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There was a silence and then he smiled, as if by saying the words he had released magic into the air. And perhaps he had, because tendrils of potential happiness seemed to be unfurling inside her.
Yet how could this be possible?
She shook her head. ‘It doesn’t make sense. You said yourself that you didn’t want love, or a relationship—that you couldn’t love.’
‘That is what I thought. What I have believed for too many years. It took you to show me that I was wrong. On all counts. You see, I grew up with no understanding of what real love meant. Until Elvira was born. When my parents brought her home I knew that I would do anything for her. But then the fire happened and something inside me froze. I still loved Elvira—but I couldn’t love anyone else. Couldn’t acknowledge love because I was so mixed up. But somehow you melted that freeze. Over the past weeks you’ve changed me, unlocked something inside me. You made me want to reach out—made me question my perspective on the past and my upbringing. But most of all you made me love you. I accept that this may all be too much, that you don’t love me, but I want a chance to persuade you to do just that.’
April smiled suddenly as she reached down for her bag. ‘Look.’ She delved inside and pulled out an envelope, handed it to him. ‘Open it.’
He did so. ‘A ticket to Lycander? You were coming back?’
‘Yes. To find you. To tell you that I love you. That I have fallen for you hook, line and sinker. That I can’t go back into my insulated bubble, my cage, and I don’t want to. I’d prefer to be free to love you, because love is too precious to waste. I love you, Marcus. I love your honour and your integrity. I love the way you make me feel—the way you have pulled me back into the sunshine. I love that you make me feel safe and exasperated and downright annoyed. I love how much you care about people and making the world a better place. I love you. And I want to spend all my days and nights with you.’
His smile lit his face, lit her world, made her glow inside and out.
‘There’s something else as well. I still haven’t got my period. I don’t know what, if anything, that means. I still might not be pregnant, given the test we did was negative, but it’s made me think. Either way, I would love to have a baby with you. I know it will be an emotional journey, but...’
With Marcus by her side it was a journey she knew she could take—one she wanted to take.
‘Edward will always have a place in my heart, but my love for him is different from the love I will have for another baby.’
‘And because of my love for you Edward will always have a place in my heart too.’
She heard the sincerity in his voice, knew that he meant every word, and stepped forward into the warmth of his embrace, resting her head on his chest and knowing with all her heart that this man was her soul mate.
‘You opened my eyes, April. To the possibility of a future I thought I could never have. A future filled with love and happiness.’
She smiled up at him, secure in the knowledge that it was a future they would walk into together, with no regrets at all.
EPILOGUE
Ten months later
APRIL LOOKED UP as h
er husband—her husband...the word still filled her with love, awe and a near-disbelief at her own luck that this wonderful man loved her—entered the room on tiptoe.
‘She’s asleep,’ April whispered as Marcus approached the cot where their beautiful daughter Eleanor lay, her tiny hands curled into fists by her head, which was covered with wisps of dark curls.
‘Nearly as beautiful as her mother,’ Marcus said, and April grinned up at him.
‘Very diplomatic—but I know perfectly well that this little one already has you twisted round her little finger.’ She gazed tenderly down at her daughter. ‘And I don’t blame you one little bit. I still can’t believe how blessed we are.’
It was true—from the moment they had discovered that she was, in fact, pregnant Marcus had been her rock. His joy and his pride and his understanding had been further proof, if she had needed it, that this man was truly amazing.
The past months had been a wonderful journey they had made together. Each day had cemented their love further, laid down a foundation she knew would endure for the rest of their lives. Together they had chosen and bought a beautiful house in Lycander; together they had prepared a nursery for their baby—painted the walls, stencilled drawings in their spare time.
April continued to work at the community centre, and had written a series of articles on the plight of the poor and disadvantaged in Lycander, and Marcus continued to help forge change in the country he loved. And through it all their love for each other and their unborn baby had grown.
Of course there had been difficult moments—moments when poignant memories of Edward had caused her sadness—but always Marcus had been there, with his love, and together they had created new and happy memories in the present.
‘I know. We are truly blessed. I have no idea what I did to deserve this much happiness.’
Marcus put his arm around her, held her close, and she felt his love as warm as a blanket surrounding her.
‘I love you, April. Now and for ever.’
‘Now and for ever,’ she echoed, meaning it with every fibre of her body and soul.
