Kafir found two blankets on the top shelf of the wardrobe and spread those on the carpeted floor.
Sennen took the top cover from her big bed and two pillows and laid those down too.
In the bathroom they cleaned their teeth, padding around each other softly so as not to disturb the children.
Kafir unwound his turban and let his slightly greying but still glossy hair fall to below his shoulders. Sennen ran her hands through it and then hugged him.
‘I love you so. I need to explain so much to you.’
He pulled her chin towards him and kissed her slowly. ‘We have the rest of our lives to talk. If you want to stay?’
‘Yes,’ she said. ‘Yes. I’d like to stay.’
He took her hand and led her back into the bedroom.
Lying in just their underwear on the makeshift bed on the floor, they held each other, warm and loving. They slept better than either of them had slept since they had been apart.
Kafir woke to the sound of an American cartoon on the television and his children laughing. He twisted his head and saw Sennen coming out of the bathroom, dressed and ready for the day.
‘Morning, sleepyhead.’ She knelt down to kiss him. ‘I’ll tell Amy, the landlady, that you are all here, and to bring breakfast up for you. I have to nip out. I’ll be back in the hour.’
He caught her arm as she rose. ‘You’re not leaving me again?’
‘Never.’ She smiled at him. ‘Never ever. But I do have something I need to do.
‘What? No secrets please.’
Sennen looked at the children to check they weren’t listening then whispered her plan.
‘That is good.’ Kafir said, when she finished telling him. ‘That is right.’
It took only ten minutes to drive from Trevay to Pendruggan and Marguerite Cottage.
Ella opened the door with a hangover. ‘I know I look awful. I couldn’t be bothered to take my make-up off last night.’
Sennen gazed at her daughter. Her mascara still looked fresh and her cheeks had the bloom of a happy woman. She was wearing an oversized shirt of Kit’s which exaggerated her long, slim legs. ‘You look like the front cover of a glossy magazine.’
Ella threw her arms around her mother. ‘Ohh, Muuuum. Come in.’
Sennen stepped over several pairs of shoes, discarded jackets, a plastic box full of empty prosecco bottles, and a pile of wedding presents on the hall table. ‘’Scuse the mess.’ Ella flapped a hand airily.
‘How are you feeling, darling?’ Sennen asked, following Ella into the kitchen.
‘Fine. Well. No, not totally fine but …’ She twirled with her arms out wide. ‘I’m soooo happy.’
‘Shall I make you a coffee?’
‘I’ve had one. I’m thinking of going back to bed. My husband – that sounds funny, doesn’t it? – my husband is still sparko. Sit down. I’ll make you a coffee.’
‘I’ve only just popped in to make sure you’re all right, but I will be back later and I’ll cook breakfast and clear up for you. Is Henry here?’
‘Yes, he’s here somewhere, maybe the sofa? With Deborah. Did you know they had got it together?’
‘Yes, Rosemary mentioned it.’
‘Oh, Mum, I have something for you.’ Ella opened the back door, and disappeared into the garden. Sennen saw her from the window, skipping across the wet grass. She returned clutching her bridal bouquet. ‘I left it in the garden overnight to stay cool. I didn’t want to throw it to anyone. I want you to have it.’
Sennen was speechless. ‘I’m going to cry again.’
‘That’s all right.’ Ella gave the flowers to her mum and cuddled her.
‘What have I done to deserve you and Henry?’
‘You’ve come back. That’s enough.’
‘We still have lots to say to each other,’ said Sennen, cradling the precious flowers.
‘I think it would be too much to take it all in in one hit,’ laughed Ella. ‘There’s no hurry. Are you sure I can’t make you coffee?’
‘No thank you. I have something to do but I will be back later, if that’s okay with you?’
‘Bloody hell, yes!’
As the two women walked to the front door, Ella popped her head through the lounge door to check if Henry was there. Momentarily unchecked, Sennen achieved her reason for being there and slipped two white envelopes from her pocket amidst the pile of wedding presents. One addressed to Ella, the other to Henry.
Ella came back. ‘Yep, Henry is in there, snoring like a little pig.’
Sennen smiled. ‘Bless him. Now you go back and get some sleep.
