‘If you were here all the time.’
I closed my book and sat up properly, my heart racing.
‘Move in with me, Mel. I know we said we’d take it slowly but I’m not convinced that’s what either of us really want. It’s certainly not what Edgar wants.’
I laughed at the mention of the elephant. ‘Keep talking,’ I said, shuffling closer to him.
‘You can’t stay at Willowdale Hall for much longer and the truth is that this isourhouse. I built it toourplans and I built it for us. You talk about buildings breathing. Well, Woodland Rest only started breathing properly when you arrived. What do you think?’
I shuffled closer still. ‘I think that sounds perfect. Yes! Absolutely yes!’
Flynn’s lips met mine and I melted into his kiss. For years, a fire had burned inside me fuelled by anger and frustration, but now a fire burned fuelled by passion for this incredible man. When I’d left him, he’d said,I hope you find the answers you need, Mel. And when you do – or if you hit a point where you decide you don’t need them anymore – I’ll be waiting for you. Even if that takes weeks or months. Even if it takes years. Ithadtaken years but he’d kept his promise and waited for me. Now I was here to stay and I’d forever be grateful that, just like my parents, Flynn and I were magnets. We’d been on a hell of a journey both together and apart, but we’d navigate the rest of our life together and I’d never let the storm tear us apart again.
EPILOGUE
THREE MONTHS LATER
‘Thank you all for coming,’ Rosie said, her gaze taking in the crowd gathered on the lawn out the back of Willowdale Hall. ‘This is an exciting moment for Oliver and me and it’s such an honour to see so many of you here today – friends, family, neighbours, colleagues. As you all know, I love Willowdale Hall and I believed it could become great again. It has a history of being a place of safety and of healing – a place of convalescence for officers injured in World War I and a school for evacuees from Tyneside during World War II. Inspired by that, Oliver and I had a vision to make this a place where people can escape and heal. Last September, the arrival of our wonderful Emma and her seven gorgeous alpacas signalled the start of that…’
She waved in Emma’s direction and Emma put her hands in the air, smiling as the crowd applauded.
‘Today we’re celebrating the first phase in our accommodation, creating luxurious rooms where guests can find peace and escapism. The boat house behind me has had a few struggles and Oliver and I were going to have it dismantled but my amazing mam, Alice, convinced us to keep it. And then along came our exceptionally talented conservation architect, Mel, with a vision to take the broken pieces and turn it into something astonishingly beautiful.’
She paused for more applause and I smiled, cringing at being the centre of attention – even if only for a moment – but appreciative of Rosie’s kind words.
‘Thank you to Flynn and his team for their work and to Mel again for her beautiful interior design. We’d originally talked about getting the boat house ready for the summer season but, considering it’s the last Friday in August, you can guess how that went. Mel came up with the genius idea of running a competition where people could nominate someone they know who’s had a tough time and could really benefit from spending a weekend for two away from all their worries in a place designed for peace and healing. We were in tears going through the entries and our heart goes out to all the people who are facing challenges in their lives right now. No way could we just pick one winner as originally intended so we chose three. The first winners will be staying next weekend but we wanted to give you all the first glimpse. Are you ready?’
Oliver passed her a pair of scissors.
‘We considered several names but, in the end, we settled for something simple which says exactly what it is. I’m delighted to declare The Boat House officially open!’
Rosie cut the turquoise ribbon to cheers and another round of applause, then invited the guests to look around. Alice and Xander were in the first group.
‘There’s something in the lounge I think you’ll appreciate,’ I told Alice before she stepped onto the wraparound terrace.
It had been such a delight to furnish The Boat House in restful colours. I’d loved sourcing the furniture and fabrics but the most precious purchase for me had been the kintsugi vase in Alice’s honour. I’d found one in shades of blue, grey and green to match the landscape but the green was also a nod to the green man who’d haunted her for so long. I’d particularly loved how one of the gold repairs ran right through the green section and was certain she’d see the relevance when she saw it.
The Boat House was small so the tours were quick. Alice and Xander reappeared shortly after and Alice rushed over to me, arms outstretched, and hugged me close.
‘I saw it and I loved it. Thank you for doing that. I noticed the colour too. It’s absolutely perfect.’
‘No, not perfect,’ I said, smiling at her. ‘It’s exquisitely flawed like you and me.’
We hugged again and I counted my blessings that I’d met this wonderful woman who’d taught me so much and whose friendship I would value forever.
One of the grand function rooms had doors out onto the garden so they’d been opened up. There was a bar and buffet set up in the room and chairs and tables both inside and out. All my family had been invited and I noticed Georgia in deep conversation with Rosie. It looked like they were scheming something because they kept looking in my direction and smiling.
‘What are you two up to?’ I asked, joining them.
‘Ooh, you’ll find out soon enough,’ Georgia said, winking at me.
It was a wonderful evening and I basked in the compliments for the design of the building and the interior. I even had a few enquiries as to whether I could be commissioned for home interior design. It was flattering but that wasn’t my job – it was simply something I happened to enjoy and occasionally got involved in if the client asked me. The conservation architecture would always be my number one passion. Actually, number two. My husband would forever be my number one.
Flynn and I hadn’t wanted to make a fuss about remarrying last Friday but we couldn’t leave out either of our families. We’d made so many new friends through Willowdale Hall who’d been part of our journey back to each other who we couldn’t miss out either so we’d had a small ceremony with just Dad, Georgia, Mark and Flynn’s parents in attendance but ended up having quite the party in The Hardy Herdwick afterwards. It seemed only fitting that we celebrated our second chance in the place where we’d first met.
‘Your wedding gift finally arrived,’ Alice said, taking me to one side. ‘Have you got a minute?’
She led me through the function room and into the library. We’d said no gifts but most guests had ignored that.
