Page 228 of The Moon Sister
‘It did, yes,’ I admitted.
‘And . . . I know it’s early days, and even if you’ve managed to rescue Kinnaird for me, it’s still got to be turned into something that’s viable and sustainable in the future, which just may not be possible. Plus the fact that I have what I’m sure will be a very messy divorce on the cards, but I was hoping that you’d . . . well, be with me.’
‘As an employee?’ I clarified, knowing I was being disingenuous, but needing him to actually say the words.
‘Yes, that of course, but no, I mean . . .withme.’
Charlie walked back to the bed and sat down on it. He snaked his hand towards mine – his long elegant fingers begging to be accepted. I watched my palm open of its own accord and take them and hold them tightly. We smiled shyly at each other, not needing any words because we bothknew.
For better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health . . .
Charlie moved the breakfast tray from my knees, then reached out his arms and drew me to him. I laid my head against his chest as he stroked my hair.
‘I want to look after you for the rest of your life,’ he whispered. ‘I want us to build Kinnaird together, become a family – a happy family. I’ve wanted it from the first moment I saw you in the hospital. I’ve dreamt about it for months, but I could never see a way that it could happen. Yet now there is a way.’
‘I’ve dreamt about it too.’ I blushed as he tipped my chin up so he could look into my eyes.
‘Have you really? That amazes me. I’m quite a bit older than you, with a load of baggage that’s going to take a long time to sort out . . . it’s not going to be easy, Tiggy, and the last thing I’d ever want you to do is to resent me like Ulrika does.’
‘I’m not Ulrika,’ I said quickly. ‘I’m me, and I don’t do resentment.’
‘No, you do magic . . . youaremagic,’ he said as his eyes filled with tears. ‘God, I’m pathetic – look at me! I’m crying. Will you stay?’
‘I . . .’
However much I wanted to say yes, I knew I owed it to myself to take some time to think it all over. Because this dear, dear man had been through enough, and if I agreed, then it had to be forever.
‘Give me a few hours, will you?’ I asked him. ‘There’s someone I need to see first.’
‘Of course. Can I ask who?’
‘No, because if I told you, you’d think I was mad.’
‘I think you’re mad already, Tiggy.’ Charlie kissed me on the forehead. ‘And I still love you,’ he added with a grin.
He loves me . . .
‘Okay, then maybe you can tell me where you buried Chilly?’
‘Of course.’ Charlie nodded, trying not to let a smile escape his lips. ‘In our family graveyard naturally – hewasfamily, after all. It’s at the back of the chapel.’ He stood up. ‘I’ll see you later – I’m going over to Beryl’s cottage to tell her what has happened and beg her to come back.’
*
‘Hello, darling Chilly,’ I said, as I crouched down and looked at the simple cross, which replicated those in the graveyard at Sacromonte. It only had his forename on it, as nobody here would know Chilly’s surname or date of birth. ‘I’m so sorry I wasn’t here to say goodbye properly, but thank you for stopping in on your way up that night.’
I patted the snow covering the grave with my gloved hand, then stood and turned my eyes skywards, because that’s where he really was. ‘You told me that I’d leave Kinnaird the first day I saw you. Well, I’m back now, and Charlie’s asked me to stay. It would mean giving up my dreams of going to Africa but . . . could you ask the others up there what they think?’
There wasn’t an answer, and neither had I really expected one, because – despite what I could already see would be numerous difficulties in the future – I already knew. And every atom of me was tingling with happiness and certainty.
‘Tell Angelina I’ll be back to see her soon with Mister Charlie,’ I called as I walked past the graves of three hundred years of Kinnairds to the Land Rover.
This is where you’ll lie one day, hotchiwitchi, a voice in my head said as I climbed in. I giggled, because it was such a Chilly thing to say and the fact that Iwouldlie here one day meant that – however long I had on this earth – Charlie and I were forever. Which was all I needed to know.
*
‘So, the hero of the hour returns,’ Cal said as I wandered into the cottage, still feeling emotional from the past few hours and my visit to Chilly. ‘How are you feeling, Tig?’
‘I’m a bit dazed, to be honest,’ I admitted as I went to sit down on the sofa.
