor and saunters away.
‘So, that’s a no,’ I say.
‘She’ll come around.’
‘Sure she will,’ I reply sarcastically.
‘We’ll just have to make sure our new home has enough bedrooms for Saffy to have her own,’ he says, and I narrow my eyes at him. Is he being serious? He looks back at me, guileless. He is being serious.
‘You indulge her.’
‘I do. Because I love her. But don’t worry, I love you more.’
‘Nice save, Fellows.’
‘Well, I mean it. I love you, Poppy.’ He rests his hand on my belly. ‘And you,’ he says to our unborn child.
That earns him a kiss and were it not for my parents arriving soon, I’d be dragging him into the bedroom – or over to the sofa – for a whole lot more.
* * *
Kate
‘I’m as full as a tick,’ I say, sitting back in my chair with a satisfied smile.
Willem and I are at Wolf Atelier, a restaurant near the Westerdok in Amsterdam with panoramic views of the bustling water traffic and further off, Amsterdam Noord.
It’s been an incredible meal, a degustation of imaginative taste combinations and plating so creative, each dish was a work of art. And the curated wine list paired perfectly with the food, but I’m also tipsy as well as full.
‘So, you enjoyed the meal?’ he asks.
‘Slight understatement,’ I say with a wink. ‘Thank you for bringing me here.’
‘A pleasure. I didn’t want you thinking that Dutch food is only stroopwafels and bitterballen ,’ he says.
‘Oh, don’t knock those. They’ve both earned their place on my list of favourite foods.’
‘Always with the lists,’ he teases.
‘I like lists,’ I retort. ‘Especially to-do lists. There’s an incredible sense of accomplishment in crossing off each item, no matter how small a task it is.’
‘I’ve noticed,’ he says, picking up my hand and pressing his lips to the back of it. My heart does a flip, something that happens frequently when I’m with Willem. ‘So,’ he says, ‘anything left on that to-do list before you leave tomorrow?’
His question is a jolt back to reality. Because tomorrow I head back to London, having spent my two weeks’ leave in Amsterdam with Willem. Two glorious, thrilling, and romantic weeks, during which we’ve explored the city and each other – heart, mind, and body.
I’ll miss Willem.
I’ll miss him next to me as we linger in bed long after the sun has come up, reading or talking… I’ll miss the gentle touch of his large, strong hands and how his eyes light up when he laughs at his own jokes… I’ll miss his tender kisses and our lengthy conversations about life and what our futures hold – individually and together… I’ll miss how he looks into my eyes as he makes love to me…
But I won’t be missing him for long. Because I’m accepting Mina’s proposal.
The new Kate – fledgling that she is – is thrilled at the prospect of spearheading Elev8te’s expansion into Europe. The old Kate still lingers, peering into the future with optimistic caution, and I imagine she’ll always be there, tethering me to reality while allowing enough space for the newer side of me to soar.
And there with me, which makes me happiest of all, will be Willem. My very own Norse god, my champion and friend, my love.
Oh, and Margot of course. Now that she and Adriana are officially an item, she’s promised to visit twice a month, if not more – and ‘promise’ is her word, not mine. I would have gone with ‘threatened’.
I look across the table where Willem is patiently waiting for me to sift through my thoughts. ‘No,’ I say, my head swivelling from side to side. ‘I just want to spend as much time as possible with you.’
He smiles and I beam back at him.
* * *