Salzburg
In June, Salzburg was much warmer than Amanda expected, but perhaps that had more to do with being surrounded by the people she loved than it had with the blazing sun or the vivid colours of the Mirabelle Palace and Gardens. At the same time, there was something of a light breeze that held upon it an optimistic whisper that the winds in her life had changed direction, something she didn’t realise she’d so badly needed, not long ago. When Amanda turned to Carlos, she could see he felt it too; it was more a sentiment that floated between them than something she could put into words.
‘I will go back to Dublin, inspired,’ he smiled, catching her hand in his. ‘Thank you,’ he kissed her fingers gently.
‘Oh, don’t thank me, I’m still a little surprised that Richard wanted to pay for us all to stay in the best hotel in the city.’ Amanda shook her head. Funny how things work out. Here she was, strolling through Salzburg with Carlos, while Richard was still on that treadmill, running furiously to catch the promotion; he thought would make him happy. At least he had Ariel. They seemed to be bumping along together, if not exactly contentedly, then at least resignedly. Amanda had greeted the news that Ariel was pregnant with much more enthusiasm than Richard had. She had a feeling that becoming mired in nappies and night feeds had not been part of his original plan. Ah well, c’est la vie, she thought. Richard had handed over their tickets to Salzburg with a wistful smile, knowing perhaps that he was in for another decade of theme parks and water slides. It made it even easier for Amanda to count her lucky stars at how their lives had changed.
‘We’ll both be inspired going home,’ she said and she meant it. She’d taken hundreds of photos over the last few days and she was dying to get painting as soon as she got back to Swift square. ‘We should be getting back,’ she smiled at Carlos, ‘they will be waiting for us.’ It was fifteen minutes to the hotel and Amanda intended to walk it slowly, drag out their last evening in Salzburg, times like this, she knew were worth treasuring. So, they walked along hand in hand, admiring again the baroque architecture, carried away on their own fizzing happiness.
‘You know, I want to ask you again…’ Carlos pulled her close to him, his dark eyes still had that stomach flipping effect on her. Still, occasionally, she wanted to pinch herself that he’d fallen for her every bit as much as she had for him, ‘but I have a feeling that I already know the answer.’ He smiled, they were happy, it was all that mattered.
‘Not yet,’ Amanda felt his arms snake around her back, it was a good feeling. She knew where she was with him and the fact that he wanted to marry her was enough for now. ‘Anyway, you don’t want to take Stephen’s moment of glory, do you?’ She laughed.
‘True enough,’ Carlos agreed. ‘Speaking of which,’ he kissed the tip of her nose, before checking his watch, ‘we really should be getting back.’
*
Stephen picked the restaurant, months before they’d arrived. It wasn’t the most expensive, but it was a perfect blend of stylish and homely and the hotel manager said the food was the best in the city. A table for seven, by the window – they had a view of the river and the cathedral in the distance. The Festival was the most magical experience of the trip so far. Tess was invited to sing solo and perhaps it made up a little for all those missing years, but Amanda had a feeling that Tess was too happy to feel she’d really missed anything at all now. Perhaps it was being with Nancy also, it turned out that her life had not been so charmed as Tess always believed. That cemented the sisters’ relationship even more. Mostly, though, it bloomed because Tess was ready to forgive and move on and Nancy poured every ounce of love she had into it until Tess could measure up to her.
Amanda couldn’t help looking around the table; she was lucky to have all of these people who between them meant the world to her. Casper, her lovely bright son, who smiled all the time now, had applied for Art College. It turned out, far from being like his father; he was becoming more like Amanda with every passing day. All he wanted was to paint and play music. Robyn loved to paint too, and maybe, she could study design, but she’d set her heart on becoming a vet, so Amanda had a feeling that she’d be seeing more than just the neighbours’ cat wandering about the place. Nancy and Stephen had become her friends, far better than Nicola or any of the others that believed they had cast her out of those torturous coffee mornings at the Berkley. Carlos, dark and sexy on her left was part of her family now too. He’d managed to wiggle his way in, slowly but steadily, winning over first Tess and then the kids with his open, easy ways. He was generous and funny and it seemed that these days he spent more time in Swift square than he did anywhere else. But, it was Tess, sitting opposite her who had come to mean so much to her and so she smiled across at her, excited and happy about the future that was spreading out before them.
Tonight, it felt to Amanda, as though they were all holding their breath, waiting for something and it was hard to believe that Tess didn’t feel it too.
‘It’s such a lovely place,’ Tess murmured looking around the restaurant and when she smiled at Amanda it seemed she had transformed into the kind of woman she was always meant to be. Everything in her life had changed so utterly. Here tonight, Tess glowed. The woman that Amanda used to know was gone and in her place, Tess beamed at her modern, if somewhat unconventional family. ‘Champagne?’ she looked at Stephen curiously and Nancy giggled. It was a nervous, girlish sound and it reminded them she was happy to be here, counted as one of them, her family too, she belonged with them now. Robyn reached out and held her hand; they were as excited as each other at what lay ahead.
‘Yes, I think so,’ Stephen said handing her a glass. ‘I think we have plenty to celebrate, don’t you?’ It was true. Within a year, Tess and Amanda had settled around them the kind of family they’d both always wanted.
‘Stephen,’ Casper elbowed him, handed him a small round box containing the ring that Nancy, Amanda and Robyn helped him find for Tess.
‘Oh, yes.’ Stephen stood, pushed back his chair and dropped to one knee. He’d spent the last few days practising this, since Robyn told him he’d have to do it properly. ‘I have something to ask you, Tess.’ He cleared his throat and Amanda felt a tremor of emotion rise up within her. ‘Would you do me the honour of becoming…’ he opened the box to show an antique emerald ring that looked as though the jeweller had carved it with Tess in his thoughts. ‘Becoming my wife?’ He finished between a nervous smile and tears of happiness.
‘Oh, Stephen,’ Tess said leaning forward and putting her arms around his neck. ‘You silly old thing,’ she mumbled into his ears, ‘of course I’ll marry you.’ Then she pulled back a little from him, a tear escaping down her cheek. ‘I’m so happy,’ she said helping him to his feet, but the tears were hardly noticed because the whole restaurant was cheering and clapping and Amanda thought, this is surely what it means to live happily ever after.
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