Page 132 of The Christmas Retreat
I sat there for a long time after I’d finished reading, ignoring the summons of the lunch gong, because I simply wasn’t hungry.
Finally, I wrapped up warmly and slipped out of the house without seeing anyone, heading for the place that had so quickly become my sanctuary when I needed one: the heart of the oak grove on the hill.
It was a cold, clear day and as I sank down on the mossy stone by the pool, the sun slanted down through the trees and small white clouds were reflected on the still surface of the water.
Comfort seemed to seep into me. I was sure this was a place of old magic, even if Evie would have laughed at the idea.
*
I forgot time and only came back to reality when a twig snapped loudly behind me. When I turned round, there was Rhys, looking as if he’d been caught in a game of Statues.
‘You weren’t at lunch, so I thought you might be here – but I’ll go away again if you want me to,’ he said apologetically.
‘No, I’m glad you’re here,’ I said, rising stiffly and accepting a hand up.
Then he pulled me into his arms, and I snuggled gratefully against him, shivering.
‘You’re freezing!’ he exclaimed, laying his warm cheek against my icy one. ‘How long have you been up here?’
‘I don’t know – ages,’ I said vaguely. ‘This place is very healing, don’t you think?’
‘Did youneedhealing?’
‘I certainly needed to come to terms with the past, but as my mother keeps pointing out, itisall in the past and dwelling on it isn’t going to make me happy.’
‘She’s quite right. Nothing I’ve found out today affects the way I feel about you, Ginny, and I hope it hasn’t altered the way you feel about me, either. Or,’ he added, ‘about making Triskelion your home.’
‘No, it hasn’t changed my mind and the house itself is a happy, welcoming place. I felt that the moment I arrived. And if Arwen could put the past behind her and make a happy life for herself, I can too.’
‘She was a strong character,’ he said. ‘I’m only sorry she didn’t have a happy-ever-after ending.’
‘But she did! Ma was right. It might not have lasted long, but one of the last things she said to Milly was that you couldn’t measure happiness in time.’
‘Wise as well as brave,’ he said, then looked lovingly down at me, smiling. ‘Do you realize we’re standing under the mistletoe again?’
I looked up into the most venerable of the oak trees, bearded with white-berried mistletoe, just like the little silver and pearl brooch I’d worn every day since he’d given it to me.
‘I’m afraid I’m going to have to kiss you again,’ he said, and suited the action to the words.
*
At dinner that evening, it seemed as if some kind of spell – an invisible tension that I had not been previously aware of – had been broken, and it was a cheerful party who met together for the penultimate time.
I felt as if I had been at Triskelion for months, not merely a couple of weeks, for so much had happened, so many revelations had occurred and I’d learned that I could get along with all kinds of people, and that some, like Kate, had hidden depths. She was looking forward to her stay with Teddy Bear Man on the way back and then returning to her circle of friends in London.
Toby and Pearl, too, while sad to be leaving, were full of their own plans.
‘I’ll be back often. I feel quite one of the family!’ said Evie, with a wicked grin at Nerys and Timon. ‘But I’ll stay with Noel. I’ve found out so much about women artists working in this area that I need to do more digging. I feel there’s a whole book just about female Welsh artists waiting to be written.’
‘You’ll always be most welcome, dear Evie,’ Noel said, with his gentle smile, and they exchanged looks …
Well, they do say opposites attract, don’t they?
‘As for me,’ I said, ‘my belongings will arrive in a few days and then I’ll move into the lodge.’
Although not, perhaps, for as long as I’d originally thought I’d need to!
‘I still don’t see why you can’t just stay here,’ said Cariad,who had returned earlier with plaster casts of small dinosaur footprints and pencil rubbings of fossils. ‘The kittens will be ready to leave their mum in a couple of weeks and it would be so much better if yours and mine could come here together.’
