I had noticed that the little robin hadn’t visited while Tomas was staying, and I was hoping I could point it out to him. Today, though, it seems he is back with us again.
‘Where is he?’
‘Over by there,’ says Ken.
‘Where?’
Ken points around to where my favourite rose bush stands, and I have to step away from the doorstep to have a look.
As I turn in its direction, I see the robin on a branch. But it is not any old branch. It is a branch that has been used as the arm of a snowman that touches across to a snowwoman.
‘Where did those two come from?’ I ask, bemused.
Tomas and Ken smile at each other. ‘I came out and built it this morning as a surprise,’ he says.
Ken must have noticed them as he arrived, which is why he was smiling at Tomas.
‘Oh my gosh, that’s just so cute. No wonder you were cold. So that’s what you were up to early this morning. Good job we still have some snow up here.’
‘It’s supposed to resemble us. You see. Their branches are together. They’re holding hands.’
‘That’s just too cute. Come here.’
I give Tomas a kiss and intertwine my fingers with his.
I watch how the robin is happily perched on the branch and then lets out a big chirp. If I didn’t know better, I’d swear he was smiling!
Chapter Thirty-Four
Prague, eleven months later
Christmas Eve
I look across to the dressing table where I left Aunt Grace’s ashes until the time came to reunite her with Marek.
Wearing the red dress that I bought for today, I take the ashes in my hands. Red was always Aunt Grace’s favourite colour, and it was quite the search to find something that suited me for this occasion.
‘You look lovely,’ says Tomas.
‘Thank you. I can’t believe the time has finally come,’ I say, fighting to overcome my emotions.
‘Are you okay?’ asks Tomas.
‘Yeah, I’m fine.’
‘You must remember that today’s a happy day. We’re reuniting them.’
‘Yeah. I know.’
I place the ashes on my lap as Tomas drives towards a place that I haven’t visited before. Just like everywhere else I have seen in Prague, it is in another beautiful setting. It even has three parks surrounding it, and the gardens are impressively well-maintained. As soon as I see its location set high above the city, I realise that Tomas was right to choose this place. It is the perfect spot to spread the ashes.
We meet Albert and Zuzana at the car park so that we can find the final resting place together. My eyes well up when I see them both walking towards us. Albert carries Marek’s ashes, and I head towards them carrying Aunt Grace’s. Finally, they meet again. We all pause for a moment of silence.
We begin to walk around the gardens until we find the right place. However, above us, some clouds are threatening to erupt.Oh no, this is not what we had planned for today.The sun had been shining earlier. It looks now as though it can’t decide whether to rain or snow, and a plop of slushy rain lands on my coat. Tomas notices my concern as I try to protect Aunt Grace from the elements.
‘It’s just a shower. Don’t worry. Let’s go under that tree until it stops.’
The four of us take shelter under a huge old tree on which someone has carved a heart. All it needs are the initials G & M to be complete. But, of course, I would never graffiti a tree!
