Page 12 of The Last Bench

‘When we moved into the house, it was like living in a mansion. So big compared to the mobile. Took us a while to get used to it,’ John said.

‘Pretty soon after, I was pregnant again, and then again for the fourth time, so the house didn’t feel so big any more.’

‘It sounds idyllic,’ Vega said, with genuine warmth in her voice.

‘It was.’

‘We missed the simplicity of mobile-home living, so I bought us a caravan. Tiny little thing,’ John said.

‘We still have our little holiday home. It’s in the stables now. We take the grandkids camping in it. It has a set of quad bunk beds that John installed. No headroom, though, and at least one of them would wake up in the morning banging their head.’ Anne giggled at the memory. ‘But we had fun touring Ireland with that caravan. The six of us, together. Happy days.’

They fell into silence for a moment. Eventually, Anne looked over to John and said, ‘If you think about it, it was that caravan that led us to this blossom maze.’

Ten

Vega

Vega was beginning to understand Anne and John. Yes, they were devoted to each other; that was clear. But they’d glance at each other, their eyes would flash with a memory and, without a word, they would decide whether or not to share this part of themselves.

‘How did the caravan bring you to this garden?’ Vega prompted.

‘The kids were all off for Easter break, so we decided to go to Wicklow, staying at a campsite near Powerscourt. We took a day trip to the Japanese Gardens there. Have you been?’ Anne asked.

Vega shook her head. As she looked around the beautiful garden she was now in, she instantly added it to her list of places to visit.

‘The gardens are pretty, with stone lanterns and pagodas, as well as little Japanese bridges. And, of course, the stunning blossom trees. Well, they were in full bloom when we got there and, honestly, it was the most wonderful sight to see. We walked down the steps and stood under the trees.’ Anne pointed to the grass around them that was dotted with blossoms. ‘Like here, the ground was covered in confetti. And Michael, who was a pure devil back then, picked up a handful and threw it at his sisters. Mary and Frances squealed, exactly as he wanted them to. But Margaret beamed with delight as they fell into her hair.’

‘I can see her face now; her eyes were always so big on that pale face,’ John added.

‘She was a fierce romantic. Always reading those teen romances . . . What were they called, John?’

John looked up to the heavens. ‘As if I know that . . .’

‘You do!’ Anne said, then clapped her hands in delight. ‘Sweet Valley High. Two sisters, in and out of love, in an American high school. Nonsense, but as sweet as the title. Margaret was addicted to them. Well, standing there in that garden, she announced to us, with the blossoms still in her hair, that one day she would get married, right there in that Japanese garden under the trees.’

‘Margaret had this way of telling stories, that her brother and sisters joined in with her excitement.’ John said.

‘Mary whipped her sweatshirt off and fashioned it into a veil on Margaret’s head. Frances picked a flower and gave it to Margaret for her bouquet. Then the two girls grabbed the bottom of Margaret’s skirt and held it up, as if it were a grand, ten-foot train. Michael stood at the top, becoming our priest, then John and I walked Margaret down the aisle. She insisted on both of us!’

John added, ‘Michael was only ten, but he bellowed out in a deep voice, “We are gathered here to witness the wedding of Margaret to her imaginary future husband.” We all started to laugh. One of those times when you go from funny to hysterical, and before you know it you are clutching each other, with a pain in your stomach from the laughter.’

‘I had tears streaming down my face. Then Michael began pegging more blossoms, and we all joined in, until another family came down the stone steps, their eyes wide at the state of us six.’

‘Which made us laugh even harder!’ John said. ‘Oh, you had to be there . . . Must sound silly to you now.’

‘No!’ Vega replied instantly. ‘I wish I had been there. I mean, what a family to grow up in. Honestly, I should have been so lucky.’

Anne reached over to clasp John’s hand. ‘That day, that moment in the Japanese garden, captures exactly who we were as a family. Full of teasing, craic, love and laughter. If I could only choose one moment of our life to go back to, it would be that one.’

‘Me too,’ John said, and he reached up to pull his wife into his arms for a moment, his chin resting on the top of her head.

Their bond and devotion were so intense and magnetic that Vega couldn’t tear her eyes away from them.

‘That’s why you chose a blossom garden,’ she said, recognising the significance now.

‘Yes. Cherry blossoms were not just Margaret’s favourite tree, but also our favourite family memory. Have been ever since that day,’ Anne said.

‘I couldn’t give her that wedding in Powerscourt she dreamed about, but I could give her this at least,’ John said, his voice gruff with emotion.