25. Epilogue - Thora
Thora woke on Christmas morning in the arms of the man she loved.
The man she’d always loved. When they got out of bed and padded downstairs, they found Lucas’ father already sitting in the lounge with Barry on his lap.
He was sipping a mug of tea and feeding Barry small pieces of scrambled egg from a bowl.
A Christmas movie flickered on the TV screen, the lights on the Christmas tree twinkled.
Thora could hear noise from the kitchen that suggested both the twins were already up.
After they’d said good morning to Lucas’ father, they went through to the kitchen where Rosie and Reggie were busy arranging an assortment of freshly baked pastries on the table. Aromas of nutmeg and cinnamon drifted through the air and Thora’s mouth watered.
‘Merry Christmas!’ Rosie sang as she rushed towards them and hugged them both. Reggie hugged Thora and gave Lucas a hearty handshake.
‘Who made scrambled egg?’ Thora asked.
‘That would be me.’ Reggie chewed at his lip and his eyes strayed to the microwave. ‘It may have exploded a bit in there.’
‘Don’t worry, we can clean it later,’ Thora said with a laugh. The times she’d cleaned the microwave after Reggie because he’d exploded something in it were too many to count.
‘What time are we going to Dad’s?’ Rosie asked.
‘I think he said we’re sitting down for lunch at one.’ Thora looked at Lucas and he nodded. Finn had invited Lucas and his father too. ‘So we have plenty of time for gifts and relaxing.’
‘But first, breakfast!’ Rosie gestured at the table and Thora’s heart squeezed.
Her children had set the table ready for breakfast with plates of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, triangles of sour dough toast, croissants and cinnamon buns.
There was also a pot of strawberry jam and another of honey — all from the local farm.
‘Oh my loves, that looks amazing.’ Thora hugged her children tight, her heart brimming with love and joy.
After Lucas had got his father and Barry, they sat at the table and Lucas popped the cork on a bottle of champagne. Drinks of orange juice for the twins and champagne for the adults were poured and then Thora tapped her glass with a spoon.
‘I want to thank you all for being here today and to wish you all a very Merry Christmas. This year has taught me a lot but especially how important it is to be open to moving on and listening to loved ones. And, it seems, we will have your dad’s wedding to look forward to in the new year!’
‘I can’t wait to be a bridesmaid,’ Rosie said then she frowned. ‘But there won’t be a bride so what will I be? A grooms-maid? Or perhaps Maid of Honour.’ She nodded. ‘Yes, I like that.’
‘I’m looking forward to it too,’ Reggie said, his cheeks flushing with the confession. He was at such an awkward age in that respect because admitting to liking anything emotional had become a challenge for him. Thora knew he’d get past it though with plenty of love, support and reassurance.
‘To a new year filled with happy times,’ Lucas said. ‘I’m delighted to be here in Porthpenny with you all and very much looking forward to a new year when we can make new memories.’ He gazed at Thora as he said this then pressed a kiss to her cheek.
‘I would like to say thank you very much for inviting me into your home,’ Lucas’s father said.
‘I haven’t always been the easiest person to get along with and I’ve made many mistakes over the years…
but I am very grateful for your kindness.
Life is a rollercoaster and there are ups and downs, moments of great joy and some when hearts are broken, but as humans we have a great capacity for forgiving and moving on, and most importantly for healing.
Today, I would like to toast to new traditions, of which I hope this is the first. Merry Christmas, everybody! ’
As they all clinked glasses then tucked into breakfast, Thora looked around the table.
Just a few months ago she wouldn’t have thought this possible, but sometimes dreams did come true.
It was a Christmas unlike any other, one where the ghosts of Christmas past had been banished by the promise of joyful new beginnings.
But the lessons of the past, they would stay engraved upon her heart, and she wouldn’t make the same mistakes again.
Outside the window the garden was covered in a blanket of fresh snow but inside the fairy lights flickered and the kitchen was warm and cosy.
Barry pawed at her leg so she lifted him onto her lap and he barked, clearly delighted to be included in this family gathering, as well as to remind everyone that he would like some salmon too.
The day stretched ahead with family time, gifts, dinner and possibly an afternoon walk around snowy Porthpenny.
As she allowed herself to sink into the magic of this moment, Thora’s chest swelled with love and gratitude for this very special Christmas.
The love she shared with Lucas may have begun many years ago, but their future had been confirmed during a meeting this winter, at The Cornish Garden Café.