Chapter 30
THIRTY
‘Close your eyes!’ Carefully, I take Kate by the hand.
‘They are closed,’ she says. ‘Why do you think I’m walking liking a newborn baby foal?’ Kate takes tiny steps.
‘Sorry, Jimmy, but I’ve been told I have to hold your hand.
Shut your eyes,’ Dan tells Jimmy behind us.
It’s almost midnight and most of the villagers are in the Heart Ballroom having drinks and fish and chips sent up to us from the Heartwell Lounge, all complimentary. Everyone is exhausted but happy.
Leading Kate back down the winding stairs, I stop just before the cellar bar.
With trepidation and excitement in my words I tell her, ‘Open your eyes, Kate.’
Kate opens one eye. Then the other.
‘No way! Maggie! Oh no way!’ Kate’s hands fly to her mouth, she sways.
The once dark cellar is now illuminated by romantic flickering and the gentle glow of light.
All down the corridor, along the walls, clusters of tea lights flicker on wooden shelves and inside decorative lanterns.
Strings of golden fairy lights are intertwined and drape elegantly from the rafters in the rooftop, twinkling like stars in the night sky.
The dim ambient light creates a warm atmosphere, casting soft shadow on the stone walls.
‘Wow,’ Jimmy wheezes.
‘Come on,’ Dan says and I can hear the pride in his voice.
I pull Kate’s hand gently. As we walk on and enter the reception part of the cellar, Kate makes a strange gurgling sound.
There are ten tables adorned with candles, with pristine white table cloths and red bows tied on the backs of the chairs, sitting in a circle on the new reclaimed walnut floor.
White tall vases already hold three long-stemmed snowdrops from the castle garden that I’d picked earlier purely for effect.
Red place cards and menus stand. There are even more fairy lights draped and hanging over the backs of the chairs.
The smell of fresh paint lingers. In the far corner is a cosy seating area, arranged with plush cushions and warm throws, a spot I wanted Kate and Jimmy’s wedding guests to be able to kick off their shoes and relax in.
Very Kate, I think, nodding to myself with approval at my idea, remembering her in flip-flops the first time I’d met her.
‘It’s like something from a fairytale! You are a genius.’ Kate bursts into tears and hugs me so tightly she almost winds me.
‘This is something else, lads, thank you,’ Jimmy says, high-fiving Dan.
‘All the brain child of this fantastic woman,’ Dan says pointing at me.
‘Team work!’ I immediately retort. ‘None of this was possible without us all pulling together. It really does take a village!’ I say as I squeeze Kate back.
‘I look up to you, do you know that?’ Kate says suddenly as she lets go and takes a step back.
Her words serenade my ears. Make me so emotional.
‘Kate. That’s so nice. . .’ I start.
‘. . . and I don’t mean just physically cos I’m a titch!
I mean you are so brave. You came all the way across the world on your own, you only met us all a few days ago, yet you step up and not only come up with a brainwave to save our castle but you make all my dreams come true.
You’re an inspiration to me. I hope I can send the lift back down and help another woman like you’ve helped me.
’ Kate has a look on her face that I’ve never seen anyone look at me with before.
It’s what I’ve always wanted to do – inspire other women.
‘I can’t tell you how much those words mean to me.’ I hug her again.
‘We are going to have our blessing, Jimmy, can you actually believe it? We will be happily married forever,’ Kate gushes as she pats my back then moves away over to Jimmy. I truly believe they will be married forever.
‘That we are, Kate.’ Jimmy pulls her to him. ‘Happy?’
‘Never been happier!’ Kate punches the air. ‘Although . . .’ Kate turns to me. ‘I just wish you were going to be here for our wedding!’
A weird silence falls around the four of us. All eyes on me. You could hear a pin drop.
‘I-I know, me too, but you’ll have to send me all the photos!’ I put a lift in my voice, focus on Kate. I can’t look at Dan.
‘I will of course.’ Kate’s tone is gentle.
‘Can I pop down now?’ Jill’s voice calls from the stairwell and I’m grateful for the interruption.
‘Yes! Sorry, you must be exhausted! Alright, all quiet please, let Jill Lewis-Huberman do her thing.’ I shush them.
‘That’s who you are! Oh my God, I recognise you now!’ Kate is star struck as her jaw falls open and she covers her eyes with Jimmy’s hand.
‘Hi!’ Jill beams at her. ‘What a wedding venue, you must be Kate.’
