EPILOGUE - EDITH
Three and a half months after Titus and Finn’s wedding, autumn had arrived in Porthpenny, bringing with it vibrant colours, delightful scents, and a changing landscape.
Today, the last Saturday of October, the village was holding its harvest festival, which would be followed by an evening lantern walk.
It had been a cold and crisp day, and locals had set up stalls in the village to sell the fruits of their harvest. There were plenty of rosy apples, fat pears, pumpkins and squashes, along with a variety of nuts, jams, and chutneys. Some stalls had sold apple cider, perry and warm spiced cider.
Edith had been free to wander around and enjoy the day but Wyatt had got actively involved, helping to construct the stalls, pressing apples with village children and carrying goods from cars and vans.
He wanted to show his commitment to the village and its community.
Edith watched and admired him all day, her heart swelling with pride and joy at how far he’d come.
Wyatt had started therapy before the summer was out, and he’d been fully invested in his healing journey.
He had even asked Edith to attend some sessions with him so he could better explain why he’d acted as he had in the past. They had both found it useful and highly emotional.
It had been, she thought now, like he was healing through his own personal harvesting of his emotions and today was a celebration of all that work for him.
He had also held several community sessions at the village hall where he’d given talks about business and entrepreneurship, and he’d agreed to mentor several of the village’s young people who were about to head off to university.
As a successful entrepreneur, he had plenty of advice to offer and experience to draw upon, and he was happy to share that.
He had also, to her surprise, agreed to a merger of his business with a respected colleague, and he was to step back and remain a silent partner while his colleague took the leading role.
It was time, he’d said, for him to focus on life and healing and to stop burying himself in work.
Edith wasn’t sure how he would find the quieter life, but so far he’d been keeping himself busy around the village and also helping her to expand her business.
He had even asked if he could invest in her business to help her develop it, and she’d happily agreed.
Personally, they were taking things slowly between them this time around. The passion still burnt hot between them, but they were waiting, getting to know each other again as the adults they were now and not the youngsters they’d once been.
Now, dusk had fallen, and they were walking hand in hand through the village. They’d been back to Edith’s to collect their warmer coats, hats and gloves, and were on their way to join the lantern procession.
The air was crisp, scented with salt and wood smoke, spiced cider and coffee. Hundreds of lanterns decorated the village streets and the harbour, hanging on posts and in front windows, making it feel like a fairy bower surrounded by fireflies.
Villagers were gathering at the harbour, all holding homemade lanterns made of glass jars or pumpkins.
Children ran around with their friends, laughing and playing.
Adults stood around in groups enjoying the cider and coffees that were being handed out by Pearl and Ellie.
They were also giving out small, spiced pumpkin tarts decorated with Cornish cream and slices of chocolate chip pumpkin banana bread.
‘These look delicious, Pearl,’ Edith said as she accepted a tart, and Wyatt took a slice of banana bread.
‘All Ellie’s doing.’ Pearl smiled, her bright eyes peering out from underneath a baggy grey beanie. ‘Part of our autumn range.’
‘You’re amazing, Ellie,’ Edith said.
Ellie blushed then gave a small shrug. ‘I don’t know about that, but this colder weather makes me hungry, and I think we all need some scrummy treats to enjoy right now.’
Ellie handed Edith the spiced cider she’d asked for.
‘Thank you.’ Edith sipped the cider. It was sharp and sweet, spiced with cinnamon and cloves. ‘This is perfect.’
Wyatt accepted a drink, and they wandered over to the harbour wall.
The boats bobbed gently, their hulls creaking softly with each sway.
Fairy lights strung along the decks twinkled in the dusky air, their reflections rippling across the dark water like scattered stars.
The faint scent of seaweed and driftwood mingled with the chill of the evening, and the lapping of water against the quay whispered around them. It was a perfect evening.
When they’d finished their refreshments, Edith took Wyatt’s hand. ‘Time to collect our lanterns.’
They walked to the bookshop where Edith had dropped off their lanterns earlier that day, and went inside.
The familiar scents greeted them — coffee, paper, amber and bergamot from the reed diffusers on the counter.
