Chapter 42
A hazy, soft rain seemed to shroud Appleton Green in a quiet solemnity on the morning of Gran’s funeral.
Watching water droplets make their way down the glass of Pippin Cottage, Lily stood there unable to force herself to cry a single tear.
She had cried enough, she told herself, knowing that’s what Gran would say to her.
She put her hand in the pocket of the black coat she was wearing, touching the letter from Gran. The weight of it seemed to tether her to this very time and this place. This was her house; this was her home. It had always been her home in many ways.
A soft tap on the door jolted her out of her daydream. It was Nick wearing a sombre black suit. He held out his hand and asked softly, ‘Ready?’
Lily nodded, inhaled deeply, and then put her hand in his and they walked out to the car that was waiting for them to go to the village hall.
Her parents were in the car ahead of them and when they stopped at the hall, Lily alighted and hugged her parents.
‘You ready?’ said Peter.
Lily nodded and her hand trembled a little on the door handle; then she inhaled deeply before pushing the door open and going inside.
Her breath caught when she saw what was in front of her.
Jasper had surpassed expectations, converting the hall into an amazing homage to Gran.
The gentle flicker of electric candles took the place of the normal harsh overhead lights, which were dimmed.
There was a small classical quartet playing as people sat waiting, and there were bunches of white anemones in vases on the tables at the side of the hall, where cups and saucers were lined up with plates and forks and a selection of fresh baked goods, covered by nets, lay ready for the wake.
Lily saw that the hall was already crowded as her eyes grew accustomed to the gentle light, and as Nick walked her to their seats at the front, she saw the cast from the show lined up with their partners.
There was Sheila sitting with Mrs Harris, and Mrs Douglas wiping her eyes and giving a gentle nod to Lily as she caught her eye.
The soft hum of discussion died down as people became aware of her entrance, and all eyes were instantly fixed on her. Nick gave a gentle squeeze of her hand, a sort of silent reassurance of his presence, and they found their seats at the front.
Once Lily sat down, she looked around and saw what Jasper had done.
He had somehow created a tapestry of Gran’s life.
Old programmes from shows, photos, and even some of her handwritten recipes covered the walls, printed onto them.
There were photos of her and Gran, Gran and Peter, so much joy in her life, so many lovely memories, she thought.
Lily’s eyes lingered on a faded picture of herself and Gran sitting at the piano when they were both laughing.
Jasper took to the podium, and smiled at Lily and her parents.
‘Friends, family, esteemed guests and all who knew Violet Rose Baxter.’ His background in theatre was clear in every word and Lily smiled at him. Gran would have loved this, she thought. Jasper was putting on a show for Gran and those who loved her, and Lily felt herself relax.
‘Enjoy the show,’ she was sure she heard Gran whisper in her ear. ‘Tonight, we have come together to honour Violet Baxter’s extraordinary life. A bright light on our small stage, a cornerstone of our neighbourhood, and a close friend to all of us.’
Lily let her eyes roam the room as Jasper went on and she saw Mr McBride from the school and the choir behind him, all in their school uniforms. Lily felt her eyes fill up with tears, genuinely moved by their presence, reminding her that she was in the right place.
‘We will start this tribute to Violet with the choir from Silverton Grammar who will sing for her and us tonight.’
The students walked out onto the stage and stood in formation. Mr McBride stood in front of them and then the sound of Andrew playing the piano started and the choir sang ‘Seasons of Love’ from Rent and Lily felt happy tears fall as she turned to Nick, who was also wiping his eyes.
As the children sang, she mouthed the words with them and smiled and clapped along. She was taken aback to see her students, some of whom she had only known for a few weeks, honouring Gran in this manner, honouring her.
Lily felt a warmth rise across her chest as the young voices sang about measuring a year in love. It was so beautiful, she thought as she watched them.
The eulogy was next on the schedule. Peter, Lily’s father, got up and walked over to the podium. He cleared his throat and unfolded a piece of paper, his hands trembling a little.
With a faltering voice, he said, ‘My mother, Violet Baxter, was an incredible woman. However, she would have laughed at me if I had said that. She would say, “I’m just an ordinary woman who has lived a very long time.” However, the truth is known by those of us who loved and knew her.
