Epilogue
HENRY
Leaves scratched across the cobbles as Amanda and I made our way through the village hand in hand, still a bit sleepy, and wrapped up in scarves and coats. Autumn had officially arrived.
Eilidh’s bakery was toasty warm when we stepped inside, and the smell of cinnamon, butter, and strong coffee beckoned us in further.
‘Morning, you two. You’re up early.’ Eilidh was busy transferring the fattest pumpkin cinnamon buns I’d ever seen onto a tray.
We spent the morning there, chatting with any villagers or tourists who stopped by.
Cuddling babies and petting dogs, drinking copious amounts of coffee and giggling with each other until our sides hurt.
Even after the best part of nine months, I still couldn’t drag my eyes from Amanda for very long.
I was so helplessly in love with her that it pained me at times.
So I watched her blossom amongst my friends and family, finally realising that people liked her. Not for her successful job, or her smart clothes, but for her tenacious spirit and her open heart.
After breakfast, we strolled along the beach, chatting and mucking around. The air was filled with sea salt and the faint pong of seaweed, and I took her by the hand, walking until we turned a corner near the bluff below Bayview Manor.
And there on the sandy dunes stood Lisa.
And Merv.
The donkey was covered in flowers. A garland of dethorned roses around his thick neck, and wildflowers braided into his mane. He looked a little more ridiculous than I’d planned.
Amanda doubled over laughing. ‘Oh my God, Henry, what have you done to Merv?’
Lisa waved cheerfully. ‘He tried to eat half of it, but most of it survived!’
And then Amanda saw the ring hanging from the flower garland, tied neatly with twine.
My already burgeoning nerves broke free, making my fingers tremble as I gathered Amanda’s hand.
Merv lumbered forward, his hooves sinking into the sand, ears pricking as he approached. Amanda’s eyes shone as she covered her mouth, looking from Merv to me.
My heart beat so loudly in my chest that I worried she wouldn’t hear me. I sank to my knees and looked up into her perfect face.
‘Amanda, you’ve made every part of my life better just by being in it. I don’t care where we live, or where we work, or how complicated everything gets. I want to promise myself to you for eternity.’
She laughed tearfully. ‘I’m only asking for Edinburgh, not Antarctica.’
‘That will make logistics easier, but if you decide to shack up with the penguins, count me in. Amanda, will you marry me?’
‘Yes,’ she said without hesitation. ‘You’re all mine.’
I grinned like an idiot and got to my feet, ready to untie the ring from my friend Merv. But Merv had other ideas. The fucker bolted full speed across the sand. Flowers flying behind him like he needed to leave breadcrumbs to find his way back. The ring bounced wildly against his chest.
‘Merv!’ Lisa shrieked, tearing after him.
‘This wasn’t the plan, you wee beast.’ I joined the chase.
Amanda burst into helpless laughter and ran after us, sand kicking up behind her. Merv had a blast, dodging the three of us as we yelled and laughed.
Suddenly, Scruff appeared behind Amanda, with a stick roughly the length of a canoe balanced proudly in his mouth and charged across our path like a tiny saboteur.
Amanda had no chance.
She was swept right off her feet, landing in an undignified puff of sand.
I skidded to a stop and dropped beside her. ‘Are you okay?’
She was cracking up, her hair wild and coated with sand. Tears at her lashes like tiny diamonds from the sheer chaotic madness of it all.
‘Save the ring!’
With renewed vigour, I chased down the pesky ass until Lisa found an apple in the bottom of her nearby bag and used it to seduce our four-legged gannet. Relieving Merv of the ring, I went back to my girl.
She was still giggling and lay in the sand when I took her hand.
‘Let’s try this again.’
The ring slid perfectly onto her finger, as though it was always supposed to be there.
She pulled me down into the sand and kissed me until I began to see stars behind my eyes.
She was mine. And I was hers.
Forever.