“Yes, alone in a community with hundreds of our friends and family, most of which can see us from their cottages,” she smiled.
“That is the only drawback to living so close to one another. Although in fairness, everyone seems to respect our privacy. I damn sure don’t want to walk in on my brothers and their wives, and I suspect they feel the same about us.”
“Speaking of,” she smiled, sitting up. “When should we set our wedding date? I mean, my exams are done and we could get married any time now.”
“You pick the day and time and I’ll be there,” he said kissing her. “The date doesn’t matter to me, Willa. I just want to be your husband.”
“And I want to be your wife,” she said smiling. “Did you know that you were the first person that didn’t call me Wavy? I hate that nickname. I mean, I love that I’m named after both my grandmothers but it’s just terrible.”
“I never liked it much. It was cute when you were a toddler, but not a full-grown woman,” he smiled. “It seemed natural to call you Willa since she’s passed. Calling you Avery would have been very confusing.”
“I agree,” she said snuggling into him again. “Mom and Dad have been so great through all of this. I mean, I knew they would be but I guess I was surprised that Dad didn’t freak out.”
“Your father doesn’t freak out,” laughed Finn. “Your dad is hardcore, babe. He’s as tough as they get and so is your mom. I love that. I love it because they passed those traits along to you and I see it in you every day.”
“You do?” she said looking up at him.
“I do. The way you’ve handled all of this with your classmates and your professor. Your focus on your exams and schoolwork. Even the way you called me out at the wedding,” he smirked.
“Well, you were taking your sweet time and I felt like time was running out,” she frowned.
“Time will never run out for us, Willa. We are forever. I know it in my heart, I feel it in my soul. We will be like our parents and grandparents and those before them. This place seems to breed long-term, healthy relationships and I suppose that all is a credit to Irene and Matthew.”
“Or me,” said Martha gliding toward them. “Actually, all of us.” She was surrounded by the ghost posse. All of them.
Matthew and Irene, Teddy, Ruby and Sven, George and Mary, Archie, Charity, Claudette, Franklin, Genevieve, Grip and Jonathon, Martha, Nathan, Tahlako – Eagle Feather, Tony, Yori, and Hezekiah.
“Wow. Hello everyone,” smiled Willa.
“Hello, sweet Willa,” smiled Franklin.
“What do you mean? Should we be giving credit to all of you for our relationship longevity?” asked Finn.
“Credit seems too strong a word,” smiled Mary. “Let’s just say that from this side of the veil we’re able to redirect energy and attention. It’s a very useful skill to have. Of course, Martha, Franklin, and the others have been doing it a lot longer than us.”
“I don’t understand,” said Willa. “Why would you redirect energy or attention?”
“Child, this land cannot survive if there is unrest and chaos,” said Franklin. “Over the centuries it has nearly died due to such nonsense. Wars, conflicts, fighting, weather, floods, fires, locusts, you name it. It’s all happened right here. But we didn’t let the land die.”
“So, it’s the land that’s really important?” asked Finn.
“What would you all be without the land? Where would you go?” asked Irene.
“I-I never thought of that,” said Willa. “I mean, every time I thought about coming home, it was all of this. Not just the cottage or my family. It was everything around us. You’ve said for years that the gardens are healing but it always felt to me like it was everything here, not just the gardens.”
“That’s right,” smiled Matthew. “It’s more than just flowers and shrubs. It’s the trees, the soil, the rocks, all of it. There is life here and that life thrives with harmony around it.”
“Then you all help with that harmony,” said Finn. They all nodded. “Is that why you’ve found your own harmony? I mean, those of you who found it in death?”
“I suppose that’s true,” said Archie clutching Charity’s hand. “I never thought something like this would be possible.”
“I felt the same,” said Genevieve holding tightly to Tahlako. “In my time, our time, I would never have been allowed to love him. Now, here, I can love whomever I like.”
“I think that’s beautiful,” smiled Willa.
“We do too,” said Ruby.
“No, not all of you. I mean, yes, all of you. I meant, that’s beautiful,” she said pointing toward the walking path.
