Dave trotted into the kitchen and curled up in one of two matching wicker baskets with fleecy linings. In the bed next to him lay the Duchess with her recently fed brood. They were all sound asleep, their swollen tummies moving rhythmically as they slept. Dave flopped his head over the edge of their basket and gazed adoringly at them all.
Lottie heard the distant click of the front door and cocked her ear like a spaniel. Uncle Daniel’s face peered around the door. ‘Happy New Year,’ he said. ‘I was just on the phone,’ he explained.
Lottie noted Nicola’s expectant look. ‘And how is Rebecca?’ Nicola asked.
‘She’s good. Thanks.’ The way Daniel said it you’d have thought Nicola had just given him the winning lottery numbers. It was good to see them being kind to each other, and she admired them for it.
When breakfast (and brunch) had been washed down with coffee, Lottie encouraged everyone outside. They walked solemnly down to the far end of the garden, where Nana’s runner beans – and more recently, Zach’s fairy light proposal – had once adorned the trellis. Zach and Emily held hands and exchanged loving looks.
Lottie cleared her throat. ‘If I’ve not said already, then thanks for coming. I know it was a bit short notice, but now we know the fate of the manor,’ she looked at Joeand he looked down, embarrassed, ‘it felt like we’d been waiting too long to do this. And—’
‘And we all need closure,’ added Angie.
‘Er, right,’ said Lottie, smiling at her mother’s knack of anticipating things incorrectly. She was hoping to learn to be more tolerant and build a better relationship with her now the puzzle pieces of her life had fallen into place. ‘Anyway, Nana loved this place. All of it. She loved the villages and the manor. She loved the trees and the gardens and, in particular, she loved pottering about in the vegetable patch.’
‘And her runner beans,’ prompted Angie.
‘Yes, Mum, and especially her runner beans. So here seemed like the right place for her to rest.’ The last word caught in her throat; she felt Joe’s arm snake around her shoulders and pull her gently to him. ‘I thought it might be nice if we all scooped some ashes out and scattered them.’ Rhys looked slightly alarmed at the prospect. ‘But you don’t have to if you don’t want to.’
Rhys had already checked the area with his metal detector, so there was no possibility of Nana’s ashes being disturbed by treasure hunters. Daniel was holding the urn with Nana’s ashes in and Nicola carefully removed the top. Lottie passed her Nana’s flour scoop and Nicola dipped it in and liberally scattered a scoop full of ashes into the air. Unfortunately, the breeze took them and a few went in Angie’s face.
‘Hey! That went in my eye,’ said Angie, winking elaborately. ‘Scott, check my eye.’
‘Sorry,’ said Nicola, but she was clearly suppressing a smirk.
‘It’s fine,’ said Scott, after a brief look. ‘Blink – you’ll be fine.’
‘Anyway,’ said Nicola. ‘All I wanted to say about Rose was that she was a force to be reckoned with and I liked that about her. She made no apology for who she was.’
There were nods of agreement and Nicola passed the scoop to Angie.
‘Thanks Mum, for always being there to pick up the pieces. I love you,’ said Angie. Blinking furiously, she sprinkled the ashes along the trellis line.
Daniel took the scoop and Scott held the urn for him. ‘Bye, Mum. You were the best.’
Rhys quickly got some ashes and let them tumble to the ground. ‘Miss you, Nana.’
He filled a scoop and passed it to Bernard, who wriggled forward in his wheelchair. Dayea wrapped her hand around Bernard’s and they spread their scoopful together. ‘Bye, old girl. We had some laughs,’ said Bernard.
‘You were a very nice lady,’ added Dayea. ‘Thank you for finding me my Bernard.’
Zach stepped forward and took the urn, holding it for Jessie. She peered inside and wrinkled her nose.
‘I don’t think Nana Rose is in there. I think she’s a ghost,’ said Jessie.
‘Okay,’ said Emily, crouching down, scooping out a little ash and sprinkling it. ‘If her ghost was listening, what would you like to say to her?’
Jessie pouted as she thought. ‘I miss your cuddles. And the dolls arereallyscary.’
‘Well done, Jessie,’ said Zach, tipping a large amount of the ash out into a pile. ‘Thanks, Nana, for everything you taught me, and for keeping me on the straight and narrow. Love you,’ said Zach. He wiped away a tear and passed the urn to Lottie.
Lottie took a steadying breath and tipped out theremaining ash. She tried hard not to think about the ash being Nana; it just didn’t seem possible. ‘We did what you asked, Nana – we had a good family Christmas.’ Lottie looked up to nods of agreement. ‘It wasn’t quite up to your standard, but, hey, you set the bar high. I can’t believe it’s taken me until now to realise the huge part you played in my life.’ She gave a quick glance in Joe’s direction. ‘I miss you so much. Bye Nana. Thank you for everything.’
‘Thanks for inviting me home, Rose.’ Joe picked up the urn and wrapped Lottie in a hug.
They all stayed for a few minutes and watched the light breeze spread the ashes around the vegetable garden. Daniel was the first to turn and head inside. Others followed. Lottie saw the Duchess meander over and sit on the edge of the grass and observe them. Lottie smiled to think the cat may, in her own way, be coming to add her own message to Nana. The Duchess got up, stretched, walked over to the ashes and proceeded to dig a hole in them.
‘No! Scoot!’ said Lottie, shooing a disgruntled-looking Duchess out of the way. ‘Cheeky thing,’ said Lottie. ‘She was going to wee on Nana. After everything she did for her.’ That was one message Nana could do without.
