‘And maybe one day, if you can see fit to marry an old Priest who lives in the vicarage and care for him in his dotage, you can become a Priest also.’
Eve smiled and kissed his nose. ‘Is that a proposal?’ she asked.
‘Do I need to propose? Because I am fairly certain we are fated even if you don’t see it, but I will get on bended knee if you wish, because I want you to be happy and I don’t want to presume anything about you. I made that mistake once; I don’t want to again.’
Eve looked around, and thought about what life was offering her and she shrugged.
‘A girl still likes to be asked.’
Edward got down on one knee, pretending to groan as Flora and Myles came up the stairs and stood behind him.
‘Eve Pilkins, you are the love of my life, you are the dot to my i’s and the crosses on my t’s,’ he said and she laughed.
‘But you are also the most caring, kind, loving person I know with an incredible temper and a power to bring me to my knees, as shown here.’ He gestured.
‘I know I am a selfish idiot who is too old for you and far too arrogant but I am working on myself every day to be the man you deserve. I promise to support you in everything you do, the way you support us all.’
Eve saw Myles wipe a tear and Flora nodding furiously.
‘You have changed us, Eve, and nothing will ever be the same again, and nor do we want it to be. So I am asking, if you, Eve, will take me as your husband, and these children as your own?’
Eve nodded and fell to her knees and kissed him and pulled the children into a group hug.
‘Yes, yes, yes. I love you all so much,’ she said. ‘I couldn’t love anything more than the three of you. Thank you for wanting me to be in your family.’
Edward pulled away a little.
‘You made us a family, Eve. Thank you.’
48
They were married at Beecroft Vicarage in the summer.
Eve wore an antique lace dress and a diamond hairclip in her bobbed hair. Edward wore a white and blue linen suit. Flora was a bridesmaid, with Christmas the cat on a white satin leash and Myles was the best man with Jimmi as ring bearer, the cushion attached to his collar, and the ring tied to it with some ribbon.
Hilditch officiated the ceremony, who revealed she was a celebrant after Edward said he needed someone to marry them.
‘Is there no end to your skills, Hil? What can’t you do?’ he asked half joking.
‘I’m not sure,’ she had replied. ‘I seem to be adept at most tasks I take on.’
The guest list was small but meaningful, with Zara and Anita and some other friends present. Jasper of course came with his delightful husband Armand who was an interior decorator – who had helped Eve and Edward create a beautiful family home – and their families, including Amber’s parents who had become close to Edward, Eve, Flora and Myles.
The dinner was held in the garden with the pool covered over and a large marquee over the top.
They danced and drank and ate and danced and finished at six in the morning with Hilditch and Donna serving egg and bacon rolls to those who remained. All of Edward’s friends came and Sanjeev gave a lovely speech about resilience and love and the importance of remembering the good times, and then he made a toast to Amber’s memory.
Flora lay on her maternal grandmother’s lap who stroked her hair and whispered stories about Amber when she was young to her, until the little girl drifted off in a peaceful haze of memories old and new.
Myles played a song on the guitar and Eve accompanied him, singing ‘Songbird’ by Fleetwood Mac, and there wasn’t a dry eye when they finished.
It was as wonderful as they had hoped it would be and made better by the love and support in the room. Perhaps love can’t fix everything but it certainly does make the road a little less bumpy, Eve often thought as she worked to build up her list of new authors and also edited Edward’s new series.
The book was sold to a production company before it was even published and it debuted at number one on the best-seller list and is still there today. Another book was released and then the TV series was announced with Kristin Scott Thomas.
It was perfect.
It was two Christmases after their first at Cranberry Cross that Eve woke up feeling unwell.
