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Walker and Gabi were next, eyes fixed firmly on each other, as if nobody else was in the room.

‘To our futures,’ Walker said.

‘May they be less dramatic than our pasts, but just as memorable,’ Gabi finished, before ignoring her drink and planting her lips on his.

Robyn felt a tug at her arm and realised Fox was pulling her to her feet. All eyes turned to them, the newest official couple in Honeybridge. There were a few whistles and a couple of cheers as Fox wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to his side, and Robyn felt a completeness that she’d never felt before, as well as a deep happiness, and a tug of desire that would have to wait until later. But she knew that this was her destiny. This was where she was supposed to be. Right here. Right now. For this man. For this future.

Fox kissed her gently on the lips before turning to his friends that had become hers.

‘To a future of fun and laughter,’ Fox said.

Robyn lifted her glass.

‘And happy ever after,’ Robyn added.

Everyone cheered.

Epilogue

Eighteen months later

Family glamping at Glastonbury was yet another experience Fox and Robyn would never forget. Over the past eighteen months, they’d done more together than they ever dreamed possible, but this was going to be a highlight. Not that anyone else knew quite what they were getting into yet. They’d kept it a secret.

It had been some time in the planning.

Robyn had taken the week off from her forestry and foliage business, which had branched into new schools, new florists and new workshops, using every beautiful natural thing that the local environment had to offer. Sometimes she was working with dried leaves and bracken, other times with rushes from the river, but she was always happiest with twigs in her hair and the fresh air on her face.

Fox’s sequel had launched, becoming an overnight global sensation. The investors immediately wanted a new idea, but he’d taken his time, pushed back on some deadlines, and told them he would be working term time only because he wanted to go ‘walkabout’ for the summer with his family. Inspired by Robyn’s travels, he wanted to experience things for himself and show their children some other sides of life. They travelled Australia and New Zealand and came home feeling richer than he’d ever felt before. Now he regularly took holiday for important family events – like today.

‘It’s time to go,’ Fox whispered into her hair as he caught her round the waist and pulled her close to him. Robyn felt a surge of excitement, a rush of love. She pressed her mouth to his, even as she smiled.

‘Reggie! George!’ she called. Reggie waved from his spot up a tree. His two front teeth had grown in and his baby lisp had gone, but his curls were as wild as ever. George skidded into view, a human dynamo that never stopped. He was showing Riley how to do cartwheels and Robyn noticed how his freckles were darkening as he caught the sun.

‘Willow!’ Fox shouted.

‘Daddy!’ Two-year-old Willow waved happily from her post on a picnic blanket where she was barefoot and chubby-cheeked, showing River and Quinn, now eighteen months, how to build blocks and then smash them down again. They squealed with delight as Willow did it again.

‘I’ll round up the others then,’ Fox said, patting her on the bottom. ‘You get the necessaries.’ She kissed him again before heading for the wigwam and their secret box.

Soon, Fox had accumulated Wren and Rosie, both wearing flowers in their hair, and Isabella and Etienne, all of them looking confused as to what was happening.

‘You’ll see soon,’ Fox said. ‘We just need to be all together.’

Amber and Alex appeared next, Amber carrying baby Joannie in a sling which Robyn had shown her how to fix. Jayden loped along beside them, almost as tall as his mum and still rocking a Mohican.

‘What’s going on?’ they asked, but Fox just smiled and tapped his nose.

‘Walker!’ he called. ‘Gabi!’

A tent flap opened and a rather red-faced Walker peered out.

‘Where’s the fire?’ he asked, emerging with no top on, and belting up his shorts.

‘In your pants by the look of it!’ Fox laughed.

Gabi slipped out behind him, rearranging her shirt.

The gang made an expectant circle around Fox.