Chapter 30 #2
Gilly nodded. ‘Happy to.’ She tapped Gemma’s arm.
‘There’s one thing you should know about us gardeners.
We collect seeds like other people take holiday photos.
Everywhere we go, nabbing a bit of this, a bit of that.
Got drawers full of things we’ve collected, either from our own plants or someone else’s.
And I can’t speak for the rest but I can never use all mine, and I suspect the same is true for them.
I usually find myself giving them away to friends – non-gardening friends, that is – in the hope it might spur them on to do great things.
But I wouldn’t be at all surprised if they end up in the bin.
’ She shrugged. ‘Such is life. But this could be a very good place to re-home anything I don’t need. What do you think?’
‘I think we should go and get a cup of tea,’ said Gemma. ‘And have a little chat. I need to tell you about a wonderful woman named Flora.’
It was seven o’clock. It was warm and sunny, the light golden as it fell onto the kitchen table through the open door. And around it sat Gemma and Leo, Rowan and Willow, in silent witness to the most wonderful day.
All in all, they’d had thirty-nine people through the gates of Thistledown.
Along the track and into the gardens they’d gone, across the yard and into the old farmhouse, and each and every one of them had swelled time by so much that dozens of boxes had been filled with produce which had either been salvaged or was ready to be harvested.
Plants had been tended to, rescued and replaced safely back into the ground.
Beds had been re-dug, their edges repaired, leaving soil fresh, smooth and ready for the next crops to come, and hopes had been restored.
Some wanted to continue their relationship with Thistledown and some didn’t, but everyone had helped, and everyone had made a difference.
It had been some time since anybody had moved.
They were all used to hard physical work, to long hours, but there had been something about this day that had left them with far more aching muscles than usual, not least the ones in their faces from smiling so much.
But nobody minded. It was the tiniest of prices to pay for what had happened, and tomorrow was another day.
And tomorrow was another day, that was the point.
As would be the day after that and the day after that. They had all the tomorrows now.
Gemma picked up her mug and stared at the bottom of it, long since empty of tea. She could use another cup, but somehow the thought of getting up to make another pot was beyond her. She got to her feet though. If she needed another drink, she was certain everyone else would.
To her surprise, Leo sprang up from the table, looking equally surprised to find himself standing.
‘I’ve just remembered,’ he said, crossing the kitchen. ‘I hid this last night. I thought it might come in handy.’ He turned around, pulling out something from the fridge with a flourish.
‘Ta-dah!’
It was a bottle of champagne.
‘I thought we ought to have it, either to celebrate with or…’ He smiled sheepishly.
‘I was going to say get drunk with because I wasn’t sure we’d be celebrating.
I should have known better…’ He looked at Gemma, the warmth of his smile lifting her up as she remembered the hug they had shared just after he had waved away the last of their guests.
They’d shared another not long after that, too.
‘Mind you,’ added Leo. ‘There’s probably not enough to get drunk with, not between four of us.’
‘Make that five,’ said Willow as Ashley came in through the kitchen door, carrying a box which she set down on the table. ‘Come and sit with us,’ added Willow. ‘We’re just about to have a drink.’
Ashley smiled. ‘I ought to get going, and leave you to your evening,’ she said.
‘But I’ve sorted out all the produce so there’s equal amounts in all the boxes.
I’ve left them stacked on the tables in the farmhouse.
I hope that’s okay. Those that wanted one can either come and pick them up or I’m happy to deliver them round for you tomorrow, if it helps. ’
Rowan tapped the back of the chair nearest to him. ‘Sit,’ he said. ‘And there’ll be no talk of going until you’ve had a drink with us. At least one. You’ve earned that much.’
Still a little unsure of herself, Ashley sat down, resting her arms on the table. She looked done in.
‘And you’re not walking home either. I’d say one of us will drop you home in a bit but…’ He pointed to the champagne. ‘We’ll call a taxi for you.’
Willow beamed, first at her husband and then at Leo. ‘The champagne is such a lovely idea, thank you. Although I’m afraid it’s going to go straight to my head. All I’ve eaten today is cake.’
‘I’ll get some glasses,’ said Gemma.
Leo opened the bottle and put it on the table in front of Rowan. ‘Your honours, I believe.’ He sat down, holding out a chair so that Gemma would sit next to him.
Waiting while Rowan filled their glasses, Gemma slid her hand into Leo’s. They’d hardly spoken a word to each other all day, but they had still managed to tell each other all they needed to know. The warmth in his eyes as he entwined his fingers with hers was proof of that.
Rowan cleared his throat, which had them all sitting to attention, and then he groaned.
‘I don’t know what to say,’ he said. ‘Except that today has proven to me how right Gemma was in telling us to throw open our doors. I didn’t even dare dream it could be as successful as it has been, but these last few days have taught me a few things.
Things I’ve been afraid of in the past – of letting people in, not just through our gates but inside, where it really matters.
It’s also taught me that it’s okay to get things wrong or to make mistakes.
’ He paused to glance at Ashley. ‘Because as long as you own them, when you’re among friends, they’ll help you make things right.
So I want to thank you, Gemma, for being here and for being you. ’
‘Hear hear!’
She smiled, nudging Leo to be quiet, embarrassed enough by Rowan’s words.
‘It’s me who should be thanking you,’ she replied.
‘Both of you, for letting me in – when I had nothing, when everything was in the past and nothing was in the future. Do you remember how you told me when I first arrived that I was learning how to swim again? And that I should keep both feet on the bottom until I had found my buoyancy? I think it’s fair to say I’m ready to take my armbands off.
And that is all down to you. And Thistledown.
’ She blushed. ‘And Leo…’ She raised her glass. ‘So thank you.’
‘Toast!’ shouted Willow, beaming.
Rowan looked momentarily panicked. ‘To Thistledown,’ he said. ‘I don’t know what we’ve witnessed here today. I don’t know what you’d call it, but it’s the start of something big, I know it is.’
Willow nodded. She looked tired and dusty. There was a smudge of dirt on her nose and another on her forehead, but she looked happy too. Happy and peaceful and serene, just like she always did, but there was no mistaking the relief that shone out from her eyes either.
‘I know what it is,’ she said. ‘It’s something I really thought was in doubt. It’s the future. A new beginning. No, it’s more than that,’ she added. She turned to Rowan and laid her head against his shoulder, her fingers sliding through his to hold them tight.
‘It’s our life,’ she said simply. ‘And it’s time to live it. All of us, together.’