“You’ve not seen nothing yet. Hold on.”
He takes off through the flowers, and I spin in my seat, shocked. “Anthony, the flowers!”
He laughs freely. “They will bounce back.”
I look behind us to see the trail of destruction, but my eyes lift instead to the beautiful view.
We come to a stop at the top of the hill, and I sit speechless in my seat as I absorb Lowerwick in all its beauty. I can see the entire estate from here, and it seems so much bigger, grander. More.
“Wow,” I mutter.
“Look at this,” he says, tapping my arm.
I turn, my eyes following his finger to where he is pointing, and the view in front of me takes my breath away. At the bottom of the meadow sits a glistening lake. I see no end to it, just miles and miles of uninterrupted water.
Stepping from the buggy to get a better look, I take in the paddle boat and rope swing that lies broken on the floor.
Mason.
“He loved it out here. They both did.”
I twist towards him. “They don’t come here anymore?”
“Scarlet does. Nearly every day. Mase hasn’t been in years.”
I swallow the lump in my throat, turning fully to take in Lowerwick at my back.
“This has to be the most peaceful place on earth,” I tell him.
“It is.” He smiles sadly. He steps from the buggy and sits on the grass, then nods his head to the spot beside him, encouraging me to drop down next to him. “You see there—to the left of the property.” He points.
I squint, trying to work out where he means—until I spot it.
The headstone stands large and proud in a garden of colourful flowers.
“Ellis. Your wife.”
“When she first passed, Mason and Scarlet would play on the lake whilst I sat here. So she could watch them with me.”
“It’s perfect.” Tears fill my eyes—there’s no controlling them—and I try to blink them away.
“It is, isn’t it.” He picks at the grass, rolling it between his fingers then letting it go in the light breeze. “Scarlet will never leave, and that fills me with so much joy, but I always hoped Mason would end up back here one day. That maybe I’d see my grandchildren play on the lake, and I could sit on the hill and watch them with her. Like we watched our children.”
I roll my lips, not knowing how to reassure him when his life seems so uncertain. “I have faith in him, faith that he will come around. Deep down he loves it here.” I grasp my collarbone, closing my eyes briefly as I process that lie.
Does Mason love it here? Maybe that’s something I can talk to him about.
“I wish that were true, Nina.” He smiles warmly at me. “You’re good for him, I can see that. Scarlet even more so. She’s left me alone twice this week to dogirly lunch.” He bumps me with his shoulder, lightening the mood.
“She is incredible. They both are.” I grin, feeling my dimple pop.
“What brought you out here today anyway?” he asks.
“I lost my job.”
“Ah, yes. The studio.”
“How do you know about that?”