’ His voice broke at the end of the sentence and he stopped and composed himself.
‘Mum had a talent for elevating the ordinary to the spectacular and making everyone feel special. As a child, a stroll around the garden could become an adventure, and a simple cup of tea could become a momentous occasion. Her intelligence was great, her laughter contagious, and her love, well, it seemed limitless.’
As he went on, Peter’s voice got louder as he related tales of Gran’s life, including her romance with Lily’s grandfather, her time spent performing on stage with the amateur dramatics club, and her steadfast devotion to her friends and family.
‘But her role as a grandmother was perhaps the greatest,’ Peter remarked, his gaze falling on Lily. ‘There was something quite unique about the relationship my mother and daughter shared. Mum used to say that Lily was the surprise gift that she loved more than a standing ovation.’
Lily sensed tears trickling down her cheeks, and Nick’s fingers constricted around hers, offering silent comfort.
‘In the past few months, since Lily moved back to Appleton Green, I’ve noticed a brightness in my mother’s eyes that I hadn’t noticed in years,’ he went on.
‘She enjoyed seeing Lily rediscover who she was and what her real calling in life was. She would proudly tell me over the phone, “Our Lily is blooming.”’
He stopped and inhaled deeply. ‘Mum showed love and faith in her last deed. She hung on to watch Lily play one more time, to watch her granddaughter take centre stage in life as well as on stage and knowing Lily was happy, settled with love and purpose in her life, Mum made her farewell bow.’
Upon finishing his sentence, Peter’s voice broke as he firmly held on to the podium.
‘Mum, words cannot express how much we will miss you. However, we will live in your memory by following your example of love, laughter, and a constant song in our hearts. Mum, I hope you rest well. You deserve it, all of it.’
There was not a dry eye in the church when Peter returned to his seat.
Jasper was back at the podium. ‘And now we ask Lily, Violet’s granddaughter, to sing her tribute to her.’
Lily stood up, and felt a sense of calm she had never felt before singing.
She smiled at Andrew who was at the piano and he nodded.
He knew what song Lily was to sing and he started the introduction.
Lily closed her eyes and ‘Someone to Watch Over Me’ flooded the room.
Her voice was faint at first, but as she continued, it became louder.
Gran seemed to be right there with her, singing along at the piano in the cottage.
They loved to sing the standards and this was a favourite for them both.
There was a deep stillness in the room as the final note was heard, and then the room broke into soft cheers. Lily stood, tears on her cheeks that she was unaware she had wept, and then made her way back to her seat, where Nick waited for her.
Jasper spoke again. ‘And as a final tribute to Violet, she told me how much she loved a particular song so we will sing it for her, in full chorus, so if you pick up your order of service, you will see the words on the back.’
The music started and the cast of My Fair Lady out the front, all ready to sing and off they went, encouraging the crowd to join into a rousing version of ‘Get Me to the Church on Time’.
It was a perfect ending to a perfect service – irreverent, silly, loud and utterly mad – and Lily knew that Gran would have abso-blooming loved it.
The rest of the evening was a slow ebb and flow of music, stories, and conversation around cups of tea and cake, and Mrs Douglas’s shortbread.
As the crowd began to thin out, Lily wandered the room, looking at the work Jasper had put into the service. It was better than any show she had ever been in, she thought.
Nick’s arm slid around her waist as she took a step back. ‘You okay?’ he whispered.
Lily leaned closer to him and nodded. ‘Yeah,’ she answered, startled by how accurate that statement was. ‘I think I am.’
Lily had a feeling of calm descend upon her as she took in the sights of her grandmother’s life, commemorated down to the last detail, and the faces of both old and new acquaintances.
Gran might have passed away, but she was everywhere in the village and now it was Lily’s turn to create a life here.
She turned to Nick. ‘So, when are you moving in?’ she asked him. ‘Gran said you had to make me cups of tea in her last will and testament. You can’t let her down or she will haunt you from beyond.’
Nick laughed loudly. ‘I have no doubt she would. Well I better make good on her instructions,’ he said and he kissed her in front of the large photo of Gran and Grandad on their wedding day.