And she got up and walked away.
Diana stood up too. ‘I think I should go after her,’ she said, her voice trailing off. ‘I just said some unspeakable things.’
She felt sad and defeated. Josie was probably never going to speak to her again. Harry wasn’t interested in her at all. The only thing she’d gained from this night was a truce with Ant.
‘It might not do any good at the moment,’ said Ant, squeezing her arm with surprising gentleness. ‘I think we need to get back to where we were. Sorry I got us all into this. Truly I am.’
Ant saying sorry? Possibly the most surprising thing in a very surprising night? Diana raised a small smile.
‘Since when did you start saying sorry?’ she said.
‘Since I realised what a pillock I was to you all those years ago, and how I’ve made it worse tonight,’ said Ant. ‘I can’t be in love with Josie. It wouldn’t work, and I’m sorry I hurt you by thinking I was. It’s bad enough I hurt you before, I don’t want to hurt you again.’
‘I know,’ said Diana, ‘I’m not sure anything I’ve been feeling tonight is real. But I do know I’ve been carrying all that anger round with me for years. It hasn’t done me much good. I can see now Sian had a lot to answer for; I should have given you the benefit of the doubt. I’m really sorry.’
‘I’m glad we’re friends,’ said Ant. ‘That’s the only good thing that has come out of tonight.’
He kissed her on the cheek. Such a sweet tender kiss. And Diana felt something melt inside her. Ant. How very, very lovely he was. She wished he felt the same way about her.
‘Come on, Freddie,’ said Ant, ‘time to get this show on the road.’
‘You’re all sure?’ said Freddie.
‘Absolutely,’ said Diana. ‘I’m fed up with feeling this miserable and confused. I’d rather wake up alone and never be in love again than feel like this.’
‘And I just want Josie and me to be back the way we were,’ said Harry.
‘Ant, what about you?’
‘Not to have to feel so responsible for everyone,’ said Ant firmly. ‘I prefer being a bastard. It’s much less hassle.’
‘In that case,’ said Freddie, ‘when I click my fingers, you will think you’ve been having a strange dream, but everything else will be back to normal.’
‘And Josie?’
‘I’ll go after her,’ said Bron, ‘persuade her to come back.’
‘Right,’ said Freddie. ‘I’m going to click my fingers, three, two, one, and you’re asleep …’
Diana felt herself yawning, overcome with weariness. Sleep seemed so welcome. Vaguely she was aware that Freddie was saying something about the Standing Stones, and then she remembered nothing more. She was fast asleep.
Chapter Thirty-Five
Josie was sitting down by the beach. It must be nearly 7am by now. She didn’t know what had drawn her back, but the solitude, and the pounding of the waves as the sun rose higher in the sky, were having a calming effect on her shattered nerves.
She didn’t know what she felt anymore. Couldn’t untangle in her head whether she wanted to be with anyone, but going straight from Harry to Ant seemed like the worst idea she’d ever had. What had possessed her? It must have been the hypnotism, that or madness and moonlight.
Josie felt ashamed of the things she’d said to Diana. Diana was right, she could be spoilt sometimes, and she didn’t know how the other half lived. She knew Diana’s life had been much harder than her own. It had been cruel of her to say so. Diana’s tough exterior hid a heart of gold, and she’d been a good friend to Josie, always there when she needed her. And without Diana’s prompting Harry would probably never have moved in with her in the first place, or asked her to marry him.
Maybe Josie had been at fault for letting herself get caught up in the moment. She’d rushed headlong into this marriage thing without thinking it through. And she had got carried away. She could see that now. No wonder poor Harry had freaked. Another stab of remorse went through her. She’d been tough on him over Diana, and then fallen straight into Ant’s arms, without considering his feelings. The one constant of the night, she realised, had been Harry’s dogged persistence that he loved her. Maybe she should give him another chance. Not that he deserved it …
‘Josie.’ She looked up to see Bron standing there. ‘I know tonight’s been a disaster, but I’ve just about stopped Freddie from meddling and he’s put the others back to sleep. When they wake up none of this will have happened. What do you think?’
‘I think that’s the best idea I’ve heard all night,’ said Josie.
