Epilogue
JUNE, TWO YEARS LATER
It doesn’t seem like two years since I almost sloshed a glass of champagne over that rude but innocent man.
Evan and I, along with Alison, Bennett, Louise, Grandpa, Dane and his new girlfriend (more about her in a moment!), have just returned from Loch Crawe, where the book launch of Evan’s autobiography For Fox’s Sake was held.
As its title suggests, it’s all about his time as the eponymous newspaper critic: the pitfalls, the highs, the lows, the struggle to keep his identity secret and how it all came to a head when he met me.
Needless to say, Octavia has been delighted at the exposure I’ve received out of this. A couple of TV and film casting directors want me to audition for their rom-coms, and I’ve already filmed my part in an up-and-coming thriller miniseries set in Edinburgh for a well-known streaming channel.
But my life has taken another surprising and even more rewarding turn, because not only am I also helping out Josie by giving acting classes to her drama students at the high school, but Evan and I have also taken over the day-to-day running of The Ramblings!
We decided to move back to Scotland once all the Fox fuss had died down, and we’re now living together in a cute apartment with Loch Crawe and the rolling hills on our doorstep.
But a big shock was in store when Alison and Bennett confided in us on our return that they felt it was time The Ramblings was passed onto the next generation, leaving them to celebrate by taking a much-deserved round-the-world cruise. They had a ball!
We’ve turned this gorgeous manor into a romantic and much sought-after wedding venue, with its sweeping lawns and its guest rooms housing lavish four-poster beds.
We’ve even organised a few film and theatre-themed weddings recently and have had more enquiries from interested couples keen to have a similarly themed wedding of their own now that word has spread. I’m in my element!
Table place settings were made to look like old-fashioned cinema tickets, and the tablecloths were printed with the musical notes of famous film scores.
We also arranged for clapperboard-style bags of theatre-themed favours such as popcorn, 3D glasses and quotes from cult movies for the wedding guests.
I also called on the services of a few actor friends of mine to mingle at the wedding receptions dressed as Marilyn Monroe, Charlie Chaplin, Darth Vader and Audrey Hepburn.
Even the wedding reception music, supplied by musician friends of Dane’s, ranged from instantly recognisable musical tunes to dramatic movie scores.
It’s such a thrill to see this beautiful old house providing the setting for so many newly married couples beginning their lives together.
Evan is still keeping his hand in freelance journalism from time to time, but he’s more focused on The Ramblings these days and is loving every minute of it. We are in this together, and it feels wonderful.
Talking of loving what you do, Cayla was thrilled to secure a place at Glasgow’s Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, my old alma mater, to study for a degree in drama after successfully completing her Advanced Highers.
When she’s able to come home for a visit, she more than happily reprises her role as Florence to give her fellow actors a break!
Her confidence has soared, and she embraces acting again, as though her passion for it never went away.
I like to think that somewhere Florence is smiling and appreciative of what Cayla has done in portraying her story and showing her as the strong, determined and spirited young woman she was.
The tour has become such a success that Alison and Bennett had no problem recruiting keen volunteers from the Forrest Bank Players to play not only Florence but also Bennett’s great-grandparents and Constance Miller in a rota system three times a week.
And Josie is on hand to step into the breach whenever it is required, as well as assist with rehearsals.
We still stage the Florence tours regularly, and they continue to attract fascinated people from the surrounding areas as well as other parts of Scotland, and even foreign tourists keen to witness first-hand a slice of Scottish history.
I think the fact that what happened to Florence is a true story makes her tale resonate even more with the public.
Grandpa moved from Strath Ross last autumn and now lives in a sweet little cottage only ten minutes away from us here in Forrest Bank, but I’m delighted to say he isn’t on his own. Louise has moved in with him.
They have become even closer over these past months, and both of them are a very treasured part of The Ramblings extended family.
Louise is a godsend with her baking and organisational skills, playing a major part in the weddings we put on, and Grandpa heads for the gardens whenever he’s here, keeping the flowerbeds neat, tidy and exploding with colour.
Thankfully, due to the fortunes of The Ramblings turning around, Alison and Bennett were able to re-hire their former gardener, Freddie, and he and Grandpa are a horticultural force to be reckoned with!
Now, back to Dane and his new girlfriend, Erica.
He met her six months ago when he approached a new public relations company to get some advice about further promotion for Disciple.
Their following is growing, thanks in part to their great music and talented frontman, and also due to Dane being the brother of the famed Fox.
Dane was the first to admit that the added publicity did him and the other guys in the band no harm at all!
They lit up social media, and things are going from strength to strength for the band.
Erica is the complete opposite of a rock chick, all dark, chic, cheek-grazing hair and well-cut suits, but they’re crazy about each other, and it’s wonderful to see Dane evolving further into someone who his parents are so proud of.
But it’s not just only the tour and other people’s weddings that The Ramblings is playing host to; Evan and I are having our own summer wedding here in just three weeks’ time!
We couldn’t have considered holding it anywhere else. The Ramblings is in my heart now, too, and has given me so much: Evan and a new family.
Louise was thrilled when we asked her to make our wedding cake. After happy tears, she said she’d be honoured to make our three-tiered, lemon and buttercream affair, decorated with fresh flowers from The Ramblings gardens, which I think is a lovely touch.
We are continuing to keep it in the family, as Dane and Disciple are playing at our wedding reception, and Grandpa will be giving me away.
Jade is going to be my bridesmaid – well, her and her baby bump!
Yes, she and Jasper are expecting an autumn baby, and her aristocratic parents are thrilled, already spoiling ‘Bug’ (Jade’s name for her bump) with assorted outfits and toys that are far too advanced for a newborn! I can’t wait to become the little one’s Auntie Daisy.
I’ve come to realise that you can’t let what other people do and how they treat you define you as a person. It’s up to you to try to move on and leave the past behind.
I know I’m loved and that I love the people around me. From Josie to Gillian and Cayla, Grandpa and I have a new family now, and both of us couldn’t be any happier or more content than we are.
Just be yourself, because everybody else is taken … unless you’re an actor, of course.