The Rose Garden

by Marita Conlon-McKenna

  ‘I think we should have our own private little celebration on your actual birthday day,’ insisted Luke.

  ‘Can we afford it?’ she asked, worried. They were already spending a lot on wine and beer and food for the barbecue and the next day’s lunch. ‘Maybe we could just get a takeaway and a bottle of wine or something?’

  ‘No, I’m taking you to dinner,’ he insisted.

  When she woke on Friday morning, Luke had cooked her breakfast and gave her a birthday present of a beautiful silver chain with a circle of gold and silver. She had admired it in the designer workshop in Kilkenny one day when they were wandering around the town.

  ‘Luke, it’s stunning – thank you so much!’ she said, hugging him.

  ‘I’ll see you tonight for dinner,’ he told her, kissing her again.

  All through the day she was getting text messages and calls to wish her happy birthday. Her dad got emotional on the phone when they talked.

  ‘I wish your mum was here at times like this,’ he said.

  ‘So do I, Dad,’ she said, conscious of the enormous lump in her throat. ‘But listen, I’ll see you on Sunday.’

  Molly had given her a beautiful antique photo frame, some perfume and a massive bunch of flowers from the garden.

  ‘This frame was in the house; we found it in the sideboard when we moved here. I thought it might be nice for you to have it – a little piece of Mossbawn.’

  ‘Oh Molly, I love it,’ she said. ‘The perfume’s my favourite and the flowers will look wonderful in the house for my party.’

  ‘Emma and Grace picked the perfume out,’ admitted her aunt as they had soup in the kitchen.

  Gina arrived with some special birthday cupcakes.

  ‘I’m making a big batch of them for your birthday lunch here on Sunday!’

  Back at home, Kim put her feet up for an hour. It had been a busy day. Realizing the time, she wondered where Luke was. They were going for dinner at eight o’clock, but where was he? She texted him and called him a few times. He must be gone to the farm.

  She got changed into her favourite cream lace dress and her nude-coloured heels. Her hair was longer than ever, but Luke liked it that way. She added a little vintage clip to one side as she glanced at the phone.

  There was a message from Luke:

  ‘I can’t pick you up so Jimmy Mac will collect you.’

  How strange, she thought. Why would he go and book the local taxi?

  A few minutes later Jimmy McCarthy collected her, but he wouldn’t give her any idea of where they were going.

  ‘Which restaurant did Luke say?’ she quizzed him.

  ‘I’m saying nothing,’ he grinned. ‘My job is to drive you.’

  She looked around. Well, they weren’t eating in Kilfinn. Jimmy took the turn outside the village to the road that ran along by the river. A mile or so later, he pulled up at a small jetty with a boat moored to it.

  ‘Why are we stopping?’

  ‘Because we’re here!’ he said, getting out of the car and opening her door for her.

  Suddenly she saw Luke standing on the boat waving at her.

  ‘Be careful!’ he warned as she stepped on to the boat – these heels were definitely not a good idea.

  Up on the deck a table was set for dinner and fairy lights, strung around the edge of the boat and over the mast and cabin, sparkled in the evening light.

  ‘It’s beautiful.’ Kim was almost overcome.

  ‘Sit down a minute while I cast off and we get going,’ he told her, laughing and hugging her close.

  Sitting on the side, she watched as they left the jetty and moved into the middle of the river.

  ‘Whose boat is it?’

  ‘Justin’s.’

  She stood beside him as they moved along the waterway until they reached a part where the river widened and he turned the boat left, stopping a few minutes later. They were totally alone, the bridge and roadway far in the distance, a group of swans dabbling in the reeds nearby. Luke dropped the anchor and poured her a glass of her favourite wine.

  ‘The day I fell totally in love with you was the day you were down by the river taking photos. Do you remember?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘That day I said to myself, this is the girl that I want to …’ Suddenly he was holding her hand, kneeling down on the wooden deck ‘… ask to marry me. Will you marry me, Kim?’

  She felt the breath tight in her throat as he held her hand, his gaze on her.

  ‘Yes. Yes!’ she said, beginning to cry.