Ant was dreaming. He was eighteen again, and he and Diana were dancing in a sun-filled meadow. Which couldn’t be right, because he’d met Diana in Switzerland. But that didn’t matter in the dream. She looked beautiful. Her eyes sparkled and shone, and her titian hair flowed and danced down her back. She wore a simple white flowing dress, bare feet and had flowers in her hair. Rays of sunshine danced in the dew at their feet.
‘It’s the summer solstice,’ she said, laughing. ‘A time for rebirth and new beginnings.’
He whirled her round and round, their dance growing wilder and more heady. He was caught up in a whirlwind of dizzying intoxicating love and felt almost as if he were flying. He remembered this feeling. He remembered it so clearly, he felt he could reach out and touch it. This was once him. This was once Diana. This was what they’d shared and lost. How stupid, stupid, he’d been to let this go. It felt so perfect and right …
And suddenly the dream was fading and it felt like he was coming down to land. No! he wanted to cry, let me stay here with her, where I know and feel love. But nearer, nearer, the earth approached and suddenly he had tumbled down to earth once more. He sat up, staring into a glaring morning sun.
Ant felt bereft. The dream that held him had seemed so real. Of course it was obvious now. It was Diana he loved; had never stopped loving her. He’d hidden it in the recesses of his mind. He hoped that she could remember too, what they’d had once, because despite what he’d been pretending for years, what they’d had, had been very special.
Then he took in his surroundings. He was by the Standing Stones. How had he got here? The last thing he remembered was being at the theatre. And then Ant saw her, curled up on a mound of grass, with flowers in her hair, looking for all the world like a sleeping angel.
Diana was dreaming that she was dancing across stepping stones. She was trying to reach someone. It was vital she found him. But the closer she came the further away he seemed. She ran lightly across the stones, barefoot, jumping from one to the other, yet not once did she slip and fall. The sound of the tinkling stream gave way to a louder sound and became a thundering roar, as she followed its path to a pool, where a waterfall gushed over the edge.
As she stared, a man emerged from the pool, a fine handsome figure with muscles to die for. He shook himself dry, and smiled at her, and her heart tumbled over itself as she remembered that she loved him, this man, whose name she had forgotten. Something had stopped them loving one another, but she couldn’t think what. All she knew was that she longed for him now. So Diana ran as fast as she could towards him, her heart full of joy. But as she grew closer he faded away from her sight, until she woke up and found herself feeling a huge sense of regret and loss. The sun was getting quite bright in the sky. She shielded her eyes, as she became aware that someone was watching her.
She blushed as she realized who it was.
‘Oh,’ she blurted it out. ‘I was just dreaming about you.’
‘That’s funny,’ he said. ‘I was dreaming about you too.’
There was a pause and Diana looked at him properly for the first time all weekend.
Suddenly she could see the young Ant, the Ant she’d fallen in love with.
‘What was your dream about?’ she said.
‘We were dancing,’ he said, ‘and you were beautiful. You?’
Diana blushed again.
‘You
were swimming,’ she said.
‘And?’
‘You were naked,’ she admitted.
‘Sounds like my kind of dream,’ said Ant.
Diana blushed furiously.
‘Come on, Di, don’t be shy, it’s not like we weren’t close once’ said Ant, and presenting her with a bunch of Pansies, he added mischievously, ‘Maybe it’s time we were that close again.’
‘Maybe,’ said Diana, ‘it is.’
Harry couldn’t get comfortable. Something was poking him in the back and his head was leaning on something hard. He was dreaming that he was in a forest ablaze with colour. Only suddenly he realised it wasn’t flowers and leaves as he’d at first thought, but a genuine fire, and Josie was trapped on the other side of it. He had to get her. He had to walk through fire to be worthy of her love.
‘Harry! Harry!’ he could hear her frantic calling. The flames looked fierce, but his love was stronger. Without a second thought he dived through them to reach her and was falling, falling, falling …
Harry woke up with a start. Pebbles were poking in his back and his head was perched awkwardly on a rock. But his arms were round a soft warm body. One he knew very well. His heart quickened with anticipation. What would she say when she knew it was him?
Josie turned round sleepily towards him.
‘Oh, Harry,’ she said. ‘I was dreaming I’d lost you, but you were here all the time.’
