‘She’s here!’ Verity whispers to Constance. ‘I’ll go out and open the gate.’
‘Who is it, Auntie Very?’ Rafe asks.
‘Someone who has been waiting a very long time to meet you,’ Constance tells him.
Rafe stands at the windows where the garden of his childhood extends, redolent of a lush valley. Two enormous, marble sea-dragons guard three tiered terraces, connected by stone and wooden steps. His old swing still hangs from the massive London plane at the heart of the garden. A turkey oak, a soaring beech, tree ferns, and palms deaden traffic noise. Agaves cast a blue glow. Water splashes down stepped ponds. Beyond the legacy of the canal wall at the bottom half of the garden, the sisters have sown a wild flower meadow. A square pool by the kitchen window reflects light from the cream-coloured walls of the house. A variety of seating options hide in their own secluded nooks including the old stone bench from where his aunties read aloud to him on warm summer evenings when the light was kind. The garden speaks to him. They have been here all this time, it says. They have waited for you.
‘Rafe,’ Constance says gently behind him.
He turns to see his aunts’ arms entwined around the waist of a beautiful woman. Her face is familiar. Her hand goes to her heart. She searches his face and then nods her head. Yes, I am here now. Here with you.
One look at her face and he knows.
‘Mother?’
‘Yes, son.’
Constance and Verity steal away, quietly shutting the doors. In the kitchen they work silently with their own thoughts between them as they cut and slice, brew and stir.
After some time, the sisters find their voices again.
‘I’m so happy for them,’ Verity says.
‘It’s wonderful.’
‘The other one. Is she gone now?’
‘Yes. This morning.’
‘Good.’
The sound of the gate opening has them scurrying to the door.
‘Ava. I’ll head her off so she doesn’t go barging into the sitting room,’ Constance says.
A few moments later they put Ava to work with them in the kitchen and update her on all the latest events.
‘Willa must have been terrified. I don’t think I could have done it,’ Ava says.
‘We should do something for her, sister.’
‘Yes, we must, Verity. Surely she won’t want to stay in that house.’
‘Perhaps some sort of property for her work and a nice flat.’
‘Ava, would you make some enquiries?’
‘Of course, after you ask her permission to change her life.’ She smiles.
‘Do you think it’s all right to go in now?’ Verity asks.
‘Let’s give them a little more time,’ Constance says.
‘Oh, please, I’m like a child at Christmas hiding in here. I want to see them happy and laughing. Ava, pop your head in and offer tea. Sister, let’s have champagne. Just a wee glass.’
Ava knocks softly on the doors to the sitting room.
‘Yes, do come,’ Rafe says, expecting his aunts.
Ava opens the doors.
‘Oh, it’s you,’ he says. ‘Hello again!’ He finds that he can’t stop smiling at her.
‘Hello again.’
‘Mother, this is the woman I told you about. This is Ava.’
‘You did?’ Ava asks.
‘He did.’ Elísabet smiles at her warmly and beckons her to come near.