Leonie reminds me to take breaks and sends me cups of tea which I forget to drink until they’ve gone cold. Then she asks her father to look after me. Professor Jones has made himself my assistant, giving me essential background and in some cases actually writing the material directly on the web page. They can see me working late into the night in the Hub. If I work in my apartment after a day of manual labour, it would be too easy to just go to bed or, more likely, fall asleep on the sofa. Llewellyn, wonderful friend that he is, has given me keys to the Hub. I’m there sometimes until 1am.
The day before Good Friday, I’m in the Hub double checking a million things when Isaias comes in. “Miss Evie, come please, quickly.”
I’ve told him a million times not to bother with the ‘Miss’ because we’re all equal here. He won’t listen. I’m starting to think it’s a cultural thing. In his country, women are accorded respect by not addressing them directly by their first names.
“What is it, Isaias?” I ask, barely looking up from my screen.
“Please, it’s very important. Come now.”
With a falling heart, I wheel my chair back and get up. “What’s wrong?”
Chapter Thirty-six
Isaias leads me to the grand hall, then up the central stairs all the way to the second floor and down to the south wing. I’ve been here before, right at the start when Osian showed me his newly renovated rooms for thePerllans. And the glass conservatory behind it.
This is one of the extensions added on to Kendric House around the turn of the last century – a glazed balcony that runs the entire length of the wing. Bill, the professor’s father, who used to be an engineer before retirement, thinks it was an engineering decision. As it faces north, sunlight pouring in through the glass would warm the upper floor and do away with the need for heating during the day. Kendric House is like that – a platform for artists and architects to experiment.
This is where Isaias now takes me. As we come up the stairs, I see that everyone is here. Not just the tenPerllans, but also Osian, Alex, Llewellyn, Haneen, Leonie, Professor Jones, and even the young volunteers.
“What’s going on?” I ask, slowing down and looking from one eager face to another.
“ThePerllansgraduate on Monday, so we’re holding the party now. We thought you needed a break,” Osian says, coming towards me.
“I’m busy!” I whisper to him.
“Shh, come and look.” He takes my hand and leads me towards the glass façade.
Too impatient, I try to pull my hand out of his. “I have a million things to do.”
“Look,” he says, smiling.
“What?” I look out at the blue sky. The sun is low, which only means the day is drawing to a close and I have so much to do.
Then my eyes drop to the grounds below. From this high point, the whole garden is visible.
Of course, it’s not quite there yet, only a few flowers are ready. Looking down, I can see the pond – a pretty ‘S’ shape surrounded by the vivid blue mosaic path. The fans look like large accessories and already enough of the flowers show to be able to tell the colours of each fan. Blue, purple, pink, orange and red. Pretty open fans, each with a tree at the base. Trees also dot the lawns so grass sections curl like giant commas around each tree. Some are just green, but others have a scattering of tiny yellow and white wildflowers. And finally at the back of all that, the curve of the arcade. Even without roses – which are still too short – it looks amazing.
I’ve seen all this before, but close up you only see small sections. Never seen the whole picture except in my imagination, in my hopeful thinking. I blink and tears fall down my cheeks.
Osian’s arm around my waist squeezes me to his side. “I wanted you to see what you created.” He sounds happy and… proud. Yes, proud.
But also, his arm is still around my waist.
He has been gradually more tactile, warmer. And it makes me wonder if our relationship is shifting. Slowly, perhaps, but it is progress. Does he even realise it?
“We wanted to invite everyone up here,” Haneen says. “Down on the ground you can’t see some of the best features because they’re hidden behind a large bush or a tree.”
“Yes, that’s what I wanted,” I say. “That way, visitors walking around won’t know what they’re going to see until they actually walk into it. Like a secret treasure. I’ve always wanted this kind of garden.”
“Like a treasure hunt.” Ricky comes to join us. His chest swells with pride. “I told them. When we started cutting it was all dead and we found the slates, didn’t we?”
“Oh Ricky, you were the real treasure.” I wipe my eyes. “I couldn’t have done it without you.”
I know I’m gushing and emotional. Yes, I planned all this, but seeing it become a reality… It really does work.
“No one can believe this is the same hopeless wilderness of two months ago.” Haneen pours champagne into glasses which Ashe hands around.
Osian waves her away when she offers me one. He already has an open bottle of chilled elderflower pressé and pours me a glass.
