EPILOGUE
Ellie and Zak had invited a few friends round to admire the house, along with Joel and the team.
They’d completed the work, knocking down walls to create an impressive new dining kitchen, with French doors at the back leading out to the garden.
We’d had the tour, taking in the spacious family bathroom upstairs and the three newly-plastered bedrooms. The fourth bedroom, which would be the nursery, I was pleased to find had been left exactly as it was.
As everyone crowded in and admired the murals, Joel said it was the one room that hadn’t actually needed any work, apart from a small leak in the corner which had been taken care of.
‘It’s pretty magical,’ he said, with a wink at me, ‘so I’m really glad we didn’t have to touch it.’
Ellie nudged me affectionately. ‘We know who to come to if it the murals ever fade and we need a touch-up.’
I laughed. ‘At your service, Ma’am.’
‘So will you get the decoration all completed by the time the baby’s born?’ asked Primrose.
Ellie smiled. ‘You know what? I’m not even sure I mind anymore. I mean, yes, sure, it would be lovely it was all perfect by then. But it really doesn’t matter. We can decorate once we’re in, if necessary.’
I chuckled. ‘Good for you. I was worried about you when you were getting all stressed about it.’
‘Well, I suppose it’s a terrible cliché, but I’ve realised it’s the people you live with that are important. A house is just a house.’ I smiled up at Zak. ‘I’d live in a tent if it meant I was with you and Maisie.’
There were lots of ‘aahs’ and someone shouted, ‘And the new baby.’
Ellie patted her bump. ‘And the new baby, of course. Now, let’s go down and open the champagne and you can all tell me how lovely it is!’
On the way downstairs, I smiled at Ellie. ‘You know, whatever the house looks like when your baby arrives, she’ll be the luckiest little girl in the world because she’ll have a wonderful home and a family who adore her. Right from the moment she’s born.’
I took her hand and squeezed it, and we exchanged a slightly wistful smile. And I knew we were both thinking of Polly.
‘You’ve got years to make up for all the time you missed, you and Polly,’ she said.
I felt my eyes well up. ‘I know. And I get on so well with her parents. They’ve been so very welcoming to me.’
‘That’s brilliant, Rhona.’ She looked across at Joel, who was bringing my coat. ‘Here’s Mac. Er, I mean Joel.’ She grinned. ‘Are you leaving?’
‘Joel says he’s taking me on a mystery tour.’
‘Ooh. Exciting.’
‘I wish you’d tell me where you were taking me.’ I smiled, as Joel helped me into my coat and we said goodbye to everyone.
‘Well, it wouldn’t be a mystery tour then, would it?’ he said, with a mischievous twinkle in his eye, and I laughed, loving the warmth of my hand in his as we walked out to the car.
‘I’ve bought a house,’ he said, as we drove away. ‘I wanted you to see it.’
‘Intriguing.’ I smiled at him.
I’d no idea where we were going but I was quite happy to just sit back and enjoy the view. We drove through several villages, all of which I knew from my childhood. And then we arrived at a place I was very familiar with.
‘That’s where we used to do art classes, Joel!’ I pointed at the old building, which was now a fitness centre.
He nodded, smiling. And a little further along, he pulled into the side of the road and switched off the engine.
‘This is it,’ he said.
I looked over and my heart gave an enormous skip of joy mixed with excitement.
‘It’s the cottage,’ I whispered. ‘I used to say it would make the perfect forever home.’
‘You did. Shall we get out?’
I nodded, feeling as if I was floating on air.
All the memories were flooding back.
Joel and me coming out of the art class and heading for our favourite café, talking non-stop about anything and everything. And every time I’d pause and linger by the hedge, admiring this cute cottage.
‘I couldn’t believe it was up for sale when I started looking for a place to live,’ said Joel. ‘I guess I bought it with you in mind.’ He took my hand in his and squeezed, and I snuggled into him, wondering if maybe I was dreaming and I’d wake up soon.
‘Would you live in it with me, Rhona? One day?’
I looked up at him, unable to speak, happy tears in my eyes.
At last, I found my voice. ‘What do you mean, “one day”? How about next week?’ I joked.
I could tell from his delighted smile that he knew I was really only half -joking.
‘Come on.’ He opened the gate and ushered me in. ‘Let’s go and explore our forever home.’