Page 44 of Summer at the Cornish Garden Café

‘Will that affect your fertility?’

‘It could do. But with my irregular periods and now that, the chances of me getting pregnant naturally are probably slim. So you see, Thomas, I too feel unworthy some days.’ She smiled sadly. ‘I might be unable to have children. I’m thirty-six now and fertility declines year on year, plus the odds were already stacked against me, and now the scarring reduces my chances even more. It makes me wonder if it’s even worth me considering trying because my hopes could be dashed again. I don’t know where we stand right now anyway, but completely understand if this is a deal breaker for you.’

‘What?’ He sat forwards. ‘In what way?’

‘Thomas, you’re five years younger than me. You’re an amazing uncle and would be an awesome dad. I’m scarred and have a condition that affects my fertility. Do you see why I worry about not being good enough?’

‘Lena… You’re the most incredible person I’ve ever met. You’ve been through so much and yet you keep going. You keep smiling and you keep taking the most from life. You’re brave and resilient and utterly beautiful. I adore you and I am so sorry for ever making you doubt how I feel for you.’

‘Really?’ She raised her eyebrows slowly.

‘Really. I want to be with you. If that means I never have children, then so be it. I don’t want to be with anyone else. Not ever. You are the person who makes me look forward to each day. You are the person who’s taught me that I can be myself and be happy again, that this new version of me isn’t at all bad. You are… everything.’

Lena’s eyes widened and then filled with tears and as the tears ran down her cheeks, Thomas pulled her onto his lap and held her tight.

‘And as for the age gap… it’s nothing. As far as I’m concerned, age is just a number. I thought my days of feeling happy and excited about life were over, Lena, but then you came along and taught me how to live again. Please let me show you how much I care.’

His eyes stung as he buried his face in her hair, and she wrapped her arms tightly around him while they cried together.

When they’d exhausted themselves and Thomas felt empty of all the pain and hurt and grief that had followed him around for years, they wiped their eyes and drank some water then Thomas took her hands.

‘Lena, I feel ready now.’

‘Ready?’

‘Ready to… show you how much I care.’

She smiled then leant close and kissed him and his heart soared.

They left the dogs curled up together and went upstairs then Thomas showed Lena that love and trust could lead to a truly beautiful union.

EPILOGUE

‘She’s beautiful, Marnie,’ Lena said as she gazed down at the sleeping baby in her arms.

‘I know.’ Marnie nodded from where she was stretched out on the blanket with her head on a cushion, glowing with happiness.

They were sitting on the beach underneath a large parasol. Lena had been holding baby Winona while Marnie had been napping on the blanket. Having a newborn and twins was exhausting for Marnie and Bligh, so Lena and Thomas tried to help out whenever they could.

Marnie had eventually gone into labour at thirty-five weeks. Bed rest and antibiotics had helped her continue the pregnancy for a few more weeks but then she had gone into labour naturally and nature had taken its course. Winona had stayed in hospital for two weeks and then been strong enough to come home. She was absolutely perfect, and Lena was besotted.

It was a gorgeous late August day, warm and bright but not too hot. Lena was enjoying baby cuddles while Thomas and Blighwere playing football with Wendy, Winnie, Fifi and Harvey. It had been a comical game because the girls were taking it very seriously — they were both now on the school football team that Thomas was coaching — but Fifi and Harvey were oblivious to the rules, and so they had run off with the ball several times during the course of the game.

Winona stirred in Lena’s arms and gave a small cry and Marnie sat up instantly.

‘Time for lunch!’ she said, holding out her arms.

Lena handed the baby over and helped Marnie wrap a sarong around her shoulders to give her some privacy to feed the baby. She made sure Marnie was comfortably propped up on cushions, that she had water nearby and then she got up and strolled across the sand to Thomas.

‘Hello, beautiful lady,’ he said with a smile.

‘Hello, yourself.’ She slid her arm around his waist and leant her head on his shoulder. ‘Have you got enough sunblock on?’

He looked down at his bare legs. ‘I think so. You plastered my tattoo in it an hour ago so I should be OK for now.’

Bligh had created an incredible tattoo for Thomas’ leg that had Fifi and Harvey on it, as well as a stack of books, a football and a quill. The books were because they shared a love of reading, the football was for Thomas’ past and because he was coaching the school football team, and the quill was for Lena and all the books Thomas believed she would write.

‘If you go in the sea, you’ll need more sunblock on though,’ she said. The tattoo hid the worst of the scarring, but Lena still worried about him burning. Thomas had admitted that he lovedhow she looked out for him and that was good because he was stuck with her now.

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