‘You tell me.’
‘I’m going nowhere. It’s me, you and The Vintage Flower Van forever.’
Florrie smiled. ‘That sounds perfect to me.’ She leaned across and kissed him. ‘Now we best start collecting these tickets as we don’t want to miss the show!’
Florrie already knew she was falling in love with Tom. He was her happy ever after, and she couldn’t wait to see what the future held for them.
Epilogue
Twenty-Five Years Later
Winter
The morning was cold, freezing in fact, the temperature having dropped to minus one. The sky was dark and it threatened snow again.
‘I can’t believe the amount of snow we’ve seen this year…’ Isla was standing in the window of Foxglove Farm looking out over the rolling hills, Heartcross Mountain towering in the distance.
‘Twenty-five years ago today, the weather was just the same – and by the end of the day we were cut off from civilisation when the bridge collapsed, leaving us all stranded,’ said Drew, handing her a mug of tea before slipping his arm around her waist.
‘This tiny village of Heartcross became worldwide news that day and our lives were never the same again, were they?’ added Isla. ‘I can remember it so vividly, even now. Felicity had returned to the village following her grandmother’s passing…’
‘And had to get straight into rescuing her ex who’d fallen in the river,’ Drew finished.
Isla chuckled. ‘That’s right, Fergus was rescuing that Shetland pony! And now look at them both: happily married for the past twenty years, Fergus a partner in the Heart of the Village shopping estate and Felicity running the coffee shop with their daughter Esme.’
‘Rona and Bonnie would be so proud that the family teashop is still thriving.’ Drew smiled. ‘We’ve all done well for ourselves over the years. I mean, look at our boys, they’re successful, what with Finn running the alpaca farm and Angus farming full-time. And us grandparents!’
Isla nodded warmly. ‘More boys. I was hoping for a splash of pink around the place, but you never know, maybe one day…’
‘As you say, you never know.’ Drew kissed the top of her head.
‘How are you feeling about the speech today?’ Isla asked, shaking them out of their wistfulness.
‘All good, but I have to admit I’m looking forward to the moment it’s over and we can go and have food and drinks up at Heartcross Castle. Grace and Andrew certainly know how to host and he’s not a bad cook.’
Isla laughed. ‘He’s a world-famous chef. I think he’s a little better than “not bad”! I’m so happy they’ve joined us in the grandparents’ club.’
‘Twins again for their family!’
‘That’s probably because their boys, Freddie and Joey, were twins. Little Billy – who is not so little anymore, given he’s a fighter pilot in the RAF! – is doing so well. And to think, Billy’s career choice was all down to Andrew taking him up in his plane when they first arrived at Heartcross Castle.’
They both sipped their tea whilst watching the alpacas lollop over the snow, the comical pom-poms on top of the animals’ heads making them both smile.
‘Martha would have loved to see the unveiling of the new bridge and the plaque being erected in memory of all the old-timers that made the village of Heartcross what it is today.’
‘Gran would be turning in her grave if she heard you calling her an old timer!’ Isla chuckled. ‘Who’d have thought that the “temporary bridge” would last twenty-five years? I’m glad they’re keeping it and pedestrianising it now that the new bridge will finally be open.’
‘Twenty-five years,’ Drew repeated. ‘Think of everything we’ve gone through in that time. Farming has certainly changed so much with the rising cost of, well … everything. It was a smart move of yours to set up Foxglove Camping. It’s been quite lucrative for us and helped the Heart of the Village go from strength to strength.’
‘We have been lucky, haven’t we? All the businesses from the original Heart of the Village complex have flourished, especially Buttercup Barn. Florrie now has her own chain of florists dotted all over Scotland!’
‘And each one run by the Houston-Appleton clan. Ada would be so proud of what Florrie’s accomplished, and so happy she was true to her word,’ Drew added.
Isla nodded. ‘Ada’s legacy lives on in The Vintage Flower Van, and Rose Cottage has been the perfect family home for Florrie, Tom and their two children.’
‘It is goddamn special, this place, isn’t it?’
‘It is, we are very lucky to live here, and I wouldn’t change it for the world. This place captures hearts and mends broken ones. The village of Heartcross is known for its “curse” for good reason – because we’ve seen time and time again that once you arrive in Heartcross, you never want to leave. I hope that’s in your speech today.’
