Chapter Twenty Eight
Everything has been building up to this day - and as take in the fruits of our labour, I can truly say that all the blood, sweat and tears have been worth it.
The garden looks spectacular, a real haven up in the hills. Myself and the volunteers spent the morning stringing up hand-made bunting across the hedges and decorating the stone walls with festoon lights that will glow later when twilight settles over the garden. We also managed to source some old wooden easels (some were mine, some were found in Rosemary’s shed and a couple of others we got from the charity shop) which display Rosemary’s canvases in all their vibrant glory. Of course, I decided to leave out the unfinished one of R.C., for obvious reasons.
At two o’clock, people begin to arrive, and I greet them all with a smile and a complimentary plastic flute of bubbly, just like a real art exhibition. The garden is met with oohs of admiration, and each one sends shivers of pride over my skin. Between guests, I steal a glance at Shaun, he’s also on welcoming duty. I know he feels just as proud as I do, others might not be able to recognise it on his poker-face, but I can. I see that crinkle by his eye, that quirk of his lip, the tension in his shoulders. He might have everyone else fooled that he’s all calm and cool, but he can’t hide the exhilaration of his project coming to fruition from me.
As more villagers spill in, I spot Maude among the excited visitors, a silver-haired stranger on her arm. The woman in question is adorned in a silky green dress with a purple fringed shawl draped about her shoulders, and she gasps in shock and delight at the sights surrounding her, her long braid bouncing about her shoulders as she looks around.
‘Who’s that with Maude?’ Bill asks, but I don’t share his query. I know exactly who she is.
Heart pounding like a jackhammer, I walk straight over to them.
‘Rosemary?’ I address her, my voice wavering with emotion.
The woman brings her golden brown eyes to mine, and they grow even wider. ‘Are you Ruth?’
‘Yes,’ I reply, astonished. ‘How … how did you know?’
With a choked-up laugh, she pulls me into a huge, lavender-scented hug. When we break apart, she holds me before her, tears streaking her rosy cheeks.
‘Maude wrote to me, she told me all about your interest in my art and my garden.’ Entranced, she takes in the scenery around us. ‘This place looks incredible , just as gorgeous as the last time I saw it. It’s like nothing has changed, as if I’ve stepped inside a time capsule.’
‘You should have seen it before Shaun and I got to work,’ I tell her, our hands clasped. ‘It was in such a sorry state, it was so sad to see. I’m just glad we’ve managed to bring back its beauty.’
‘Yes, that was one of the hardest parts of leaving Lily Vale, abandoning this garden. Although it was a gift from someone who hurt me, I never associated it with him. It was always my place, a secret sanctuary for me to work on my art and appreciate nature. It’s a real joy to see it again, thank you so much.’
‘Oh, I should be thanking you , Rosemary. Working on the garden has given me such a sense of purpose when I was feeling so lost and alone.’
Her eyes twinkle like stars. ‘Really?’
I nod in earnest. ‘I came to Lily Vale after my ex left me, and I’d lost all inspiration - I’m an artist too, you see - and discovering this place helped me find my spark again.’
Together, Rosemary and I sit beneath the arbour, away from the rest of the crowd.
‘I hope you don’t mind, but I found your journal,’ I confess, twiddling my thumbs in my lap.
‘Oh, gosh, I must have been about your age when I started writing it,’ she chuckles fondly. ‘I bet it’s full of all sorts of silly rubbish.’
‘Not at all, I’ve actually found it quite comforting,’ I smile shyly. ‘We’ve gone through some similar struggles, it seems. When I read your entries, I didn’t feel so alone. It was like I … I had a friend.’
Rosemary places a warm hand on my arm. ‘You do.’
Happiness flows through me like a gentle brook as I beam at her.
‘So, I know all about R.C. - Ronald. Maude filled me in on what happened at the Spring Festival, it must have been awful.’
Throwing back her long, shiny braid, she guffaws. ‘It was so long ago, I can look back and laugh about how mental it was, running away to live with my friends across the globe, all because some stupid man didn’t value me. But it all worked out, I’ve showcased my paintings in exhibitions, I’m currently opening a new gallery and I’m married to a wonderful man, Nikolaos Stavrou.’
‘That’s so great! Is he here?’
‘No, he’s back in Kefalonia. I told him I needed to make this trip on my own, and he understood. We’ve been together … gosh, thirty-two years now.’
‘Wow.’ I suck in a breath, dithering over how to pitch my question. ‘So … how did you open yourself up to love again? Weren’t you scared?’
‘Of course, but scared in a good way, like leaping into a pool or that tense, tingly moment before a first kiss.’
‘I want to take that leap, I really do, but how do I know I won’t end up hurt again?’
‘You don’t, you never do. But if there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that you only get one go around, and you have to seize every opportunity with both hands. There’s no guarantee you won’t end up hurt, but the treasures are worth the turmoil, believe me. And you will find your treasure, you’ve just got to trust your heart.’
Chewing the inside of my cheeks, I nod along. ‘That makes a lot of sense.’
