Alfie. Alfie. Alfie….
Epilogue
TEN YEARS LATER.
Lola
“And don’t forget, to grow a garden is to dream of a new day. Until next time, goodbye everybody and happy gardening.”
“And…cut! That was great, Lola. I think we got it.” The producer waved at me and I felt the sigh from the crew that the day was finally over. It had been a long one but worth it.
I stood in the middle of the completed garden, inspired by Japanese planting and architecture having just finished my final walk-through. In this episode, we were creating a garden for a local hospice, it had been a singularly moving experience.
I stepped off the set for the assistants to come in and begin the clean up. Sid was there, iPad in hand, running through all of his final checks though I was sure we’d ticked every box twice over. We’d come a long way over the last ten years, from our first episode about sculpture construction filmed with bad lighting and unflattering angles, to today, filming garden designs for a new BBC show. He had risen from my assistant to my business partner. I wouldn’t have managed the last ten years without him.
“You really can’t come for that drink? The whole crew's going to celebrate.”
“I really can’t. I have to get back.” I’d have loved to go, it was bad form to miss it but the timing just sucked. At least everyone seemed to understand I wasn’t just being anti-social.
“Right. Big day. Can’t miss it.”
We said our goodbyes and I climbed into my van, and set off for home.
I drove the familiar roads of my home town and as always, I smiled as I passed the point where I’d once crashed into a certain Rolls Royce.
The guard opened the gates and I wound down the drive way to Harrington. After ten years, living here didn’t feel strange anymore. A few times a year we opened it for visitors, the public could come and enjoy the grounds, the new sculptures I’d built, and see parts of the ground floor that had been kept true to the time period that Harrington had originally been built.
The rest was just for us. Despite what others might think, it never felt intrusive. I was proud to share what we’d created.
As I climbed out of the car, I spotted my dad on the front step. “Hey, how did it go?”
“Good,” I told him. “All wrapped up.”
“Think you might get another spot at the Chelsea Flower Show out of it?”
“I’d better. They know I always deliver.” We’d created four award winning gardens for the show over the last decade. Sid and I never missed. “So, are we all set up?”
“Your sister is in the kitchen with Ada helping her cook. I’ve been kicked out.”
“So…right on track then? Where are the others?”
“In the garden. Hey,” he pulled me in before I could walk away and laid a kiss on my head like I was still a little girl, “I’m proud of you sweetheart.”
“Thanks, dad.”
Leaving the house behind, I kicked off my shoes and walked the same path I’d walked thousands of times. I descended the grass steps, the flower wheels still covered with honeysuckle and jasmine. I left the world behind, entering the haven I’d created for us.
My gaze landed on him and there was my heart beating as fast as it had the first time I saw him. He sat, leaning against the plinth, in a pool of bleeding hearts where we’d married a decade ago. His head was buried in his hands, covering his face.
Before I could wonder what was wrong, a giggle caught my attention. I looked to my left and saw two pairs of tiny feet hiding behind a collection of rose bushes.
“Ready or not, here I come!” Alfie leapt up. He looked around, his handsome face breaking into a smile when he spotted me. I put my fingers to my lips and pointed at the tiny feet.
“Hmmm…I wonder where those girls could be?” He started hunting the garden for them. I stood back watching them enjoy their favourite game. As he neared the bush, the girls jumped out, screaming loudly so he fell to the ground in a mock faint.
“We got you, daddy!”
“You did, you tricked me!” he laughed as they tickled him. “Look, mummy’s here!”
