Page 56 of A Wedding at The Cornish Garden Café
The air was crisp, scented with salt and wood smoke, spiced cider and coffee. Hundreds of lanterns decorated the villagestreets and the harbour, hanging on posts and in front windows, making it feel like a fairy bower surrounded by fireflies.
Villagers were gathering at the harbour, all holding homemade lanterns made of glass jars or pumpkins. Children ran around with their friends, laughing and playing. Adults stood around in groups enjoying the cider and coffees that were being handed out by Pearl and Ellie. They were also giving out small, spiced pumpkin tarts decorated with Cornish cream and slices of chocolate chip pumpkin banana bread.
‘These look delicious, Pearl,’ Edith said as she accepted a tart, and Wyatt took a slice of banana bread.
‘All Ellie’s doing.’ Pearl smiled, her bright eyes peering out from underneath a baggy grey beanie. ‘Part of our autumn range.’
‘You’re amazing, Ellie,’ Edith said.
Ellie blushed then gave a small shrug. ‘I don’t know about that, but this colder weather makes me hungry, and I think we all need some scrummy treats to enjoy right now.’
Ellie handed Edith the spiced cider she’d asked for.
‘Thank you.’ Edith sipped the cider. It was sharp and sweet, spiced with cinnamon and cloves. ‘This is perfect.’
Wyatt accepted a drink, and they wandered over to the harbour wall. The boats bobbed gently, their hulls creaking softly with each sway. Fairy lights strung along the decks twinkled in the dusky air, their reflections rippling across the dark water like scattered stars. The faint scent of seaweed and driftwood mingled with the chill of the evening, and the lapping of water against the quay whispered around them. It was a perfect evening.
When they’d finished their refreshments, Edith took Wyatt’s hand. ‘Time to collect our lanterns.’
They walked to the bookshop where Edith had dropped off their lanterns earlier that day, and went inside. The familiar scents greeted them — coffee, paper, amber and bergamot from the reed diffusers on the counter. Rosa and Henry were behind the counter, deep in conversation, and they looked up as Edith and Wyatt entered.
‘Hey there,’ Rosa said, bending over to retrieve the lanterns from behind the counter. ‘Here you go.’
She set their lanterns on the counter, and Edith smiled her thanks. ‘You two coming on the walk?’
‘We are.’ Rosa nodded. ‘We’re going to close up now then join you all.’
Henry wrapped an arm around Rosa’s shoulders and kissed her cheek. ‘Wouldn’t miss it for the world.’
Back outside, it seemed colder than before, and Edith huddled closer to Wyatt, grateful for his warmth. Grateful that he was here. Grateful that he had finally been honest with her and able to release himself from the hold his past had over him.
‘Shall we light them?’ Edith asked.
Wyatt pulled a box of matches from his pocket and lit the small candles inside their lanterns. They had carved the lanterns out of pumpkins early that morning. Edith’s had a heart at the front and Wyatt’s had a P surrounded by tiny stars.
P for Parker, he had told her, and she’d wrapped her arms around him and hugged him.
They rejoined the other villagers in the square near the harbour, and then the procession set off.
The soft glow from the lanterns flickered as people walked, tiny flames and battery candles reflecting on the cobbles as feet created a rhythmic pattering.
Edith glanced around, seeing familiar faces, feeling the sense of belonging that she loved about Porthpenny. But now, it was even better, because Wyatt was here too. Now, she felt complete, whereas in previous years she’d felt like something was missing.
Wyatt held her hand tight, his lantern in his other hand, and they walked in step, the way they always had done. The years that had passed while they’d been apart had been hard but necessary, she realised, necessary for healing and for growth. The journey had been hard, but it had been worth it to be where they were now.
Even in her darkest moments, when she’d doubted that her life would ever be the way she’d dreamt it would be, things had been happening that had led them back to each other, back to closeness, back to love.
When they reached the beach, they walked down to the large bonfire that glowed ready, and joined Finn and Titus. They hugged and shared smiles and kind words, and then a hush fell over the gathering.
‘And now it is time for each one of us to dedicate our lantern to a loved one who is no longer with us or even to yourself if you are going through some changes,’ Pearl said, breaking the silence. ‘You can do this silently or say it out loud, whatever works for you. I’ll start us off.’
She cleared her throat as she held up a glass jar with a candle glowing inside it.
‘I dedicate this lantern to my wonderful husband who lost his life to the sea many years ago. He was the light of my life for many years, and I loved him dearly. I still do. Until we meet again, my love.’ She set her lantern down in front of the circle of stones that surrounded the fire, pressed her hand to her heart then stepped back.
Around the fire, people dedicated their lanterns and then set them down as Pearl had. Edith had to blink hard each time as people made such beautiful dedications.
When his turn came, Wyatt held up his lantern and said softly, ‘I dedicate this lantern to my dear brother, Parker. I miss you every day and always will. You were the sweetest little brother, and I am sorry I was too young to protect you that day. I will always carry you in my heart. Love you, little man.’ His voice broke as he said the final words, and Edith reached for his hand, letting him know she was there for him. She had his back and always would.
