ONE YEAR ON…
Martha and Hugh are still an item. Currently they’re both in Italy – Martha has gone back to her first love – film – and is the female lead in a low-budget British movie being made on the Amalfi coast. She’s also looking into taking a university course in teaching drama. Hugh is investigating beaches and subjects to talk about for his new TV series. They are yet to visit Rome but Hugh is confident they’ll find it as romantic as Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn did when they were there making Roman Holiday. Hugh has plans to hire a scooter and ride around Rome with Martha clinging tightly to him. They get back to 23 The Strand as often as they can.
Cally had her breast removed and a reconstruction. She did not need chemo or radiotherapy and is making a good recovery. Her prognosis is good. Jack has turned the chalet in their garden into a hairdressing studio and once both of their boys are at school Cally will work from home. Life couldn’t be sweeter at the moment.
Arthur did indeed take Hannah and Archie to Lapland to see the reindeer. Archie, bless him, worked out that Arthur wasn’t the real Father Christmas because he was in Lapland, wasn’t he? They all keep in touch, and Hannah invites Arthur to Sunday lunch once every six weeks. In between lunches Arthur helps out at the local primary school, listening to the children read and telling them stories he makes up in his head as he goes along. One of the teachers has said he should write them all down and get them published. He’s considering that option.
Lucy counts her blessings every day that she was left at the altar – well, almost at the altar. She moved in with Ross, whose son, Toby, said thank goodness for that because he could now go travelling for a year and then on to uni – he’d just not wanted to go before because he hadn’t wanted to leave his dad on his own. Lucy has helped Ross expand the business by running overnight kayak stops, camping on secluded beaches, which have proved very popular. She and Ross are both thrilled that they are soon to be parents together.
Ana still works for Fred at The Port Light. She persuaded him to sell soup and home-made bread during the winter, which proved very popular and boosted trade no end. Her English is much improved and she can even read a novel written in English now. She gets on well with all Fred’s daughters but it’s Saffron she likes best. Saffron has recently introduced Ana to a friend of hers – Alex – who is nothing like Vasile. She is now happier than she has ever been.
Stella gave birth to a daughter she named Summer. Her children all fight over who’s going to feed Summer, bathe her and push her in the stroller, and they’ve begged Stella and James to have another baby. It’s a big ‘No!’ to that one though. Stella took Summer to see Ana and now, on Ana’s day off from The Port Light, she looks after Summer so Stella can get on with writing her first novel.
Belle, Chloe and Emily muddle along much as they always have, although the future is now looking brighter from a financial point of view. Belle discovered she could get a grant to put towards buying a computer for her start-up business and has begun to design jewellery with a view to having her own online business, as Fiona suggested. Aaron has been helping and Belle has, at last, agreed to go on a date with him. Anne Maynard nearly broke her neck offering to babysit Chloe and Emily so she could go. Belle is still in touch with Fiona – who honoured her promise to design and have clothes made up for Chloe and Emily – and Sam. Belle has been watching rather more documentaries on TV now she knows Sam has been making them and is considering doing a GCSE in history at night school when the new term starts. If nothing else, having that should increase her job options should her jewellery business not take off. Blimey.
Caroline had to practically chew her fingers off to stop opening bottles of wine, but the thought that Danny had believed in her – and the fact that her son, Luke, had invited her to his wedding to Sophie – kept her going. The wedding was more wonderful than Caroline could ever have imagined. She managed to take just one sip of champagne to toast the happy couple. She was asked to dance by one of Sophie’s uncles and they have been seeing one another on a regular basis. Who’d have thought a fortnight in a seaside chalet could have changed her life so much for the better?
Margy got her surprise in the end. Ed had told the girls about the wedding and, while they couldn’t be there because of other commitments, there was a massive banner on the front of Ed and Margy’s house when they got home. Most of the street came to the party and the organising of that was what the texts had been all about. Margy was relieved to know she did know Ed as well as she thought she did.
Hugh – as we all now know – got his happy Roman Holiday ending after all. Aaaah… Audrey Hepburn and Gregory Peck would be so pleased.