‘Over here.’ I pull Jimmy’s hand down, take Kate by the arm and introduce her to Jill then Jill moves off and we all huddle in the far corner out of sight.
‘So guys, it’s sixteen hours later. Are you ready to get an exclusive look at what we have?
You want a romantic wedding venue? You want the fairytale?
Well come with me.’ The ring light from Jill’s camera slowly comes into blinding view.
‘I can’t even . . . this is definitely where I am renewing my vows.
Look at this! Spectacular! Stunning! Super bougie!
’ Jill walks around as Kate pulls at my top. I bend low as she whispers in my ear.
‘I wish you didn’t have to leave here but maybe you can’t if Faith is still blowing a gale out there?’
‘If fate is real, who knows,’ I whisper back and cross my fingers behind her back. But there is another thought that is occupying my mind if only I was brave enough.
* * *
After everyone had left and Jill and Max had gone to bed in the bridal suite, Dan and I sit bone weary in his office. Red rests his head on my lap and I gently stroke him. Dan yawns loudly, then I do the same.
‘That’s contagious,’ I say easily.
‘You need to pack and try get a bit of sleep. I’m aware of that.’ Dan stands up with a sort of forlorn look on his face. He’s been checking something on his phone so I have to ask, ‘Is everything okay?’
‘Believe it or not, Faith has passed over us, the snow has stopped and it’s milder out now. Calm as anything.’ Resignation rings in his voice.
Typical, the storm has passed, I think, with a drop-feeling in the pit of my stomach.
‘I was thinking . . .’ he starts.
‘Yeah?’ I jump in, sitting up. Say it. I think. Say something.
‘Maybe we could have a last stroll around the grounds, you and me, before you have to leave?’ Dan steps in beside me and Red jumps to his feet and barks wildly. ‘Okay, and you too, boy.’
‘Sure.’ I’m flooded with disappointment.
That hope in the back of my mind where I’d been praying Faith would keep me here a little while longer is snuffed out.
Now that isn’t going to happen. I’m going back to New York in a few hours.
Slipping my arms into my green wool coat, I button it up as we walk out of his office.
Dan holds the red castle door open for me as we step outside.
He is right. It is practically balmy out.
Red bounds ahead of us, his paws making small prints in the last of the fresh snow.
‘I can’t believe the change in the weather,’ Dan says and it’s so quiet it’s almost to himself.
‘Me either,’ I manage, tuck my hands into my pockets.
‘You really have saved this place,’ Dan says softly.
‘No, you did.’ I jut him with my hip. He doesn’t take my hand now, I notice, curling my fingers into my palms inside my pockets.
Is this our last conversation? My stomach lurches at that thought and I feel sick. Gripping my fingers further into my palms, my nails make indents.
‘When Jill posts, you will get so many bookings, I know it.’ Trying to keep the emotion out of my voice.
All I want to do is curl up in that four-poster bed and cry myself to sleep for a few hours.
I could speak up. I could tell him how I feel and I feel strong enough to do that, I just don’t want to put him on the spot. That would not be fair.
‘I don’t know how I’m going to manage without you.’ Dan expels a half-hearted laugh as we walk around the castle.
I let that hang.
‘I don’t want to say anything I will regret so . . .’
‘You don’t have to say a thing. Look, I leave early and I do need some sleep so I better go, Dan.’ I stop walking, I want to make this easier for him.
‘Sure,’ he says and as we turn to head back inside a bell tolls out below in Heartwell village. A deep, resonant tone that carries.
‘What’s that?’ I ask him.
‘The Heartwell church bells. They toll every half an hour on Christmas Eve. Three gongs. It’s Christmas Eve morning.’ Dan checks his watch. ‘Oh wow, it’s six a.m.’
‘It’s not? Oh, I have to get moving. I need to get . . . home.’ The words get stuck in my throat. The word ‘home’ feels all wrong.
‘Of course. I’ll walk you up to your room.’ We head back inside the castle in silence. ‘Into bed, Red, good boy.’ Dan opens his office door and clicks his fingers. But Red sits at my feet, his big eyes looking up at me, refusing to budge. I get down on my knees and pat him softly.
‘Goodbye, Red.’ I rest my cheek on his silky fur, he whimpers with his tail down, then he turns and goes into Dan’s office.
I know how he feels. I stand up slowly and we walk past the dying embers of the fire towards the grand staircase together.
It’s hard to believe I have to leave this place, I think, stepping onto the grand staircase for the very last time.