‘I will. Thanks, Mum.’
Sennen was soon back in Trevay and walking up the hill towards St Peter’s Church carrying Ella’s bouquet. The sun was bright that morning but an onshore breeze ran a coolness through it. She opened the creaky gate, the rusty spring catapulting it back to its latch, and walked up the path that took her behind the church to the furthest corner of the graveyard.
She found her parents’ graves and sat between them as she had done just a few weeks before.
‘Hello, Mum. Hello, Poppa.’ The wind was blowing her hair into her eyes, and she brushed it away. ‘It’s a bit blowy today, Poppa. Good for the drying though, eh Mum? Remember how you used to have to nag me to put the washing out? I hated that job. I love doing it now. In India, everything dries so quickly and smells of sunshine. Funny how we change, isn’t it?’
The church bell began to clang, calling the early risers to the first service of the day.
Sennen lifted Ella’s flowers to her nose and smelt the sweet freesias and roses. ‘Ella got married yesterday and these are her flowers. She was a truly beautiful bride and I think she and Kit will be happy. He’s a lovely boy. You have done a good job with her. She’s so kind and full of life. What was she like as a teenager? Not as bad as me, I hope.
‘I suspect Henry may have been a handful. He’s been very tough on me, and rightly so, but underneath he’s so gentle. I want to thank you properly for doing the job that I should have done. You have done it better than I ever could at the age I was. Aali and Sabu have a much better me than the one I was. I know I robbed you of the chance to see me grow up, but then again, you had had enough of me, hadn’t you, Mum? I ask for your forgiveness – and I forgive you for turning me away when I so wanted to come home.’
She placed the flowers on her mother’s grave. ‘These are for you both, but I think Mum will appreciate them more than you, Poppa. And by the way, thank you for guiding me, Mum. I think everything will be okay now. Oh, and I’ve decided what to do with your legacy. I think you’ll be pleased. I love you both very much.’
When Sennen had gone, Ella couldn’t rest and so brewed a pot of coffee, the smell of which soon lured Kit, Henry and Debs into the kitchen.
‘What a wonderful wedding.’ Debs gave Ella a hug. ‘And you were the most lovely bride I have ever seen. Don’t you think, Henry?’
Henry put four mugs on the table and took the milk from the fridge, ‘As sisters go, she looked all right.’
‘Gee thanks,’ said Ella sticking her tongue out.
Kit swung her into his arms and snuggled up to her. ‘Morning Mrs Beauchamp.’
Ella raked her hands through his hair and kissed his neck. ‘Good morning, Mr Beauchamp.’
‘Yeuch,’ said Henry. ‘Not before breakfast!’
Ella and Kit giggled.
‘How about a fry-up?’ suggested Debs.
‘Sausages, eggs, bacon in the fridge,’ Ella said. ‘If you don’t mind doing that, Kit and I shall open our wedding presents.’
Kit and Henry carried in the exciting parcels and cards and Ella armed herself with notepad and pen to make a thank you list.
Much laughter and excitement was had as wrapping paper was eagerly ripped apart revealing presents that ranged from the good, the quirky and the ridiculous.
Ella was now sorting through the envelopes addressed to Mr and Mrs Beauchamp, her new name giving her little butterflies in her stomach every time she saw it. But then she saw two that were addressed differently. Simply, one said Henry, the other, Ella.
She passed Henry his and together they opened and read the contents.
Ella read hers.
Dear Ella,
I need nothing. I have everything I could ever want. I have found you and you are so precious to me.
I know Mum and Poppa will be happy knowing you are financially secure. Please do whatever you want with the enclosed cheque.
I shall be going back to India with Kafir soon. He is to me what Kit is to you. I do hope you will come and see us as often as you like. I’ll teach you how to wrap a sari.
Thank you for letting me back into your lives.
Love
Mum x
Henry read his.
Dear Henry, my son.
I made such a big mistake years ago. Leaving you was so wrong, but I never stopped thinking about you and loving you. Seeing you walk your sister down the aisle yesterday was the proudest day of my life.
The enclosed cheque is for you. I realise now it’s not my choice but yours.
I love you very much and always have.
Mum x