Epilogue
Stella McElhone stepped off the river bus at Greenwich Pier and walked towards the park, her dark hair swinging behind her. Her destination was only about half a mile away, but if she didn’t get a move on, she’d be late and make a bad entrance.
Of course, Ernie was not exactly the fastest of walkers at the best of times, but the others could hardly start without them. Even though it was only November, it was chilly, so she was glad to have her mother’s cream wrap for warmth, and she pulled it more tightly around her shoulders.
As Stella and Ernie made their way up the hill to the Royal Observatory, Catherine and Bob Telford walked towards them. Catherine was dressed in a slub silk lemon suit, complete with matching shoes, handbag and hat. The mischievous Mrs Telford had known exactly whose wedding she was buying that outfit for. Her eyes sparkled and Bob seemed to be having trouble with a lump in his throat. Behind them was Daniel, jumping up and down with excitement.
Catherine took Stella’s hands between her own. ‘My dear Stella, you look so beautiful.’
Bob bent and kissed her on the cheek. ‘I wish you would have let me pick the pair of you up in the car instead of doing battle with public transport.’
Stella shook her head. ‘Thank you, Bob, but I wanted the journey to be the same as the first time I came here and met Benedict – Tube delays, river taxi and all.’ She turned to the porter from her apartment block. ‘But I’m sorry for making you endure it, Ernie.’
‘Wouldn’t have had it any other way, mate. It’s a great honour being asked to stand for you, especially seeing as I’ve none of my own.’
Catherine gave her a quick wink before Bob escorted his wife indoors and Stella blew Daniel a kiss. Ernie held out his arm and Stella hooked her own into it. As they walked into the planetarium, her eyes met Benedict’s. He was standing at the front in a grey morning suit and although his eyes were usually a pale-blue, they were dark as he watched her walk towards him.
The bride wore a long sheath of cream silk and carried a small spray of red roses and honeysuckle, with matching buds sewn into her hair. She smiled at her husband-to-be, glad to have Ernie at her side for support. The registrar looked up and beckoned the trio to the front as otherworldly music started to play. Stella recognised ‘Neptune, the Mystic’ from The Planets and she smiled, amazed that Benedict knew Neptune ruled Pisces. Gustav Holst was rumoured to have been a keen astrologer, and Benedict’s thoughtfulness was deeply touching.
Walking slowly, Stella and Ernie arrived in front of the registrar. When she asked who was giving Stella away, Ernie proudly took Stella’s hand and passed it to Benedict before stepping back to take a seat. Catherine held Bob’s hand as she dabbed at her eyes. Daniel was dressed in a replica of his father’s morning suit, complete with tails and tie. He passed the ring to the minister at the appropriate time, accompanied by oohs and aahs from the small congregation. Then he stepped back to stand with his Aunt Miranda, who put an arm around him and smiled happily at her brother and at her sister-in-law-to-be.
As Stella swore her vows, she gazed up at Professor Redman, the man she was pledging the rest of her life to, and noticed that the overhead lights had been dimmed at some point so they were now surrounded by the night sky, lit with hundreds of constellations. She kissed her husband under a starry sky, to the sound of loud cheers and clapping.
Daniel groaned in disgust. ‘I hate kissing. I’m never going to kiss girls when I grow up.’
Catherine hugged him. ‘You might change your mind one day, Daniel. Oh, weddings always make me so happy.’
She sniffled into a lace handkerchief while Daniel looked at her, quite perplexed.
‘But you’re not happy at all, Grandma. You’ve cried the whole time.’
Catherine, unable to speak, squeezed her grandson until he protested and she reluctantly let him go. Bob explained to Daniel that Catherine was perfectly happy, and that sometimes when people are happy, it can make them cry. Daniel’s expression suggested that he remained to be convinced.
After a small reception held at the brasserie in St John’s Wood, Stella, Benedict and Daniel drove off in the mustard sports car, which was draped with cream satin ribbons. After a couple of hours, they pulled into the churchyard where Anna was buried. The little family walked to her grave, and Daniel tucked his buttonhole rose into the vase at the foot of her headstone.
‘Hello, Mummy. Here’s my flower from the wedding. Daddy and Stella got married today. I wish you were here to see me in my smart suit. Grandma says I look even more handsome than Daddy and Grandpa put together. ’
He hopped from one foot to another then ran to his father’s side.
‘Hello, Anna,’ Benedict began, holding his son and his new wife close. ‘This is Stella. You’d have both got on like a house on fire. I’m never going to forget you, but I know you’d want me to be happy.’
Stella stepped forward and crouched down to lay her wedding bouquet at Anna’s gravestone before standing up again.
‘Hello, Anna. I’ve heard so much about you from your loved ones and want you to know that I’ll do everything in my power to make Benedict and Daniel happy.’
She looked down at the epitaph, saddened at the short interval between the date of Anna’s birth and the date of her death. Her hand instinctively went to her womb. Seeing the movement, Benedict stepped forward and turned her slowly to face him, a question written in his eyes. Wordlessly, she nodded.
Benedict put his arms around his wife and son and drew them close. Darkness had fallen and all the stars had started to pop out across the miles of velvet sky. Stella looked up at her old friends. The stars had always been there throughout her life, and in one way or another, they’d brought her and Benedict together. She looked to the sky to find her mother and father. Silently she told them her news.
I’m part of a family again.