The Rose Garden (38 page)

It was peaceful and quiet here, away from everything, and Molly loved to sit and read or just relax, the way the gardener who had first marked out this patch must have done. Roses filled the herbaceous borders and she had created separate beds for cutting, with
rows of coloured red and yellow and cream and pink roses that bloomed again and again.

One rose in particular intrigued her. Neither Paddy nor she could find a name for it. She searched David Austin and numerous other rose catalogues. Gabriel, the rose expert, had visited and was equally miffed, declaring he’d never seen a rose like it with its perfect bowl of a flowerhead and rich pink colour, tinged almost purple as it turned. Gabriel had taken photos of it and was testing growing it. She had managed to propagate it and planted another one near the gate and also one beside her cottage. Gabriel was certain that it was a new, unregistered variety and she had secretly named it Rosa Constance Moore, convinced that Charles Moore must have developed and bred this special rose for his beloved wife. It was a Mossbawn rose – something very special.

The roses were wonderful this year, but she knew that with hard work and care and attention every year they would get better. She was so glad to be still living here, part of it all.

Mossbawn House was building up a good reputation and each event they held was different. Molly was surprised by how much money a wedding or launch or anniversary celebration could earn. Gina was an absolute star at providing the type of meal or buffet that their clients wanted, and Molly was delighted to see the drawing and dining rooms busy again the way they should be. She enjoyed showing people around the house and the garden, telling them stories of the previous owners and their families. Kim’s research had been meticulous and there were family trees, portraits and photographs all on display now in the library.

When she had opened the gardens a few months ago she had been filled with trepidation, but to her delight twenty-six members of her local gardening club had arrived to support her. And it had been a success. Now gardeners and enthusiasts were discovering Mossbawn and visiting it along with their families, or those just interested in having a stroll around the lawn and beds and walled gardens.

At first when Gina Sullivan had suggested opening the Garden
Café, Molly had been very sceptical about it, but Gina had been really determined to make the new venture work. Even in the few short weeks since it had opened it had become not only a great attraction for visitors to the garden but, more importantly, had become a café used by all the locals in Kilfinn.

‘I told you it would work!’ Gina had declared proudly. ‘People need to have some place close by to go for coffees and cakes, or soup and a sandwich, or to have a tasty lunch with their friends.’

Sitting in the garden with the sun warm on her skin, Molly closed her eyes. She wondered what David would have made of it all. Of all the changes she’d made, moving out of the house and into the cottage. Of her running a business that was making a profit. She hoped that he would be proud of her, proud of what she’d done …

‘Molly – Molly!’

She stirred, realizing that someone was standing in front of her.

‘I guessed that I’d find you here,’ Rob said, sitting down beside her on the garden bench.

Over the past few months Rob had become part of her life. He was easy company and they got on really well. She liked having him around; he was a good man, kind and loving. They were two lonely people who had somehow had the good fortune to find each other.

She had been surprised when Rob had confessed to her that he had spoken to David on the phone and had kept in touch regularly with him by email.

‘I was his early-morning meeting that day … the day he died. I was the client he was meant to see. David was handling the legal work on the Irish end for the project,’ he had told her miserably. ‘I was looking forward to meeting him, this guy I’d been chatting to and emailing so much. When he didn’t turn up and I heard what had happened …’

She had sat taking it in. Rob hadn’t been to blame for David’s death – nobody was to blame. But in a strange way it had comforted her that Rob and David had actually spoken.

She would never ever get over losing David. He would always be her husband, the father of her daughters, her very best friend. But Rob was different, very different from him – which she suspected was a good thing. With Rob she felt young again, ready to try out new things. She liked being romanced and told how beautiful she was. Their relationship was new and fresh, but she suspected it was one that would last.

At first she had told him it was far too soon for her even to consider a relationship, but Rob had been tenacious, bit by bit seeing her and working his way into her heart. He was full of plans. He wanted to bring her to see the Grand Canyon, to watch the Northern Lights, to swim in the Barrier Reef …

Now he took her hand in his, his grip strong and warm as they sat together in the sunshine, talking and laughing.

