Epilogue
Two Months Later
Snow was falling in thick flurries, turning the road into a whiteout. Gaby peered out of the car windscreen, wondering how Peter was able to look so happy while driving in these conditions.
“I don’t see why this couldn’t wait until this snow eased off,” Gaby said. “This is completely treacherous.”
“I said I had a surprise to show you and it can’t wait,” Peter said, turning to give her a smile.
“Keep your eyes on the road, mister,” she said. “Can you even see the road in these conditions?”
“I can see it,” he laughed. “Don’t worry, we’re almost there.”
Half an hour ago, they’d been tucked up and cosy inside Peter’s flat while the January snowstorm took its course. Then his phone had rung, he’d spoken for a minute in hushed tones in the kitchen before reappearing and asking her to get her coat and boots on.
He wouldn’t tell her where they were going. Despite the terrifying weather, Gaby couldn’t deny being intrigued.
She watched him as he drove, never tiring of looking at his handsome face.
When he sensed her eyes on him, he smiled and reached over to squeeze her leg, and although she told him off again for not watching the road, which got another laugh, the thrill of his hand on her body still sent a bolt of electricity straight through her.
It was hard to imagine that just two months ago, she almost walked away from this man. Thank God she’d come to her senses before boarding that cruise ship and sailing off into the sunset. The idea that she’d come so close to leaving him behind still made her shudder.
She thought of all she would’ve missed out on already. If she’d thought she was in love with Peter when she came rushing back to Hamblehurst two months ago, she hadn’t known the half of it. Since then, she’d only fallen harder and deeper in love.
The beautiful diamond ring on her engagement finger was a testament to how quickly their relationship had developed since that bright November afternoon. Peter had got down on one knee on Christmas Eve and asked her to marry him. Through happy tears, she’d said yes.
Desperate to exchange their marriage vows, they’d arranged their wedding for the first day of February. Gaby couldn’t wait to be a winter bride.
They’d planned a small and intimate wedding, with just close friends and family.
During the school half-term break, they’d fly to the Caribbean for their honeymoon.
The destination was Peter’s suggestion and when he’d told Gaby he wanted her to have the island adventure she’d planned before she’d upended her life to be with him, she’d fallen in love with him even more than she already was.
A sun-soaked week spent enjoying the golden beaches of Barbados would hopefully be just the first of the many exciting travel adventures they’d share together as husband and wife.
Aunt Jill was beside herself with joy about the wedding and had already bought a gorgeous new outfit and hat for the occasion. Many of Gaby’s friends were flying in from around Europe to celebrate her happy day, which touched her enormously.
Gaby’s parents were travelling down for the ceremony but neither could stay for the reception afterwards.
Gaby realised she didn’t much mind that they wouldn’t be there for the full day, and it had actually come as a relief to realise she’d only see them for a short while.
It was what it was, and she was okay with that.
Especially now that she was fast becoming a full member of the Bailey family.
She loved Peter’s family and felt at home and at ease with them.
Loving Peter had brought her a family she never thought she’d have and that feeling of belonging, of being wanted and cherished by them all, filled her with joy.
And then there was the career she was building with the Goodwins.
When Gaby had called Harry Goodwin a few days after returning to Hamblehurst and asked about the job he might have for her, he’d hired her on the spot.
She was now the full-time event manager at the Riverford Hotel, a job she loved.
Bringing her vast experience from hotels and resorts around the world to her work, she’d already implemented changes that were enhancing their hospitality offer to their visitors and improving the efficiency of the business.
When the Goodwins finished refurbishing Maldon House later in the year, she would become manager there.
The idea of being in charge of what she knew was destined to become one of the most beautiful boutique hotels and wedding venues in the area filled her with excitement every time she thought about it.
Although, after what she’d discovered earlier today, she figured there might now be a spanner in the works with that plan.
“Hey, did you hear me?”
Gaby broke out of her thoughts and realised she’d missed Peter saying something to her. When she glanced out the window through the swirling snow, she realised he was driving them down Foxglove Street.
“Sorry, what did you say?”
“I said, we’re almost there. If you squint through the snow, you might just see why I brought us here.”
For a second, she wondered if they were here for a surprise visit to her aunt.
But of course that couldn’t be the reason, because her aunt was away for the weekend with a group of her friends, celebrating getting rid of her walking stick at last and being signed off by her consultant with a full bill of health after her surgery last year.
So, they hadn’t come to see Jill. But Peter was stopping the car anyway, a dozen or so houses further down from where Jill lived.
When Gaby gave him a puzzled look, Peter smiled and pointed out the window.
She turned and looked. There was a For Sale sign in the front garden of a pretty terraced house with a bright red door.
“It just came on the market this morning,” Peter said. “The estate agent phoned me with the news. He knows what we’re looking for and thinks this might be it.”
“Oh my God, it’s gorgeous!” Gaby squealed. “I remember admiring this row of terraced houses whenever I was walking back and forth doing my aunt’s errands last year.”
