Epilogue
We get married in Lansallos church and make the whole congregation walk half a mile down the steep hill to the beach for a picnic reception. Marty, my mum and Wendy are just three of the women who openly complain to me about both the walkandnot being able to wear heels, but I think even they accept our decision when they see the view.
Charlie proposed to me on this same beach, the week after April’s second birthday. April is a couple of months short of three years old when we tie the knot, and she makes such a beautiful flower girl.
Adam is Charlie’s best man and gives the funniest, most heartfelt speech any of us have ever heard. Even my friend Bronte confirms it, and she’s a wedding photographer, so she’s heard plenty. She comes all the way over from Australia for me to do the photos, and she brings with her a card from Elliot, wishing me all the love and luck in the world. Despite her fondness for Elliot, she hit it off with Charlie immediately. How could she not?
Marty is my chief bridesmaid, not my matron of honour. I’ll have that title when she marries Ted later this year; she’s piqued that I beat her to it, but she wanted a longer engagement than I did...
Our friend Laura comes, too, bringing with her a brand-new baby boy. Jocelyn, Edward and Thomas – our now good friends – also join the celebrations, and Charlie’s other pals arrive in force, seeming genuinely happy that he’s found love again.
I wish I could say the same about Kate and Valerie. Relations are still strained, but Charlie and I won’t give up trying to build bridges. A few months after I moved to Cornwall permanently, which wasn’t that long after I had finished writing the book, I drove to Essex to speak to them both. I wanted them to know how much I love April, and how I will always respect Nicki’s memory and make sure April does, too. They were still very saddened at that time about Charlie moving on, but they did extend an olive branch by coming to April’s second birthday party. They say they’ll be at her third, too, but they declined our wedding invitation. We understood, of course, but at least they knew that they were welcome. Alain wished us all the best and encouraged us to go back to Thailand soon to see him. We said we’d certainly try.
Confessions of Uswas an immediate bestseller, but the reviews were mixed. Some journalists loved the book; others thought Kit should’ve been brought to justice. As for the reader reviews, many wished Kit had ended up with Morris, with one girl even claiming that she hurled her book across the room when he demanded a divorce. I think I might’ve poured more passion into him than Timo. It’s no surprise why.
I’m still not sure if my ending was what Nicki had foreseen for her story. But, as Charlie said, maybe evenshedidn’t know where it was going.
I can only hope that I’ve done her proud.
Charlie, April and I still live in Cornwall and our new house is warm, happy and full of love, laughter, hugs and music. He still creates beautiful things with his hands; I’m now writing a novel of my own, which Sara and Fay say they’re looking forward to reading. I also still write about the places I visit – albeit with my family, most of the time.
As for my darling adopted daughter April, she still has the last piece of my heart. And I’ll never ask for it back.
Ever.
Bridget’s Playlist
‘Tainted Love’ by Marilyn Manson
‘U Can’t Touch This’ by MC Hammer
‘The Sun Always Shines on TV’ by A-ha
‘It’s Still Rock and Roll to Me’ by Billy Joel
‘Ice Ice Baby’ by Vanilla Ice
‘Unbelievable’ by EMF
‘Pour Some Sugar on Me’ by Def Leppard
‘Frankie Sinatra’ by the Avalanches
‘Hold Tight!’ by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
‘Downtown’ by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
‘A View to a Kill’ by Duran Duran
‘One Piece at a Time’ by Johnny Cash
‘Lose Yourself’ by Eminem
‘Let Me Clear My Throat’ by DJ Kool
‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’ by Israel
Kamakawiwo‘ole