KIM LOOKED IN THE MIRROR. SHE LOVED HER DRESS. SHE HAD
found the fitted off-white lace wedding gown with its satin-ribbon trim in a designer’s small studio. With its old-fashioned vintage look it made her feel like a princess. Her simple veil was held in place with her mother’s antique diamante-studded tiara. Her long hair had been blow-dried, with part of it pinned up, her make-up was classic and natural, and she carried a beautiful hand-tied bouquet of roses from her aunt Molly’s garden.

‘You look beautiful! Truly beautiful!’ said her father, standing behind her. ‘So like your mum!’

‘And you look very handsome, Dad!’ she said, hugging him.

Liz and Evie, her two bridesmaids, wore matching dusky-pink chiffon dresses and high heels. Three months ago she had discovered that both her bridesmaids were pregnant and expecting within a few weeks of each other! A dress disaster threatened, except for the handiwork of Mary Cummings, the local seamstress, who had managed to alter both dresses to fit.

‘Time to put your shoes on, Ava!’ ordered Liz, as she slipped the satin ballet pumps on to the little flower girl, who was running around pretending to be a fairy.

‘I’m a princess like Auntie Kim,’ she boasted, grabbing her posy of flowers.

‘The car is outside,’ called Molly, running in to make sure the bride was okay. ‘You don’t want to keep Luke waiting!’

Standing at the door of Kilfinn’s church, Kim took a deep, wobbly breath and held her dad’s arm. The church was packed with people she loved – her family and friends and Luke’s family. Liz and Evie and little Ava walked slowly ahead of her as the choir sang and the organ played. She smiled, her dad steadying her as, overwhelmed with emotion and happiness, they began to walk slowly up the centre aisle of the church. She felt an immense wave of love and support and goodwill welcoming her as she took one step after another.

Luke was there at the top of the church, standing waiting for her, his eyes lighting up when he saw her, his gaze holding hers. She was tempted to run up into his arms, but she kept her eyes steady on him as she walked nearer and nearer, her dad hugging her at the top as she let go of him and took Luke’s hand.

Father Darragh welcomed them to the church and began the wedding ceremony as they lit the candles that would symbolize each of them and their marriage. Kim’s eyes filled with tears as they pledged their love and commitment to each other and Luke slipped the simple wedding band on her finger. She knew as he kissed her and took her hand that they would never ever let each other go.

Standing at the door of the church afterwards, they talked to everyone, all their guests congratulating them, everyone taking photos and hugging and laughing in the sunshine before they headed back to Mossbawn for their reception.

As they drove up the avenue to the old house, Kim felt as if all her dreams had come true. Ever since she was a little girl Mossbawn had symbolized happiness to her. Even when she was lost and scared and sad, the old house had comforted her, made her feel safe. Now here she was with Luke, her handsome husband, beside her, celebrating their marriage in the place she loved.

Molly, Gina and Grace had all gone to immense trouble for her wedding and she smiled, seeing that there were flowers everywhere. Pink roses cascaded down the front of the house along with full-headed creeping hydrangeas. The garden and grounds were
immaculate – Paddy and Tommy had been on duty all week. Their photographer, Leo, made sure they got lots of photos around her favourite spots, including the woods where she had climbed the tall beech trees and down by the fountain in the pond.

Molly had insisted they use the rose garden for the drinks reception, as it was enclosed and sheltered, and a sun-trap. There were the painted benches, and tables and chairs had been set up so everyone could relax. There was champagne and prosecco and chilled beers, and Inga and Brendan carried around trays of canapés as guests chatted and everyone enjoyed the party.

Molly herself, in an expensive beige lace dress and jacket, moved around the garden ensuring that everyone had a drink, introducing people and welcoming them to Mossbawn. Rob Hayes was there too, relaxed and at ease, chatting to everyone. Kim was so glad to see her aunt happy again. In his own quiet way, Rob was becoming a part of her life.

Kim couldn’t believe that she was actually married now. She kept touching the band on her finger to remind herself. It was as if she was in a perfect dream.

‘You are such a beautiful bride,’ said Liz, teary-eyed. ‘I can’t believe it – my little sister married and to the nicest guy ever!’