“Want to see what it looks like inside?”
Gaby clapped her hands. “Yes!”
Peter laughed. “He says the owner is at home and is happy to show us around. They don’t start formal viewings until next week, so we’re getting in ahead of the crowds.”
They got out of the car and hurried to the door, where they shook off the snow before going inside.
The owner was a middle-aged woman who greeted them with a smile and showed them around the immaculate house, explaining how she planned to move closer to her daughter and grandchildren in Essex but that she’d miss the house where she’d lived for so long.
The owner gave them a tour of the cosy downstairs living room and spotless kitchen.
Upstairs there were three bedrooms and a recently updated bathroom.
The weather was too wild to inspect the garden, but from the back windows they could see it was tidy and well cared for.
Through the snow, Gaby spied bird feeders hanging from the trees and remembered filling her aunt’s bird feeders last autumn and imagining what it would be like to have a garden of her own and sweet wild birds to look after.
And now here she was on the cusp of that unexpected dream coming true.
Gaby followed Peter around the property in a daze, drinking in each and every aspect. They asked questions and chatted for a few minutes before Peter thanked the owner for her time and promised to be in touch.
Back out in the car, they once more shrugged off the snow that had landed on them. Peter turned in his seat towards her.
“You were quiet in there, Gaby. Did you not like it?”
“I loved it. I adored it. I’m just… I’m just a little speechless, that’s all.”
“Why?”
She gestured back to the house. “It’s just so perfect. Everything’s so perfect. These past two months have been perfect. I never imagined…”
A sob caught in her throat and Gaby was mortified to discover she was crying.
“Gaby!” Peter said, trying to pull her close to comfort her, although it wasn’t easy now they were sitting in the car. “Don’t cry! That’s not what I wanted to happen.”
“I’m sorry. I’m just a bit emotional and…” Realisation dawned as she grasped just why she’d started crying out of the blue. Wiping away the tears, she laughed softly, which only made Peter look even more confused.
“There’s something I need to tell you, Peter. I was going to wait until later but maybe this is the perfect moment.”
Gaby looked out at the snow swirling on Foxglove Street and at the pretty little house she knew in her heart would soon be theirs. She took Peter’s hand in hers and looked into his eyes and saw everything she’d ever wanted there.
“I’m pregnant.”
Peter stared. And then his eyes flew wide. “You’re pregnant? We’re… we’re having a baby?”
“We’re having a baby!”
He let out a whoop that almost lifted the roof off the car and pulled her into his arms, kissing her senseless.
“We’re having a baby!” he yelled.
She was helpless with laughter and joy and tears. For as long as she lived, she’d never forget this moment, huddled in the car with the snow falling and the man she loved lighting up like a shooting star because of the news she’d just told him about the baby growing inside her.
“Gaby, I’m so happy. I’ve never been so happy in my life.”
The hugged each other and cried and laughed.
“When is the baby due?” Peter asked, his expression filled with wonder and astonishment.
“I don’t know for sure. I only did the test this morning when I realised I hadn’t had a period since our first night together.”
Peter blinked as this sunk in. “The night after we climbed Blackberry Hill to see the stars?”
“Yes.”
“But we were so careful.”
“Apparently not careful enough,” she laughed.
Peter seemed to think about this as another smile lit up his face. “We got pregnant that first time we were together again?”
“I think so. Actually, I’m sure of it. And if I’m right, it means the baby will be born in early August.”
“A summer baby. I can’t wait.” He started to smile again but then frowned. “But you’ll be taking over as manager at Maldon House around that time.”
“I know. But we’ll figure it out. We’ll figure it all out. We’re going to be parents, Peter. How amazing is that?”
His eyes sparkled with pure love as he looked at her. “I’m going to be a dad. I can’t believe it.”
“You’re sure you’re happy?”
“I couldn’t be any happier.” He gazed at her for a moment, searching her face. “Are you happy, Gaby? Is this what you want?”
“I want this so much I can hardly breathe because I’m so excited. And I’m happier than I ever thought I could be.”
For so long, her life of travel and adventure and work had brought her happiness and fulfilment.
But when she’d met Peter again, and fallen in love with him again, she realised there was even more happiness waiting for her if she could only open her heart to let it inside.
She’d thought a life filled with love and commitment and family was out of reach. How wrong she’d been.
“It’s all happening so fast,” Peter said. “Getting engaged and married. Finding a house to buy. And now we already have a baby on the way.”
Gaby laughed. “After fifteen years apart, we’re making up for lost time.”
Peter’s laughter echoed her own and the joy in his eyes filled her heart to overflowing. “You’ve made me the happiest man in the world, Gaby. I love you so much.”
“I love you too.”
He tipped her chin up and kissed her. Gaby thought of the stars they’d gazed at on that night they’d made the baby she was now carrying. She saw those stars again now, shimmering inside her mind as the snow swirled around them on Foxglove Street.
A new adventure was beginning, one she’d never imagined was possible. Gaby couldn’t wait to live every moment of it.