Page 42 of Autumn at the Cornish Garden Café

When he sat back again, she bit her lip before continuing.

‘Our divorce was finalised before I moved here, but I had to pay him off. With some of the money from the sale of my aunt’s house. I just wanted him out of my life for good and so I paid him to give me peace.’

‘I’m so sorry.’

‘Things were OK between us for the first few years we were together. It was fun and easy and he made me laugh a lot. After we got married, we talked about having children. He … he made me believe he loved me and that he wanted to start a family with me. When it didn’t happen, I went for tests and so did he. Or he told me he’d been for tests, but he was lying. Mine came back clear, and he said his had too, but it was all part of an elaborate deception. There was no reason for him to lie, but I think he enjoyed it. It was like he couldn’t help himself and the lies just rolled off his tongue. See … He’d had a vasectomy. He went away on what he told me was a work trip and during that time he had the vasectomy.’ She shook her head as the pain of the memories came back. ‘It was like some kind of power play with him because he didn’t need to lie, but he did. I know he has issues, and that’s the root cause of his behaviour, but even so, it hurt me so much. I thought we were trying for a family, but he took that chance away from me. And with me losing my mum so young and not seeing my dad, I longed for my own family. I wanted to create that unit for myself, to have children and to be a mum and…’ A sob choked her and she buried her face in her hands. The fear for Christopher and the sadness from her marriage all washed over her and she couldn’t hold it together any longer. She sobbed and sobbed and Henry rubbed her back, held her hands and kissed her hair. When she could breathe again, she continued. ‘He was a truck driver, so he was often away and what I didn’t know was that he was having affairs. He had women all over the country and they had all fallen for his stories and his charm. I’d never checked up on him, but the last time he was away, a letter came through for him and I opened it by mistake. It was an outstanding bill for the vasectomy and that made me mad. I did some investigating, and that was when I found emails and phone bills for phones I didn’t even know he had. He was living several lives and spending money like it was water. He was broke and in debt and that was why, after we divorced, I paid him off to leave me alone. I knew he’d never give me any peace if I didn’t.’

‘I’m so sorry that happened to you,’ Henry said. ‘And that I was insensitive mentioning wanting a family with you. After you’d been through that, it was no wonder that it upset you.’

‘You weren’t insensitive. You were being wonderful. You were offering me everything I ever wanted. I’m so sorry I walked away like that. I should have spoken to you.’

Henry shook his head. ‘Sometimes it’s hard to form the words we need in order to share the details of our pain. Sometimes, it’s not the right time and for you, it wasn’t. Now is that time and you have shared your reasons for feeling the way you do.’

‘Thank you for understanding.’

‘No thanks necessary. And … just so you know… It doesn’t make me think less of you. In fact, I think more of you for getting through all that and still being such a sweet and caring person. You are strong and awesome beyond belief. I have nothing but admiration for you. And … other feelings, but I don’t want to dump those on you right now.’

‘Dump away.’ She smiled. ‘I adore you, Henry.’

When he kissed her, she melted against him and knew that she had been right to tell him what she was feeling and to share what she had been through. Henry was amazing, and he hadn’t judged her, nor had he sided with Zane. He had her back and, it seemed, he wanted to be with her.

‘Well…’ He smiled at her. ‘I stand by what I said to you at the beach. I meant every word. If you want me and a life with me, Rosa, I’m yours.’

She gazed into his eyes, her heart racing, and her love for him filling her up and making her whole again.

But then the door opened, the doctor walked in and she froze as terror reared its ugly head. The doctor closed the door behind her and Rosa thought she would faint with fear, but Henry squeezed her hand then wrapped his big, strong arm around her shoulders.

She knew that whatever happened from here on in, she would be OK as long as this wonderful man was by her side.

EPILOGUE - ROSA

‘How’s that?’ Rosa asked.

‘Very comfortable, thank you.’ Christopher smiled at her.

‘Are you sure you’re warm enough?’ Henry asked, a small line marring the space between his brows.

‘Plenty. Now please, the pair of you, stop fussing.’

‘Anyone would think they’d never taken an old man out in a wheelchair before.’ Vinnie winked then he knelt down and checked Bobby’s winter coat was properly fastened for the tenth time that morning.

A week after being admitted to hospital, Christopher had been allowed to return home. The diagnosis was not good, but they were all coming to terms with it. Tests had found that Christopher had lung cancer, and it seemed he’d had it for some time. He’d attributed his tiredness and occasional breathlessness to his age and not wanted to bother anyone by telling them he had some discomfort when lying down flat. He had passed out that morning in the kitchen because he was dehydrated, a symptom that the cancer had caused. The medical team listed a range of possible cancer treatments, but Christopher insisted on only palliative treatment, including symptom and pain management, and rejected invasive surgery or gruelling chemotherapy. He said he felt lucky to have reached his nineties and if it was his time, then it was his time.

Henry, Rosa, and Vinnie had spoken at length about the diagnosis, but knew that it was Christopher’s choice and that they had no right to dismiss his feelings on the matter. And so they had agreed to support him for as long as they could, and that was what they were doing. Persuading him to use a wheelchair had taken some doing, but he’d been out in it a few times now and he was happy that it would improve his quality of life. He’d admitted to struggling to walk far recently but told them he hadn’t wanted to lose his independence and so he had kept it quiet and carried on.

This morning they were heading up to The Garden Café for a little celebration, but they were stopping at the beach first so Bobby could have a run. Rosa and Henry had decided that now Christopher was home, it was time to make the most of every day.

While they walked, Henry pushed the wheelchair, and Rosa walked at his side. Vinnie and Bobby were ahead of them, but Bobby kept stopping to turn and check that Christopher was right behind them. His devotion to Christopher made Rosa’s heart ache, and she hoped that the small dog would be OK. She’d promised Christopher that, no matter what, she would love and care for Bobby, and that he would always have a home with her.

Henry glanced at her and smiled, and it warmed her right through. Following a discussion with the doctor at the hospital, they’d been allowed to see Christopher, and they’d sat with him for an hour and held his hands. He’d been so pleased to see them and very grateful that they had found him when they had. His primary concern though, had been for Bobby and how stressful it must have been for the dog when he had passed out.

Rosa, Henry, and Vinnie had agreed that Christopher was not be left alone for long and they’d devised a timetable between them to ensure that one of them was always with him or at least nearby. They were conscious of wanting to be supportive but also to allow Christopher to be independent because he valued that highly, and had been stubborn in his refusal when they’d broached the subject of having carers come in too. He’d said he was well enough to wash and dress himself and would do so for as long as he was able and they’d had to agree that he was.

When they reached the beach, Henry parked the wheelchair next to a bench and put the brake on. Vinnie took Bobby down to the sand and unclipped his lead, then he threw the ball he’d brought for Bobby.

‘Ahhh … Look at him go!’ Christopher said as he watched Bobby’s joy. ‘I love watching him play like this.’

‘He’s adorable.’ Rosa nodded.

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