‘I can hardly believe it myself,’ she admitted. ‘If someone had said to me two years ago that I would have met Luke and found love, and be standing here in my wedding dress with all the people I care about around me, I would have thought they were mad!’

‘Life’s funny, isn’t it?’ agreed Liz. ‘We thought we were a two-child family. We were happy with that, and now there is going to be a new little person in our lives. We’ll probably move – Joe’s always been dying to buy an old house, a doer-upper, outside Dublin. Then crèche fees will be enormous, so it makes no sense for me to keep working full-time. Maybe I’ll just work part-time, or try something else – work from home if we have the space. Can you imagine that?’

‘It sounds good,’ Kim encouraged her, relieved, as Liz had been looking so tired and stressed lately.

Looking around, she could see that Luke’s mum and dad were chatting away with her dad and Carole. It was great that both families got on really well together. She looked over at her cousin. Grace had asked her if she could bring Andrew Lynch from the hotel to the wedding. He was a friend of Luke’s, and even though he was a few years older than Grace they seemed pretty keen on each other.

‘He’s a hundred times nicer than all the guys I know from college,’ Grace had confided, ‘and he always makes me feel I’m special!’

‘Hey, Mrs Ryan!’ called Evie, sipping a glass of sparkling water and ice. ‘How does it feel to be a married lady?’

‘I recommend it totally,’ she giggled. ‘It feels wonderful!’

‘Fergus and I might try it once this little pumpkin is born.’

‘I can’t believe you’re going to be a mum in a few months!’

‘Scary thought!’

‘No, you’ll be a brilliant mum. Really cool, doing art and finger-painting and making puppets and sand stuff.’

‘I know it’s going to be mega fun, and Fergus wants us to do this big bed thing where we all sleep together.’

‘Maybe you should talk to Liz about that!’ she teased.

The party moved inside to the orangery, the room lit up by candles, with vases filled with roses and garden flowers everywhere. Everyone stood and cheered as she and Luke entered to walk to their places at the top table.

The meal went perfectly. Gina had outdone herself with a fabulous menu that everyone was raving about. Then it was time for the speeches. Kim’s dad said how he wished her mum had been here today to see their beautiful daughter marry and told everyone how proud he was of her, adding how glad he was that she had found the man to love her and care for her the way she deserved. Luke’s dad, Tom, recalled a few tales about Luke’s antics and warmly welcomed Kim to their enlarging family. Luke, clear and strong, stood up beside her, telling the world how much he had loved her from practically the first day they met.

‘I fell headlong, hook, line and sinker for Kim the minute I saw those amazing blue eyes!’ he admitted. ‘I knew then that I couldn’t let this girl ever get away.’

Slightly nervous, Kim stood up, Luke holding her hand, as she said a few words about how happy she was and that she had felt when she met Luke that the missing piece of her heart had been found. She thanked her family and his. ‘And I specially want to thank Molly for not only being the best aunt ever, but for being like a second mum to me over the past few years. She has always made me feel welcome here and there is no other place in the world I would want to get married except in Mossbawn.’

Everyone clapped madly and then it was Luke’s brother Justin’s turn to give his best-man speech. He had everyone rolling around laughing as he told them about the misdeeds of his younger brother and the night he had borrowed his boat to propose.

As the sun went down and darkness fell, the party got into full swing, everyone up dancing as the lamps were lit and fairy lights twinkled everywhere. Luke held Kim in his arms as they danced together.

The sun was coming up as the wedding party finally ended, Kim and Luke, arm in arm, saying goodnight to all their friends.

‘I love you,’ said Luke.

‘And I love you,’ replied Kim.

She was bursting with happiness, more fulfilled and contented and happier than she could ever have imagined. She wasn’t even tired, for today had been the most perfect day ever – and today was only the beginning …

Marita Conlon-McKenna
is one of Ireland’s favourite authors and a regular number-one bestseller. She is the winner of the prestigious International Reading Association Award and her books are enjoyed by readers around the world. She lives in Blackrock, Dublin, with her husband and family.