She turned away, pulling her shawl tightly around her as the air temperature dropped. The leaves were starting to fall.
But one thing she couldn’t forget. She’d met her grandfather. He’d known it. But she hadn’t. Until now.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Nine months later
The small white wooden church of St Andrews, which stood on the main street of MacLeod’s Cove just along from Lucy’s Perching Parrot Café and opposite the newly refurbished Old Colonial Hotel, was alive with people.
Augi and Dan had specified that people should wear the brightest colours possible. Augi, herself had chosen royal blue. Trust Lucy to choose white. Not, she’d informed her family, that this was a rehearsal for her own wedding — she had no intention of ever getting married. Oliver didn’t seem perturbed. He seemed quietly confident that he would persuade Lucy eventually. And Kate had no doubt that he could be very persuasive. It would take someone with supreme skill to divert Lucy from any course she’d set. But, for the moment, they were extremely happy, both focusing on business as well as play. Sailing, travelling, taking time off — just being together.
And then there was Jen and Sam. They were now happily ensconced with Liam in the house for which Sam had spent the first half of the year laying the foundations and the last half building. Unlike Oliver and Lucy, whose courtship had gone at the speed of light, Jen and Sam had taken things at a gentle pace. It had allowed them to recover from the ordeal that had occupied them for all Liam’s life, and for a big part of Jen’s. And, as they’d both been married before, neither of them seemed in any hurry to step down the aisle.
Which brought her to her last two unmarried children: Ellie, and the elusive Matt. She couldn’t believe he’d turned up after such a long absence, and wondered if they’d both disappear as suddenly as they’d arrived. She guessed time would tell. Because she sure couldn’t.
Kate watched Dan standing with Sam beside the aisle. He was dressed formally in a morning suit and, with his tanned skin and neatly cropped blonde hair, he looked as handsome as Uncle Hemi always said her grandfather Johnnie Kowalski had been.
He looked extremely handsome, but also extremely nervous. Goodness knows why, because Augustini clearly adored him and wasn’t going anywhere. But after what had happened to him in the US, she didn’t think he’d ever take anyone for granted again. Which wasn’t a bad thing.
‘Mum,’ whispered Lucy, looking impossibly glamorous in her long white dress. ‘Stop that immediately or you’ll have no mascara left.’ She pressed a fine lawn handkerchief into Kate’s hands.
‘Oh,’ said Kate taking the handkerchief and swiping away the tears which were rolling down her cheeks. She hadn’t even noticed them. As she blew her nose she wondered vaguely when they’d started. But it didn’t matter. Because it wasn’t sadness which caused them, but the love with which she was surrounded.
Lucy had turned to talk to their friend Megan who was cradling a sleeping baby. Lucy stroked the baby’s head and Kate wondered if she was getting broody. The baby started to wake and began to cry. Jen and Megan smothered their laughter as Lucy stepped away. Kate smiled to herself. No, it appeared her youngest daughter hadn’t deviated from her stated desire to never have children.
She turned and caught the smile of a tall, handsome man with Greek colouring — Yannis, Sofia’s father-in-law. Sofia, Augi’s sister-in-law, had visited many times since she’d first come to find Augi. Kate returned the smile. He had confided the previous evening that he was there to help look after his son’s baby. And he held her now.
There would never be anyone who could replace her husband. But Kate was healthy, had years ahead of her — and, it seemed, her body wasn’t dead yet either. She looked away from him and saw Jen and Lucy watching her. Lucy winked, but Jen didn’t. Her smile was full of understanding.
All her children were so different, and yet connected by a love that transcended everything. She knew not all families were so lucky, and she also knew she’d do everything in her power to keep her family together and avoid misunderstandings which blew out of proportion and were never healed. Life was too short, and love was in too short a supply in this world.
The music struck up and all eyes turned to Augustini. She was wearing a simply cut dress of royal blue. Kate didn’t think she’d ever really noticed her figure before. And this dress, while not figure-hugging, glanced off her curves with a sensuous elegance which was all her own. Unlike Dan, she didn’t look nervous. She kept her gaze fixed on his — no smile, but with an intensity, as if wanting to convey a calmness and love that, when Kate turned back to Dan, she saw had its effect. His face relaxed into a smile and, defying convention, he reached out to her and brought her hand to his lips and whispered something in Augi’s ear that only she could hear.
Kate didn’t need to hear it to know that it was something kind and loving because she could see it reflected in Augi’s eyes.
They made a good couple. Complementary.
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house as vows were exchanged. The laughing couple walked hand in hand down the aisle to the too-loud tones of an organ, people singing along as they showered them with confetti.
Outside in the sunshine, Kate found herself beside Yannis, who held an alert baby craning her head to take in all the bright colours and smiling faces. They both stepped to one side to watch everyone.
‘That couple,’ said Yannis, ‘are going to be very happy.’
‘Yes, I think you’re right,’ said Kate.
’They certainly deserve to be. Sofia has told me what Eleni — or Augi as people round here call her — went through. She had a tough time.’
‘She did. But she came through. And they’ll be stronger for it.’
He glanced at her. ‘I guess the same could be said for all of us with a few years of experience under our belts.’
‘Yes, I think you’re right.’
Their gazes tangled for a few moments and Kate’s mind wandered, a few unbidden fantasies slipping into her head.
Yannis leaned closer. ‘I think you’re wanted,’ he said with a smile.
Kate’s eyes widened — had he read her mind? Then she heard Dan call her name and beckon her over, and she blushed. Laughing at her own silly daydreams, she went and took her place beside her son and his new wife.