  The ring in the palm of his hand was beautiful, white gold with a simple single diamond. It fitted her finger perfectly.

  ‘Why are you crying?’ he teased her, pulling her into his arms.

  ‘I’m so happy, Luke. I’m just so happy.’

  She couldn’t believe it. She was going to marry Luke, be his wife …

  ‘Now we need to really celebrate!’ he laughed, making her sit down at the table and pouring her more wine as he served dinner – rosemary chicken with salad and her favourite dessert, ice cream with a hot fudge sauce.

  ‘How did you do all this?’ she asked, incredulous. ‘I can’t believe it!’

  ‘I wanted it all to be a surprise for you,’ he said. ‘I’ve been planning it for ages. I’ve cooked on Justin’s boat before – mostly burgers and sausages, but a simple meal wasn’t too much of a problem. I knew you liked Killian Fields designs, so I commissioned him to design the ring for you and I went to Dublin three weeks ago and had lunch with your dad and asked him about marrying you.’

  ‘You are incredible!’ Kim burst out laughing. ‘I never guessed a thing!’

  They sat watching the sun go down, the darkness falling around them, the water slapping against the side of the boat.

  ‘Wait till our friends hear! I can’t wait to tell everyone.’

  ‘Can’t we wait tonight?’ he pleaded, taking her hands in his. ‘Just enjoy it.’

  Kim knew he was right. This was their time.

  ‘We’ll see everyone at the party – let’s wait till then,’ she agreed.

  They stayed on the river for another two hours, planning the future, then Luke turned on the engine and brought the boat back to the jetty to moor. The night was warm and starry as they walked hand in hand along the river path towards home.

  Chapter 75

  THE SMALL HOUSE ON MILL STREET WAS CROWDED. KIM AND LUKE were in the middle of it all, welcoming their guests, everyone absolutely delighted to hear that not only was Kim celebrating her thirtieth birthday but that she and Luke had just got engaged.

  The night was warm and everyone moved outside to the garden where they had put up a few tables with candles and lanterns and tea lights. There was chilled prosecco and beer and lots of wine for everyone. Burgers and sausages were cooking on the barbecue, with big bowls of salad, baby potatoes and plates of crusty French bread.

  ‘Let me see your ring!’ screamed Evie the minute she heard the good news. ‘I can’t believe you’re getting married!’

  ‘Neither can I!’ laughed Kim. ‘It’s all happened so fast, but maybe that is the best way. We are mad about each other and just want to get married and be together for ever.’

  She was glad to see that Evie and Fergus seemed to be a real pair. Two artists together!

  Alex and Vicky and Lisa and Mel and the gang, all her friends had come.

  ‘I can’t believe I dragged you all away from Dublin!’ she joked.

  ‘We wouldn’t miss it for the world,’ Alex said, serious, hugging her and shaking Luke’s hand.

  Liz and Joe were so delighted for them.

  ‘I can’t believe my baby sister is getting married!’ Liz cried, her eyes welling with tears.

  ‘I want you to be my bridesmaid and Ava to be my flower girl.’

  ‘Of course,’ sniffed Liz, wrapping her in her arms.

  Molly was so delighted for her. ‘Your mum would be so happy for you, Kim. Luke is one of the good guys, and they are a
pretty rare commodity these days.’

  ‘I know. Molly, imagine if I hadn’t come to stay with you – I would never have met Luke!’

  ‘I’m glad to have had a little hand in this romance,’ her aunt laughed. ‘And you know, if you need a nice place for a wedding, Mossbawn is there for you.’

  ‘Oh thank you, Molly. We haven’t got around to even thinking that far yet, but you know how much Mossbawn means to me.’

  Emma and Grace were delighted that she was going to be staying and living in Kilfinn.

  ‘We’ll have our favourite cousin living here! Brilliant!’

  ‘Luke is such a cool guy to marry!’ said Grace, slightly enviously.

  More and more friends kept arriving, all surprised to find it had become a double celebration.

  ‘When he asked me for the loan of the boat, I guessed something big was brewing!’ Justin teased them.

  ‘And you never said a word,’ joked his wife, Claire.

  ‘I was under orders!’

