Epilogue
Eight months later
‘Alfie, chew with your mouth closed. I’ve seen cows with better table manners.’ Will tosses a napkin at his brother across the dinner table as his mother scolds him in between her giggles.
The whole family are gathered around Grandad’s dining table, Sian’s lasagne in the middle of us all.
Well, it was, until it was ravaged within seconds.
Dad had a lot to do with that. The sight of him at the end of the table, tomato sauce staining his lips, laughing with Mum and Dave, fills me with too much joy to complain.
Will and Alfie have done nothing but bicker since they stepped over the threshold, but Grandad joins in on their banter, teasing Will for his wonky drilling of the wheat field, and Will teases him about old Betty in return.
Grandad grins like a cheeky teenager; it’s like he and Will are mates down the pub with the way they throw their jokes back and forth.
It really is a sight to behold. Callum and Lizzie chatter away about whatever the latest Star Wars show is and no one bothers to disturb them.
Jacob and I sit together in contented silence. His hand rests naturally on my thigh as we both watch the scene unfold before us, unable to contain our smiles. ‘I’m going to miss this.’ I rest my head against his shoulder as I speak, absorbed in the way his thumb runs in circles against my skin.
‘Me too,’ he murmurs, chipped smile on full display as Grandad flings a lettuce leaf at Alfie, who is too stunned to speak, as the rest of the adults at the table burst out in hysterics.
Joy, one of Hope’s kittens, weaves around my chair.
Both kittens moved into Grandad’s house one cold evening without an invite, and despite grumbling about how they smell, or how he has no interest in the animals, Grandad hasn’t had the heart to kick them out.
They keep each other company. I’ve often caught the three of them asleep together in his armchair. They make quite the family.
‘Right, I think that means it’s time for a toast.’ Mum stands up with her glass of wine trembling in her hand from her continuing fit of giggles.
‘To my baby girl, who spreads her wings next week and starts university in Milan. We are so, so proud of you.’ She glances over at Dad, who tries to hide his glassy eyes with a swig from his drink.
‘I know Granny would be beside herself with pride. She wouldn’t have rested until everyone in the village knew all about you, and I know she will be with you every step of the way, in your heart, and in your sewing machine.
I love you.’ She doesn’t hide her tears as she raises her glass, and I have to catch my own in my napkin.
‘To Ava!’ The rest of the table repeat after her.
‘And of course, I couldn’t forget Jacob.
Every designer needs her photographer by her side, and my god can this boy take photos.
You better look after my little girl out there.
I know that as long as she’s with you, she’s as happy and as safe as can be.
’ I look up at my boyfriend with pride. A little mud from the orchard still lingers on his neck from earlier in the day, and I blush at the reminder.
‘To Jacob.’ They all raise their glasses again.
‘Can we have pudding now?’ Alfie puts an end to the speeches with his request. The clamouring that follows can only be compared to that of hungry pigeons, and Jacob and I take it as our cue to slip out.
Jacob is taking a year to figure out where he wants to be, what he wants to do.
He knows his passion lies in photography, but in what capacity, he hasn’t quite figured out yet.
So, in the coming months, he will come with me to Milan, to explore the city, to put his skills to the test, and to widen his horizons.
He’s also splitting his time with the farm, not quite ready to let Will be completely in charge just yet.
Like second nature, Jacob and I find our way to the treehouse and clamber up onto the rickety structure. Sat side by side, we both look out at the view beyond the window, as the country stretches for miles and the whole world lies at the end of it.
‘It’s not too late to run off into the woods, you know.’ I nudge Jacob and he wraps his arm around me tightly.
‘You know, I think I’m actually starting to enjoy the real world,’ he says. ‘The woods can wait. We’re off to Milan.’
‘I love you, Wolfie.’
‘I love you, Kitty.’