‘Don’t allow your past to define your future, Ruth. Your life is your canvas, and only you can paint it. Make it vibrant and textured, coloured with all sorts of experiences. Sure, you could stick to safe, insipid watered-down pigments, but what sort of life would that be?’
My focus drifts over to Shaun, who’s currently engaged in a passionate conversation with Victor, no doubt about fertilisers or something equally as green-fingered. It’s been amazing to see him shed the stoic, reserved persona and come out of his shell, and I like to think I’ve played a part in the transformation. He’s certainly played a big role in mine.
As the surprise guest of honour, Rosemary quickly finds herself inundated with folks eager to hear more about her story and her artwork, so I leave her to her captive audience and go looking for Shaun.
I scan the busy garden and catch sight of him, right in the middle of a group of people appraising Rosemary’s canvases. With a deep, nerve-calming breath, I march forward, but Lottie steps in front of me and grabs my arm excitedly.
‘Wait, what’s happening over there?’ she blurts, a finger outstretched.
I follow where she’s pointing to see Alex and Lucy beneath the cherry tree. Suddenly, Alex bends down on one knee and there’s a collective gasp among the crowd, but none more loud than Lucy’s. We all fall silent as Alex utters those magical words.
‘Lucy, I love you so much. The past few years with you have been such an adventure, one that I never want to end. Will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?’
With a squeal and a jump about a foot high, Lucy screams, ‘Yes, yes, yes!’
A thunderous applause and a series of whoops fill the air as everyone rushes forward to congratulate the happy couple. Once the gaggle around them has thinned, I finally get my chance.
‘Oh my gosh, Luce!’ I throw my arms around her tight. ‘You’re engaged!’
‘I know, I can’t believe it!’ She holds out her hand before her, admiring the stunning ring in the sunlight. It glitters beautifully on her finger like a star fallen down to earth. ‘All this time when Alex was being so cagey over his phone, it’s because he was looking for engagement rings!’
‘It’s such wonderful news,’ I grin wide. ‘I’m just so happy for you guys.’
The day rolls onward, more guests come and go and before I can register how much time has passed, the solar lights turn on and the moon hangs silver in the sky.
I sense someone at my side and when I spin around to look, my breath catches in my throat. ‘Shaun.’
He stifles a cough with his fist. ‘Can I talk to you a moment?’
Nodding silently, I allow him to lead me to a quiet corner, over by the poppies he planted.
‘This has been a really incredible day, Shaun,’ I sigh contentedly. ‘It wouldn’t have happened without you.’
‘Or you,’ he reminds me. ‘No one even knew about Rosemary’s garden before you came along.’
‘I guess.’ Unable to stall any longer, I force myself to face him straight. ‘So, what did you want to talk about?’
Shaun looks down at the grass, shuffling his feet in the daisies. ‘About us. About what happened the other day.’
‘I’m sorry I took off like that, can we just call it revenge for you leaving me at the Spring Festival?’ I giggle weakly.
But Shaun doesn’t laugh along with me, his expression remains serious and honest. ‘I guess have some stuff we need to talk about, don’t we?’
Blinking, I study him closely, wondering what he’s getting at.
Eyes closed, he takes a long inhale, then he looks at me. ‘I really care for you, Ruth. The truth is, I can’t stand the thought of you leaving Lily Vale. I’m not saying you should stay for my sake, I don’t mean that at all, if you need to leave, then I’ll support it. But before you make that choice, I just had to let you know that you mean a lot to me. You … you mean the world to me.’
My chest heaves and I struggle to breathe. ‘As … as a friend, right?’
He chuckles gently and allows a hand to slowly rest upon my hip.
‘Come on, Ruth. You and I both know that whatever we have going on here, it’s much more than friendship.’
A gulp bobs at my throat. This is what I’ve been hoping to hear, but I’ve also been frightened of it too. Pulling in a drawn-out breath, I think of Rosemary - how she made a success of herself and found new love after everything she knew came crumbling down.
I can do the same, I know I can.
‘So, have you made your choice?’
His question sends waves of electricity through my veins, forcing every hair to stand to attention. I have no doubts now. Though we’re already standing so close, I take a determined pace toward him, my eyes locked onto his.
Softly, sweetly, my lips meet his. Muscular arms coil around my waist, closing the last of the distance between us until my chest is pressed against his. His heart beats in time with mine as I taste his kiss.
‘Does that answer your question?’ I whisper into his mouth, my fingers toying with the dark curls at the nape of his neck.
‘I don’t know, why don’t you tell me again?’
We collide into an ardent embrace, fully immersed in each other and forgetting the world around us. Our limbs tangle as the intensity between us rises, all I can taste, hear, feel is Shaun. We’re so consumed by each other that we stumble backwards and collapse into the bed of soft grass, lips still mingled. Giggling breathlessly, we break apart for but a moment and gaze into each other’s eyes.
I lost something long ago, a passion, a fire and zest I thought was dead forever. This garden brought me back to life, and so did this gardener.