  ‘He’s not usually good at secrets,’ laughed Luke’s sister, Melissa.

  His parents arrived a little later and came over to them straight away.

  ‘We are both very pleased for you and Luke,’ his mother said, smiling as she took Kim’s hand and admired her ring. ‘Such a beautiful ring. I love the simple design.’

  ‘Thanks!’

  ‘You know that you have made our son very happy,’ added his dad. ‘And we are both very much looking forward to meeting your family.’

  Kim introduced them to Liz and Joe and was delighted to see her dad and Carole suddenly appear. Bill O’Reilly, wearing a blazer and tie, looked so handsome. She could see the emotion in his eyes when he came over towards her.

  ‘Well, my little Kim – celebrating a special birthday and now engaged! I can’t believe it. Where have all the years gone?’

  ‘Dad, you never said a word to me about meeting Luke!’ she teased.

  ‘He swore me to secrecy. I remember when I had to go and ask your grandfather about marrying your mother … My knees were shaking, I was so scared of him!’

  ‘Pops was a bit of a tyrant and a grump, I have to admit,’ she laughed.

  ‘But thank heaven he said yes, otherwise Ruth and I would have had to elope!’

  ‘And at least when we came to marry, Bill, we were two middle-aged birds who’d been through it all before!’ said Carole softly, squeezing his hand.

  ‘I’m a lucky man,’ added her dad, ‘to have found love again.’

  ‘Two is so much better than one,’ Carole agreed. ‘Kim, I’m so glad that you and Luke have found each other.’

  ‘Thank you, Carole,’ Kim said, understanding exactly what she meant. She was so glad that her dad had found Carole and that they made each other happy.

  Her dad and Luke’s dad got on like a house on fire. Molly came over to join them all as they chatted together over plates of food.

  Gina and Paul arrived with a big chocolate birthday cake.

  ‘My contribution to the party,’ she said, placing it carefully in the kitchen before they got some beers and headed out to the garden.

  ‘Enjoying yourself?’ asked Luke.

  ‘It’s the best night ever!’ she said, kissing him to huge cheers from all around.

  ‘It’s okay! We’re engaged!’

  Everyone sang ‘Happy Birthday’ loudly as Kim blew out the candles on her cake. The party went on for hours and they stayed outside, as it was such a warm, still night. Luke’s friend Alan had brought along his guitar and soon everyone was singing Dubliners and Beatles and Thin Lizzy and Frames songs. It was nearly morning before she and Luke eventually got to bed.

  On Sunday Molly had organized a late lunch for Kim’s family and her friends from Dublin before they went back, but now Luke’s family were invited too.

  ‘They have all got to get used to each other,’ remarked Luke as he shaved and pulled on his pale-blue shirt.

  Molly had set out two long tables on the terrace, the large canvas parasols open as the sun streamed down on them all. Kim was delighted actually to get time to talk to everyone properly. Emma and Jake were leaving for Australia in two weeks’ time and she would miss her cousin.

  ‘We’ll be back,’ Emma promised. ‘We just want to see a bit of the world before we settle down to our careers.’

  ‘Go and enjoy Sydney and Melbourne and the Barrier Reef and New Zealand and Fiji for the year,’ Kim urged. ‘I had a wonderful time there and still think about it.’

  ‘I’m going to really miss her,’ admitted Molly, getting a bit tearful.

  ‘I promise to bring her back home safely,’ Jake reassured her.

  ‘Tell us about the wedding plans,’ urged Evie and Lisa, coming over to sit beside Kim.

  ‘For heaven’s sake – give us a bit of time! We’ve only just got engaged!’

  ‘So it won’t be till next year or so?’

  ‘No,’ she said firmly. ‘The one thing Luke and I have decided is that we are definitely not waiting a whole year to get married. We just want to get on with our lives.’

  Later that night they collapsed on the sofa together, exhausted.

  ‘Why does everyone keep asking about the wedding?’ she yawned.

  ‘It could drive you mad!’ complained Luke.

  ‘I know. At the party Jenny was talking to me about themes and flowers for a wedding.’

  ‘Don’t mind her!’

