Epilogue
THE FOLLOWING SUMMER
I stood in front of the mirror and looked at my reflection.
My shoulder-length hair was clipped back on one side with a new daisy clip that sparkled and had a delicate pearl on it.
My make-up was light and in my ears were a simple pair of pearl studs.
My eyes travelled down my body. I wore an ivory dress with a pretty lace bodice then the skirt swirled out to my mid-calf in a floaty fabric.
On my feet were simple ivory ballet pumps.
‘Here.’ Behind me, Mary held out a bouquet she had made. She wore a smart, blue skirt suit and a proud smile on her face. I had wanted a cream and lemon colour scheme and the delicate, fragrant flowers looked beautiful tied into a posy. ‘You look beautiful.’
‘Perfect,’ Uncle Adam added. He wore a suit and had welled up twice already. Mary pinned flowers into his buttonhole to match mine.
‘Everything is ready,’ Willow said, walking into the room. Her simple, long lemon dress looked lovely on her, and she held a smaller version of my bouquet. Next to her, Bronte was dressed the same. My two bridesmaids.
I smiled. I felt completely relaxed and confident today. I had chosen everything along with my husband-to-be and I had zero doubts that I was making the right decision.
A year had changed so much.
This summer, I was about to step into the future that had been waiting for me all along.
‘I’m ready,’ I said. I thought I would need to take a deep, calming breath but my heart beat at a steady pace. I was excited. The butterflies in my stomach weren’t from nerves. I was surrounded by the people I loved most in the world, and was about to tie myself to my favourite person of them all.
We all walked out of what had been my bedroom, when I’d stayed on Birch Tree Farm last summer.
Willow had welcomed me back when I told her what I wanted for my wedding.
She had obtained a licence so I could get married on the farm and held off opening this year’s pick-your-own season until after this weekend for me.
I now lived halfway between Birchbrook and my groom’s hometown so I still saw everyone on the farm a lot.
We had a cottage with a garden that I loved to tend, that was alive with flowers and trees, and one day, it would be the perfect family home for us.
It had all started out here in Willow’s strawberry field, and it seemed fitting for it to come full circle today.
We left the farmhouse and walked up the Strawberry Fields Trail, passing the sunflowers and fruit and veg, to end up in the strawberry finale where a flower arch stood waiting for me.
I’d spent hours on it, creating the perfect display with beautiful lemon and cream flowers – real this time – and greenery.
My arches were the most popular part of my now joint floral business with Mary.
We ran her flower shop together and also provided flowers for local events.
On the wall on the shop, we’d put the cuckoo clock I’d bought from Bill’s antiques shop and every time it chimed, I thought about my mother.
I knew I had to make a flower arch for my own wedding.
In front of the arch were two rows of pretty white seats and the aisle was lined with pots bursting with flowers that Mary had arranged.
To one side, a man sat with an acoustic guitar, ready to play The Beatles ‘Strawberry Fields Forever’ to accompany my walk.
Above the proceedings, a warm sun shone down from a clear blue sky. And in the distance, I could see Blossom and Jasmine pausing in their grazing to look over at me. Beside the front-row seats was Maple, eyeing the ponies to make sure they were on their best behaviour today.
As I walked, holding Uncle Adam’s arm, Bronte and Willow following behind me, I looked ahead as my groom turned around.
His hazel eyes sparkled as he flashed those two cute dimples when he saw me.
He looked as calm as I felt, thank God. He wore a navy suit, his buttonhole matching Adam’s, his hair styled to perfection with that line of stubble that I liked on him. Beside him stood Dylan and Bill.
I walked towards Blake with a lightness in my step and a smile on my face that matched his. When I reached him, Uncle Adam gave me a kiss and shook Blake’s hand, and then he sat down. Willow and Bronte stood behind me as I took hold of Blake’s hand and he squeezed it.
‘Gorgeous,’ he said softly. ‘I love you more than I ever thought was possible.’
I forced myself not to well up but that man’s words would always make my heart swell. ‘You’re my future,’ I replied simply.
As the celebrant welcomed everyone to our wedding, a pool of sunlight shone down on my flower arch.
I now firmly believed in signs. I thought that the people who were no longer with us might be looking down on us and giving their blessing to finding happiness and love after loss.
I hoped my parents were with me in some form today.
I would miss them forever but I knew they would both be happy at me carving out a life that I loved for myself. A life I was going to live with Blake right by my side. A life that was meant to be – that I was sure of.