Epilogue
Summer lingered long into September and the weather was absolutely perfect for the party which took place on the equinox. The whole site was bedecked in bunting and aglow with the spoils of harvest, thanks to the abundance of the season. At the centre of the celebrations sat The Cherry Tree Café mobile tearoom and next to it stood Ed, with his beloved Jack perched on his arm and Minnie at his feet.
‘So what do you think?’ I asked, when I finally made my way through the group gathered around him.
‘I think we’ve done good,’ he smiled.
‘Really good,’ I smiled back, stroking Jack’s silky feathers and taking in the scene.
‘It’s nice to have everyone here to celebrate, isn’t it?’
‘It certainly is.’
‘But what about Matt?’ he asked. ‘I thought he might show up.’
‘As far as I know he’s still with his friends,’ I said casually.
I had decided it was best not to tell Ed the finer details of Matt’s hasty departure from town the summer before.
The truth was that Matt’s uncle had been so furious with him for both failing in his mission and spilling the beans that Matt had thought it was best to steer clear of the area for a while and had gone to spend some time with friends north of the border. I was delighted to see the back of him and had been relishing life at the cottage now it wasn’t continually spoiled by the sound of the drill and lump hammer. The only industrious sounds around the place had been from either Simon, who I had employed to complete the electrical work, or of my own making.
‘You know why Will never really liked Matt, don’t you, Lottie?’ said Ed conspiratorially.
‘Not really,’ I shrugged.
It was true; Will hadn’t known what Matt and his uncle had been planning, so I’d never really fathomed out what had been at the root of his loathing.
‘Will told me once that he was a bit jealous of Matt.’
‘Did he?’
‘Um,’ Ed continued, affectionately stroking Jack. ‘He said he thought you would like Matt more because he was cool.’
‘Cool!’ I laughed.
‘Yeah, you know, with his surfer image and scruffy hair and all that. Will said you’d never go out with someone like him because he was too boring and conventional or something.’
It wasn’t my place to tell Ed any different, but the last few months practically living with Will had proved he was anything but boring or conventional, especially in the bedroom.
‘Why have you gone red?’ Ed nudged, when I didn’t answer.
‘Have you seen David?’ asked Will, planting a kiss on my upturned face and saving me from having to explain to Ed the difference between him and Matt in words that a prepubescent boy would understand.
‘Yuk,’ groaned Ed. ‘Have a care, guys. You two don’t stop, do you?’
‘Sorry,’ we laughed together.
Will and I had been inseparable since Matt’s timely departure. As soon as he knew what it was that I really had planned for Cuckoo Cottage and that it was absolutely nothing like the twisted version my former builder had been bandying about, he had been totally on board and helped out as much as possible.
‘I have seen David,’ I told him, ‘and although still feeling guilty for believing that Matt had transferred his affections from his uncle to me, he was delighted that I have absolutely no plans to move on, even though I’m perfectly free to do so now that I’ve been living here for a year.’
Was it really a whole year since I’d landed in Wynbridge with nothing more to show for my existence than a couple of suitcases and a rucksack? I looked around the yard and across the field, my heart racing at the sight of what I, and my new friends, of course, had managed to achieve in such a short space of time.
‘And what did he make of the conservation project?’ asked Ed, keen to ensure that his part in the project had been taken into account.
‘To tell you the truth,’ I laughed, bending to give him a quick peck on the cheek, ‘I think that was the bit he liked best.’
‘Brilliant,’ said Ed, turning bright red. ‘Good old David!’
Personally I couldn’t help but feel a little sorry for my solicitor. Having handed me the keys to Cuckoo Cottage and fallen hook, line and sinker for Angela, he’d rather taken his eye off the ball and assumed that my arrival had put an end to Matt’s uncle’s determination to get his hands on my home. Consequently, having been told the truth, he had gone out of his way to play his part in helping me with the legalities of applying to set up the glamping site and had just about come to terms with not spotting what had really been going on.