Rosa and Henry were behind the counter, deep in conversation, and they looked up as Edith and Wyatt entered.
‘Hey there,’ Rosa said, bending over to retrieve the lanterns from behind the counter. ‘Here you go.’
She set their lanterns on the counter, and Edith smiled her thanks. ‘You two coming on the walk?’
‘We are.’ Rosa nodded. ‘We’re going to close up now then join you all.’
Henry wrapped an arm around Rosa’s shoulders and kissed her cheek. ‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world.’
Back outside, it seemed colder than before, and Edith huddled closer to Wyatt, grateful for his warmth. Grateful that he was here. Grateful that he had finally been honest with her and able to release himself from the hold his past had over him.
‘Shall we light them?’ Edith asked.
Wyatt pulled a box of matches from his pocket and lit the small candles inside their lanterns. They had carved the lanterns out of pumpkins early that morning. Edith’s had a heart at the front and Wyatt’s had a P surrounded by tiny stars.
P for Parker, he had told her, and she’d wrapped her arms around him and hugged him.
They rejoined the other villagers in the square near the harbour, and then the procession set off.
The soft glow from the lanterns flickered as people walked, tiny flames and battery candles reflecting on the cobbles as feet created a rhythmic pattering.
Edith glanced around, seeing familiar faces, feeling the sense of belonging that she loved about Porthpenny. But now, it was even better, because Wyatt was here too. Now, she felt complete, whereas in previous years she’d felt like something was missing.
Wyatt held her hand tight, his lantern in his other hand, and they walked in step, the way they always had done.
The years that had passed while they’d been apart had been hard but necessary, she realised, necessary for healing and for growth.
The journey had been hard, but it had been worth it to be where they were now.
Even in her darkest moments, when she’d doubted that her life would ever be the way she’d dreamt it would be, things had been happening that had led them back to each other, back to closeness, back to love.
When they reached the beach, they walked down to the large bonfire that glowed ready, and joined Finn and Titus. They hugged and shared smiles and kind words, and then a hush fell over the gathering.
‘And now it is time for each one of us to dedicate our lantern to a loved one who is no longer with us or even to yourself if you are going through some changes,’ Pearl said, breaking the silence. ‘You can do this silently or say it out loud, whatever works for you. I’ll start us off.’
She cleared her throat as she held up a glass jar with a candle glowing inside it.
‘I dedicate this lantern to my wonderful husband who lost his life to the sea many years ago. He was the light of my life for many years, and I loved him dearly. I still do. Until we meet again, my love.’ She set her lantern down in front of the circle of stones that surrounded the fire, pressed her hand to her heart then stepped back.
Around the fire, people dedicated their lanterns and then set them down as Pearl had. Edith had to blink hard each time as people made such beautiful dedications.
When his turn came, Wyatt held up his lantern and said softly, ‘I dedicate this lantern to my dear brother, Parker. I miss you every day and always will. You were the sweetest little brother, and I am sorry I was too young to protect you that day. I will always carry you in my heart. Love you, little man.’ His voice broke as he said the final words, and Edith reached for his hand, letting him know she was there for him. She had his back and always would.
Then Edith lifted her own lantern, the flickering light reflecting in her eyes.
She pressed a hand to her heart and whispered, ‘I dedicate this lantern to the girl I used to be — for all the fears, the doubts, and the moments I felt lost. Thank you for holding on. Thank you for being stubborn. Thank you for leading me here.’
She placed the lantern carefully among the others, feeling a quiet sense of closure and renewal, as if the act itself had stitched together the past and the present.
When all the lanterns had been dedicated, a hush fell over the gathering. Rosie stepped back from the circle and moved towards where Cariad sat with her harp. Then, the haunting notes of ‘Medhel an Gwyns’ drifted into the evening air.
Goosebumps prickled along Edith’s arms despite her warm coat and jumper, and Wyatt tightened his grip on her hand. The melody seemed to swirl around them, carrying memories of those they had lost, of times gone and times still to come.
As if joining in with the music, the wind whispered, tender and gentle, gathering the voices of loved ones and sending them floating across the sea.
