Epilogue – Three Months Later
The matcha bubbled, turning frothy as Sasha whisked. Psychic light filled her mind’s eye, showing her a vision of her latest client, happy and smiling and surrounded by babies.
‘Will I find my true passion?’ her client asked, her clear blue eye sparkling with hope.
‘Yes – yes, you will.’ Sasha saw her in a maternity ward, working as a midwife. She described it to her.
The woman had first come to her with sadness in her eyes. A failed marriage. Infertility. But she was hoping for a new start.
‘Ooh, yes – babies – lots of them. You’ll be working in a maternity hospital, bringing them into the world.’
‘Oh, fantastic – really? I always wanted to retrain as a midwife but my ex-husband – he wouldn’t let me go back to college. Said he needed me at home.’
‘You should go and explore some courses. Go to a few maternity college open days. Follow your dream. It’s time to focus on yourself.’
As the delighted woman left Matcha Moments, with a skip in her step and full of life, Ben brought Sasha a cup of refreshing Oolong tea.
‘Thanks, darling.’ She tilted her face up for a kiss.
Ben brushed his lips on hers; a melting warmth filled her chest. ‘Mmm – looks like she’s another happy customer. Did you find her prince?’
‘No – she’s just got out of a difficult marriage. Finding her bliss is a fulfilling career as a midwife at this point. A partner might come later – who knows?’
Klara breezed in and caught the last half of her sentence. ‘And I’m still waiting for my soulmate on the beach. Still no sign of when he’s going to turn up.’
Sasha smiled and shook her head. ‘When it’s time, you’re sure to find him.’
‘Back to kissing frogs, then.’
Leo dumped a package and a pile of envelopes on the counter behind her. ‘Ribbet!’ he croaked in her ear and she jumped, knocking some of the post over.
‘Hey! Watch it!’ She knelt to pick up a postcard. ‘This is from Mr Davis and Gloria. I was wondering how they were.’
Sasha took the card from her and read. ‘Greetings from Vietnam – we’re taking our refreshments from the Ha Long Bay tea house, which made us think of our wonderful friends at Matcha Moments – the cakes here are good – but not quite the same as Nathan’s – love to you all and see you soon!’
Mr Davis and Gloria were on their honeymoon cruise in South-East Asia and were heading for the Mekong River next.
Reverend Gillian Adjaye had married them in an intimate ceremony at St Bram’s, followed by the reception at Matcha Moments.
Sasha had applied for permission from the council to have gazebos spilling onto the green and Nathan had designed a fabulous wedding cake with white chocolate and raspberries and matcha-flavoured sponge.
Nathan now operated out of a catering space in a nearby industrial estate.
He was getting a name for himself for his bespoke wedding and celebration cakes as well as supplying desserts and cakes for a few local cafés and restaurants.
He reserved his best matcha creations for Sasha and Matcha Moments.
Ben put his arms around Sasha and she leaned back into him. He kissed the top of her head. ‘Remember how cross you were when we first met?’ she said.
‘Cold, muddy water doesn’t put me in the best of moods, funnily enough! But who would have thought it? I came to check out the premises as a suitable place to display my ceramics. I think I made the right choice.’
‘I see!’ Sasha turned and swatted him on the shoulder. ‘It was all about the kintsugi after all.’
He grabbed her waist and picked up a teapot with the golden drip of resin curving round the side. ‘Beauty is in the imperfections. A life lived, broken and made whole again.’
‘All right, get a room, you two,’ said Klara.
‘I want more insight into who this hunk on the beach could be. Which island could he be from? Tallulah, my cousin, said she’d take care of The Bookery for a month so I could go travelling – I could do with some advice on where to book.
As my granny said – every jam jar has its lid .
. . and even the most unmatchable person has their match. ’ She winked at Sasha.
‘That doesn’t even make sense,’ said Leo. ‘An unmatchable person can’t then have a match.’
‘Well, you would know,’ Klara retorted. ‘Since no one seems to want to match with you.’
She picked up her takeaway matcha latte and flounced off, while Leo trailed behind her.
Sasha and Ben exchanged a look. ‘When is she going to realize that Leo is perfect for her?’ said Sasha.
‘Sometimes, you just have to let things work out for themselves.’ Ben picked up a watering can and headed for the hanging baskets.