David’s letter was five pages long and full of apologies, of how much he missed her and the children. A week later she received a vanload of red roses with a note that said: It is only through losing you that I realize how much I love you. I was an idiot to take someone so special and so precious for granted. Then she received a telephone call from Lottie. “David was over the other night with Mac,” she told her. “He’s devastated. I’ve never seen him look so tragic.”
“He deserves everything he gets. He slept with a friend of mine. He even shagged her in our greenhouse!”
“He said he didn’t.”
“Well, why was his fly undone?”
“That I can’t answer,” Lottie conceded. “Look, he’s made a terrible mistake and he’s very aware of it. He wishes he could turn the clock back. That it had never happened.”
“I know. I got a five-page letter.”
“He asked Mac for advice. He’s desperate to get you back. He misses the children…”
“Jean-Paul is a better father than he’s ever been.”
“Yes, he mentioned Jean-Paul.”
“I bet he did. He puts David to shame.”
“David’s put himself to shame,” said Lottie wisely. “Why don’t you at least talk to him?”
“Not yet. It’s too soon. I’ve got to clear my head. It’s all too hideous. I’m just getting by, you know.”
“Let him see the children then,” Lottie suggested diplomatically. She was determined to come away with something to give David.
Miranda thought about it for a moment. “You’re right,” she conceded. “The fight’s between me and David. It’s got nothing to do with the children.”
“That’s very big of you, Miranda,” she said, relieved. It was a start.
“Tell him he can come down this weekend. I’ll come up to London and stay in a hotel. I’ve promised a friend a day shopping and I don’t want to let her down. It’ll do me good to get away for a couple of days. I’ll book into the Berkeley on Friday night and return Sunday afternoon.”
“You’re more than welcome to stay with us,” Lottie suggested.
“You’re sweet, Lottie, thank you. I’ll be with my friend Etta. Anyway, the least David can do is pay for a major suite. I’d stay in Kensington if it wasn’t for the fact that he’s probably shagged Blythe there.”
“Good idea. I’ll pass all that on, except the last bit, and call you back.”
“Thanks, Lottie.”
“It’s a pleasure. We love you both, Miranda. I hope you can work through this.”
“So do I.” But Miranda wasn’t sure that she wanted to. Her mind turned to Jean-Paul. Until she confronted him, she wasn’t sure what she wanted.
Jean-Paul was sitting on the bench beneath the mountain ash. The children were digging a hole among the larches by the dovecote. “Do you mind if I join you?” she asked, opening the little red gate and stepping beneath the arch of pink roses.
“Please. How are you feeling?” he asked.
She sat down beside him and sighed, not knowing where to start. “He’s written a long love letter. Apologized, said he regrets everything and wants me back. He’s filled my kitchen with red roses.”
“That is a good start.”
“I’ve decided to let him see the children this weekend. I’ll go up to London with Henrietta and stay in a nice hotel. After all, it’s not their fight. Why should they suffer?”
“You are very wise.”
“I wish I was. You’re wise, Jean-Paul. You’re a better father than he is. I guess Gus just needed a dad who took trouble with him. David wasn’t that dad. You were.” She lowered her eyes. “Thanks to you, Jean-Paul, I’ve learned to enjoy their company and get my hands dirty. I’ve grown to love these gardens. I never thought I would. I was such a Londoner. The idea of gumboots made me recoil in horror, now I rarely wear my heels and I don’t mind. I’ve changed. You’ve changed me.”
“It is not me,” Jean-Paul said softly. “I wish I could take credit, but I can’t. It is the magic in the garden.”
“The magic didn’t come all by itself. You put it there.” She felt herself blush.
“The magic was always there, Miranda, I just brought it back to life.”
She took a deep breath. “You’re an incredible man, Jean-Paul. You’re wise, you’re kind, you’re adorable with the children. You’re there for me, too. I’ve come to rely on you. In fact, I’m falling in love with you.” He didn’t reply, but put his arm around her shoulders and held her close.