When the song ended, people wandered away from the fire. Some went back to the village, while others gathered in groups to talk. Wyatt and Edith stayed where they were, gazing into the fire.
She watched the flickering flames, seeing faces and figures, memories she’d gathered in her heart and mind across the years. Wyatt was quiet for a while, and she didn’t disturb him. She knew he was thinking and remembering too, and it was important for him to have this time.
Finally, he turned to her and held her gaze. The fire seemed to flicker in his eyes and she felt breathless at how beautiful he was and at the depth of her feelings for him.
‘Edith,’ he said, placing his hands on her shoulders.
‘I want to thank you for everything you’ve done for me since our paths crossed again.
It’s been a rocky road, but I wouldn’t change it for the world.
I’ve learnt so much about myself and my childhood, and I’m in a much better place now.
You have been patient and kind, and incredibly understanding as I’ve worked through things, and I love you so much for it.
I loved you anyway, but your strength, courage and resilience have helped me to find my own. ’
He blinked then sighed softly. This was hard for him, but he was getting so much better at expressing himself.
‘I know now that what happened to Parker wasn’t my fault,’ he continued.
‘I was a young child. The guilt was horrific, and it was, perhaps, easier for me to accept it as my burden because that helped me to deal with the accident. My parents were responsible for my safety and Parker’s, but they were neglectful, and they should have shouldered the burden of his death, not placed it on me.
The therapy is helping me to accept that and to accept that it’s OK to feel sad. ’
He inhaled deeply then sighed.
‘I even felt that allowing myself to grieve was something I didn’t deserve and that hindered my healing.
But finally, I can accept that I am entitled to feel sad, to grieve for my little brother and to let go of the guilt.
It was not my fault that I survived and Parker didn’t.
I’ll keep going to therapy, keep learning and keep healing because I know it’s not a linear process.
This is my promise to myself and to you. ’
Edith nodded, her heart brimming over with love for this wonderful man.
‘This evening, Edith, I have something to ask you…’
Edith gazed up into his face. All her fears and reservations about loving him had fallen away and she wanted to give him everything she could.
‘Ask me,’ she said.
‘Will you… are you prepared to be by my side as I continue? I completely understand if you’re not. It’s a lot, I know, and I wouldn’t blame you if you wanted to remain friends.’
She smiled, reached up and placed her hands on either side of his face.
‘Yes. I do want to be by your side as your friend. But… I have loved you since I learnt what love is, and I want to be so much more than your friend.’
He smiled, his eyes glistening. ‘Thank goodness for that. I don’t want to go through life without you.’
‘Nor I without you.’
He slid his hands from her shoulders to her waist and pulled her close to him. Heat seared through her body. Longing enveloped her heart. She wrapped her arms around his neck and smiled at him as he lowered his head to kiss her.
‘You deserve the world, Edith,’ he said when he gently pulled back to meet her gaze. ‘I want to give it to you.’
‘And so do you, Wyatt. You deserve to be happy and to have peace.’
‘I love you.’ He kissed her lips, her cheeks, her forehead.
‘And I love you.’ She kissed him back.
‘Shall we go?’ he asked, his voice filled with hope.
‘Yes. Let’s go back to mine.’
He had extended his rental of the cottage in the village but spent a lot of time at her cottage. Not the nights, because they’d been taking things slowly, but she had a feeling that was about to change.
‘I have a spare toothbrush you can use.’ She smiled.
‘You’re asking me to stay over?’ he asked.
‘I am. Not just tonight, but every night.’ His gasp of surprise made her throat ache with emotion.
‘I-I would like that very much.’ He kissed her again as if to seal the deal.
They linked arms and walked away from the fire, along the beach and headed to Edith’s cottage.
When they arrived, she unlocked the door, and the moment they stepped inside, Wyatt wrapped her in his arms. She let the warmth of his embrace settle deep in her bones, and knew that this time, it was for keeps.
All of it — the laughter, the tears, the late-night planning sessions, the love that had grown quietly between them, had led to this. Somehow, in the process of working together, they had found each other again and their hearts had opened once more.
And it had all come about as they created a perfect and unforgettable wedding at The Cornish Garden Café.
The End