Chapter 19
NINETEEN
Six months later
It is just about autumn in Starshine Cove, but the weather is magnificent. The sky has been blue all day, the air fresh and crisp and clean. Night is falling much earlier now, and the fairy lights that are strung along the buildings around the green kick into life and make the place look like a birthday cake. It’s one of my favourite times of year, when the leaves turn golden and the woods become a wonderland of whirling leaves.
It always starts to feel a little Christmassy round about now, I think, and Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year too. In fact, they all are – there’s something to love in all the seasons, especially here in my gorgeous little corner of the world.
Tonight, though, the fairy lights have some competition. Tonight, the entire place is lit up. There are roving floodlights roaming over the cottages and the inn, projectors are casting bright coloured sparkles over the treetops, and a red carpet has been laid out from the inn all the way to the community centre. Archie and Jake have rigged up a ‘photo op’ area, and the village teenagers are currently pouting away in front of it, taking selfies.
Cally has been working overtime doing hair and make-up, and everyone looks fantastic. Cally herself is wearing her traditional wrap dress, Archie is in a vintage seventies tux from George’s extensive wardrobe, and Lucy and Josh look like an actual Hollywood power couple. Everyone is here, from baby Kitty all the way through to villagers who are on the verge of getting their telegram from the King.
I’ve gone for a red dress that is way more revealing than normal, and my curls are in an elaborate up-do. I feel a bit over-done, but if you can’t gussy up for a film premiere, when can you? Besides, my two handsome escorts for the evening are looking so good in their penguin suits that I’m glad I made the effort.
Everyone has been taking it in turns to do their strut down the red carpet, and it’s almost our go. George offers me his arm to link on one side, and Zack on the other.
“I’m a very happy old man tonight,” says George, leaning down to speak to me. “Seeing Archie with his Cally, and now you with Zack… well, I couldn’t be more pleased, my love. You deserve it.”
I pat his hand, and give him a big smile. I’ve not given up hope on George finding love again, even though he insists he’s well and truly ‘past it’.
I turn to Zack, and raise my eyebrows.
“Are you ready, Mr Director?” I say, squeezing his arm.
“Of course. I hope you all like it.”
“How could we not?” I ask. True to his word, Zack finished his editing of his Starshine Cove movie, as well as continuing to work on his idea for a show about refugees. He’s now officially semi-retired from his company, taking on an executive role rather than day-to-day. He’s moved in with me, and none of our children were anywhere near as surprised as I expected – in fact they all seem delighted for us.
His health is stable, and as she promised, Ella is working with his nephrologist in London to monitor him and carry out all the routine tests. He has regular chats with the London team on video call, and so far so good – there have been no big changes. His medication is working, and he is doing well. It might not stay like this forever, and there might be tough choices to make further down the line – but for now, he is fit, healthy, and absolutely yummy.
As for me, well, my life has totally changed. I have opened up in a way I never believed was possible. I have accepted love into my life, and delight in this new version of me – this new chapter that I am still turning the pages on. I am happy again, it is that simple.
We enter the community hall, and everybody stands up to give Zack a round of applause. He turns around, bows in all directions, then kisses me before we take our seats.
As the music kicks in and the film starts to play across the giant screen, the initial shots are ones that Zack did with his new toy, a drone camera. It captures the glorious green fields, the red and gold cliffs, and the dramatic sun-kissed shimmer of the sea stretching out from the bay. There is a communal gasp as everyone recognises our tiny speck of a village, nestled at the heart of all that natural splendour.
The gasps are followed by laughter as the setting changes to my café, and a shot I never even knew he was taking – me, singing along to the Girls Aloud classic Sound of the Underground as I wipe down tables. I’m going great guns, really feeling the chorus, and the entire room is in hysterics as they watch me hop and shimmy my way around the room.
I turn to him and smile, punching his arm playfully. He puts his arm around my shoulder, and tugs me close.
“See?” he says, as we both tuck into our popcorn, “it might have taken me twenty-five years to finally get you on screen, but I always knew you’d be a star…”