Epilogue

Six months later

‘Sally!’

Sally said goodbye to the last client in her class as the cry came from the kitchen. ‘Bye, Mrs Tonks. I’ll see you next week.’ Sally closed the front door when the elderly lady reached the gate.

‘Sally!’ The voice was getting louder each time, and it sounded as those there was a good dose of frustration—or temper— mixed in there as well.

She wandered into the kitchen. Sonia was standing at the table; her hair damp with perspiration, her cheeks bright red and her hands out of sight in the cavity of the biggest turkey Sally had ever seen.

‘What are you trying to do?’ She tried not to laugh. Sometimes Sonia got a bit cross with the new lighthearted Sally. Since Sol had moved in, Sally had laughed every day. There had been no need for an affirmation on the fridge door.

‘I’m trying to stuff the fucking turkey. What does it look like I’m doing?’

Sally burst out laughing but the grumpy look stayed on her sister’s face.

‘It’s all right for you, Mrs Happiness and Light.  I’ve had to do most of the shopping and cooking for Christmas dinner while you’ve had your yoga classes and his nibs has been stuck up in his study.’

Sol shared her bedroom, but when he’d moved in, Sally had found a study space for him in the small room off the widow’s walk on the top floor of the rambling old mansion. It had been perfect for his needs. He’d almost completed the last work towards his qualification and he was thinking of opening a vet surgery somewhere at the beach.

‘Sorry. Just let me have a wash, and I’ll help you.’

‘Rosie and Taj and the kids are arriving at four. Aren’t you going to the airport to pick them up?’

‘Sol offered. He has to pick his mate up at the airport too, and they’ll all fit in Gertie.’ Sally wiped her hands and took one of Aunt Aggie’s floral aprons from the bottom drawer.

‘Did I tell you his mate, Dave was coming for Christmas dinner too?’

Sonia nodded. ‘Sol did. But I’d already seen it in the tea leaves. A tall, dark and handsome stranger is coming into my life.’

Sally spluttered. ‘I don’t think we could call Dave tall, dark and handsome. Besides, Sonia, I think he’s gay so don’t go getting your hopes up.’

***

Sol parked the car up the road while Dave and Taj took the suitcases inside. Rosie and the kids had run inside to see Sonia and Sally. They’d welcomed him, and as soon as Taj and Sol had shaken hands they’d looked at each other.

‘We used to go to Christmas parties at your house when I was a kid,’ Taj said.

‘I remember.’ Sol put his head to one side. ‘I wonder if that means I’m related to Aggie too.  I must ask my mother next time I call in.’ Sine he’d moved in with Sally—his mother had taken to her straight away and was even going to a yoga class once a week—and he’d picked up his vet science, the attitude of his family had done an about turn.

Dave was waiting for him on the footpath outside the house. ‘Not a bad place, mate. You’ve fallen on your feet here.’

‘I’ve fallen in love here.’

Dave rolled his eyes. ‘Pathetic. I think I preferred the old vague Solomon Brown.’

Sol looked at him. ‘And I definitely prefer the old Dave Walker. The one who used to wear things resembling clothes. What the hell are you wearing?’

Heads had turned at the arrivals hall as Dave had walked down the ramp.  His three piece suit was hot pink and patterned with large purple flowers.

‘One of my designs, and before you say anything, it was on the catwalk in Milan last week.’

‘Different.’

Sol held the door open. He was part of the house on the hill now, although Sally had assured him she would move anywhere he had to go. ‘Come on in. I think you’ve met everyone except Sonia, Sally’s twin.’

Dave’s eyebrows lifted hopefully. ‘Identical? Sally is a stunner. I can see her modelling some of my designs.’

Sol hid a smile. ‘I can’t see Sally being interested in that, but Sonia certainly loves her fashion.’

The smells coming from the kitchen were divine. They walked past a huge Christmas tree in the front living room, and the fragrance of the pine needles mingled with the smell of roast turkey.

‘Sit down, Dave. I’ll see where the girls are.’ Before he could leave the room, the door burst open.

Sonia struck a pose in the doorway and Sol grinned. Sally stood behind her and caught his eyes and winked.

Sonia was wearing a purple, pink and yellow striped dress—one of her signature tent dresses—and a matching turban.  Her feet were bare and each toe had a different ring on it. Bangles jangled on her arm and her lipstick was the same purple as the stripes in her dress.

Sol stiffened as Dave chuckled beside him and stepped forward.

‘You must be Sonia.’ Dave held his hand out. ‘Is this for my benefit, darling? All you need is a bowl of fruit on your head, and you’d be perfect.’

Ice dripped from Sonia’s words. ‘Perfect for what?’

‘For the Mardi Gras parade.’

Sally stepped forward and nudged Sonia. ‘Be polite, he’s Sol’s guest.’

Sol sat back and waited for the fireworks. This was going to be one hell of a Christmas dinner.

***

Once Dave and Sonia had stopped circling each other like cats on a hot tin roof, Christmas dinner had been fun. Taj had kept them entertained with stories of his year on the circuit, and the kids had pulled all the bon bons to get the jokes out.

Sally looked up at Sol as he stood behind her and held out a champagne glass. ‘Oh, I couldn’t. I’ve eaten way too much.’

Her eyes widened when he reached below the table and lifted up a bottle of Moët.

‘You have to. Just one. I hope we have something to celebrate.’

Her eyes widened when he put the glass on the table and handed the bottle to Taj.

 Sol took Sally’s hands and led her to the bottom of the stairs, followed by the rest of the dinner guests who seemed to know what was happening. Sonia even smiled at Dave when Sol reached into his pocket and pulled out a pendant on a chain.

‘May I?’ He held her gaze as he held it up. Sally reached for the pink stone dangling in front of her.

Sol’s voice was low. ‘Sally, wearing this rose quartz pendant will activate your heart chakra and bind you to me, your soul mate. If you accept it, this stone will protect our unbreakable vows from all that life might put in our way.’

Sally smiled as tears filled her eyes.

Happy tears.

‘Rose quartz is a stone of the heart, the crystal of unconditional love,’ she said. ‘You’ve chosen well.’

‘Will you marry me, Sal? Will you fill my heart with love, and let me love you back.’

She nodded and threw her arms around Sol’s neck. As his lips met hers, the promise of a blissful future was set in stone.