  ‘She’s a florist – it’s her business,’ she reminded him. ‘My job is to try and help her sell them! But maybe she’s right – we do need to start thinking about what kind of wedding we both want.’

  She looked up and realized that Luke was fast asleep and snoring.

  Chapter 76

  GINA STILL FOUND IT HARD TO BELIEVE THAT NORAH CASSIDY HAD been so generous to her. She and Paul debated long and hard over what to spend the money on, torn between setting up a college fund for the boys, taking a big family holiday of a lifetime, or just putting the money in a high-earning interest account. With her inheritance from Norah there was a very real chance that she would be able to rent or put a down-payment on a small café or restaurant of her own. It was something she still really wanted and dreamed of.

  She had found the perfect place but was unsure how to approach it. Molly had been so good to her and given her so much business already over the past few months, but Gina had no idea how she would react to this proposal.

  ‘You have to say it!’ urged Paul. ‘She will understand – I’m sure she will.’

  Mossbawn was busy with the O’Flynn family gathering, Molly and Kim trying to make sure everything ran smoothly.

  ‘Gina, did you see the plans of the maze anywhere?’ asked Kim. ‘It’s time for the big treasure hunt now!’

  ‘I think I saw them on top of the piano in the drawing room,’ Gina replied, laughing and going to look for them.

  Molly was outside cutting flowers for the hall and the tables for tomorrow’s welcome dinner.

  ‘Here, Gina – please take these blue delphiniums and some roses. I just need to get some more gyp to add to the vase.’

  Gina filled her arms with the flowers, bringing them back into the kitchen as Molly followed after her.

  ‘They all look lovely! The garden is really at its best. You won’t believe it, but two gardening clubs wanted to come to visit. Kim set it up for next Saturday morning. She thinks I should consider opening the gardens next month and for a few months of the year. I know gardeners – they just love to ramble around places like this and compare them to their own gardens and get ideas, and of course we have the kitchen garden, and the rose garden and the lavender walk and the borders to explore. The club asked if we could give them morning coffee or a lunch. Did you ever?’ she laughed. ‘Where would we put them? In the drawing room?’

  ‘Actually, Molly, Kim mentioned it to me and that is something I wanted to talk to you about.’ Gina hesitated.

  ‘The garden?’

  ‘No,�
� she explained. ‘I mean, maybe it is something we should consider – opening a café here in Mossbawn and serving afternoon teas, and lunches, and probably morning coffees.’

  ‘A café! Where would we put it?’ Molly laughed.

  ‘There are the old stables and outbuildings. They are totally separate from the house and yet overlook part of the garden,’ Gina said calmly. ‘I’m sure they could be converted to tea rooms or a café.’

  ‘But they haven’t been used for anything except storage for years.’

  ‘I know – I store some of the tables and chairs, and wine and all kinds of things there, but everything is bone dry and I’m sure you could convert a part of them the way you have done with your cottage.’

  ‘But why? Why bother?’ asked Molly, flummoxed.

  ‘I believe a café here could do very well. There’s a big gap for people living locally since Norah’s café closed, as there’s nowhere to go for a lunch or a scone or afternoon tea, or to just meet for a coffee, and I’m sure if you open the garden to visitors they would also enjoy it. I certainly would be interested in opening and running a place like that.’

  ‘Gina, do you mean it?’ asked Molly, sitting down at the table. ‘But we’re not even in the village.’

  ‘There is the Maids’ Gate – the pedestrian entrance that practically opens next to the lane beside the chemist. People could use that if they are walking, otherwise there is plenty of parking.’

  ‘You’ve obviously been thinking about this!’

  ‘Ever since Norah’s closed, I’ve been thinking about it and trying to find somewhere to rent.’

  ‘But what about catering for our weddings and events here?’ asked Molly.

  ‘That wouldn’t change at all, I promise. With only a function or so a week I can easily manage to do both,’ she reassured her. ‘If anything, it could be useful, as we could put in a larger kitchen and also do some smaller events within the café.’

  ‘I understand what you are saying, Gina, but Mossbawn is not some big stately pile. It’s just an old Irish country house.’