‘Can I interest you two in a slice of local carrot cake?’ asked Jemma, as she hopped out of the caravan carrying a tray of delectable-looking bakes. ‘I’d grab it before Chris sees it. He’s already eaten almost an entire one on his own.’
‘In that case,’ said Will, greedily reloading his plate with two thick slices, one of which I hoped was for me, ‘I’d better stock up.’
‘So how are you finding it in there?’ I asked with a nod to the van. ‘Are you still happy with how it turned out?’
‘It’s absolutely perfect,’ said Lizzie, butting into the conversation. ‘There’s just the right amount of space and it’s all so easy to set up and pack away.’
‘Well, that’s good,’ I smiled.
‘I don’t know why you ever had any doubts about it,’ laughed Jemma. ‘She doesn’t give herself half enough credit, does she, Will?’
‘No,’ he said, ‘she doesn’t.’
‘It’s because I just want everything to be perfect,’ I said, turning red.
‘And it is,’ insisted Lizzie as she hopped back inside to make more drinks. ‘You only have to look over there to know that.’
I followed her gaze to the field and the three Cheltenham vans gleaming in the late sunshine. Just as I’d imagined, each had their own space and my eyes misted over a little as I watched the awnings flapping in the breeze. It was every bit as perfect as I’d imagined, and with the imminent arrival of three more vans within the next few weeks, it was almost complete.
More important than how it looked, though, was how it worked, and I was delighted that Grace was still happy to hunt in the field and that the large areas which had been left uncut were brimming with wild flowers and enough mice to keep both her and the kestrel happy.
‘Come on,’ said Mags, tugging at my hand, ‘it’s time to cut the ribbon.’
It was an emotional moment and one that I was glad to share with Ed, my conservation expert.
‘We declare,’ we said together, ‘the Cuckoo Cottage glamping site officially open for business!’
We pushed back the gate and the crowd rushed into the field, all eager to have a look for themselves at what I had been working to create. Even the town gossips had come out to have a look and Evelyn had soon eaten her words about not wanting my customers in her pub.
‘This looks amazing,’ said Gary, the only gossip who had actually stuck his neck on the line and told me how I wasn’t worthy of my inheritance.
‘It does rather, doesn’t it?’ I agreed, as I spotted Amber dragging Jake over to the caravan where they were planning to spend their first night away from Skylark Farm in years.
‘And Dad’s really pleased you’ve given us the mowing contract,’ he said somewhat sheepishly, ‘especially given we got off to such a bad start.’
‘Well, he’s welcome,’ I said, taking Will’s hand in mine, ‘and besides, more often than not, things don’t end up how they start, do they?’
It was getting late before everyone headed off. Amber and Jake were happily ensconced in their van and Jemma and Tom were in another. Will and I were planning to spend the night in the third and, having waved everyone off, we locked up the cottage and carried a bottle of Skylark Scrumpy, two glasses and a tired Minnie back down to the field. We toasted the future as the sun slipped below the horizon and, right on cue, Grace silently appeared, swooping low and intently studying her territory for some tasty morsel.
‘You do know that I’m in love with you, Lottie, don’t you?’ said Will, swallowing his last mouthful of cider and catching me completely by surprise. ‘I’ve loved you from the very first moment I saw you.’
‘What, naked and in dire straits?’ I questioned.
‘Absolutely,’ he grinned.
‘What was it that attracted you to me?’ I asked. ‘Was it the fact that I was naked or needed rescuing?’
‘Both,’ he said, ‘it was the perfect combination for me. I’ve always enjoyed playing the hero, although . . . ’
‘What?’
‘Well, from what I’ve learned about you since then, you’re more than capable of rescuing yourself, aren’t you?’
‘I suppose I am,’ I sighed, ‘except when electrics are involved, or thunderstorms.’
‘So I’m not completely redundant then?’ he said, looking down at me and making my insides melt.
‘Oh no,’ I told him, ‘absolutely not. This is one little cuckoo who is always going to need a companion to share her nest with.’