‘And I’ll never go away again,’ he said, kissing her softly on the lips, as the waves broke gently on the shore.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Ant couldn’t believe it. He felt as if his eyes had been opened. As if he’d been washed clean and seen the world in a new light.
‘Diana,’ he said, hoping his voice was steadier than his unruly heart, which was beating at a rapid pace. ‘I know this sounds mad, but I think I love you.’
Diana shook her head, and looked at him in a daze.
‘It doesn’t sound mad at all,’ she said. ‘In fact, I think it sounds perfect.’
‘Are we sure this is real?’ said Ant. ‘It seems so sudden. The world feels so different.’
Diana pinched herself.
‘Feels pretty real to me,’ she said.
‘But you hated me,’ said Ant.
‘And you hated me,’ said Diana.
‘I thought I did,’ admitted Ant. ‘But I was so gutted when you ditched me, I just turned against you. I didn’t know about the baby. If I had known the truth, things would have been different. When I did find out, I thought you’d kept me away deliberately, and it made me even angrier.’
‘I know,’ said Diana. ‘If I hadn’t been so hurt and angry myself, I’d have stopped and thought it through. I knew you’d never have left me without a good reason. But at the time I thought you’d abandoned me.’
‘I could never have done that,’ said Ant. ‘You’re the one person who’s ever given meaning to my life. All I ever wanted was to look after you.’
‘Oh, Ant,’ said Diana, ‘I wish I’d known.’
Ant paused, and then said, ‘Did you ever know what it was? Boy or girl?’
Diana shook her head and looked sad.
‘No, it was too early to tell,’ she said. ‘If it had lived it would have been seven by now. What a mad thought.’
Ant took her hand and locked it in his.
‘I wasn’t there for you then,’ he said, ‘but I promise I always will be from now on. Come on. We’ve wasted enough time. Let’s not waste any more.’
‘Harry? Oh Harry!’ Josie snuggled up to him. ‘I’ve been having terrible dreams, and I thought you’d left me. It feels like I’ve been walking through the woods for hours. I kept nearly catching you, and then you’d skip away from me. But here you were all the time.’
‘And here I’ll always be,’ said Harry. ‘I love you, Josie, and always will. Without you my life would be meaningless.’
Josie felt her heart bursting with happiness. She felt as if she had been carrying around a great sadness, and now it was gone, to be replaced by a fizzing feeling of joy.
‘I can barely remember anything about last night,’ said Harry. ‘Isn’t that weird?’
‘Me neither,’ said Josie.
They lay watching the sea lap at the shore, feeling deeply content, and then Josie sat up suddenly.
‘One thing I do remember,’ she said urgently.
‘Oh, what’s that?’ said Harry.
‘Harry, do you truly in your heart of hearts want to marry me?’ For some reason Josie knew she had to ask, even if she didn’t like the answer.
Harry sat up too, and took her hand. He looked deep into her eyes, and kissed her.
‘Josie, you have to know that I love you more than anything in the world. But I’m really sorry, I don’t want to marry you – at least, not yet. I think, if I’m honest, we’re rushing it.’
Josie took a deep breath.
‘I think you’re right,’ she said simply. ‘I got carried away with the ring and the big day. I’m sorry I’ve been such a nightmare about it. I didn’t mean to be.’
‘You were a bit,’ said Harry, kissing her, ‘but so long as I can still spend the rest of my life with you, I think I can forgive you.’
‘So we are going to be together for ever?’ said Josie, laughing.
‘Most definitely,’ said Harry. ‘I couldn’t imagine anyone else I’d rather be with.’
‘Not even Diana?’ said Josie.
‘Especially not Diana,’ he said kissing her on the lips.
‘Come on,’ said Josie, ‘let’s go home.’
Harry and Josie were coming down the path past the theatre, when they met Freddie and Bron.
‘So how do you both feel?’ said Freddie who looked unaccountably nervous.
‘Great,’ said Harry. ‘I’m not sure if your hypnotism worked. Josie and I have been asleep all night.’
‘Although I have been having some very weird dreams,’ said Josie, ‘and I can’t work out how Harry’s shirt got ripped, or he got that bruise on his cheek.’
‘Maybe you elbowed him in your sleep,’ said Bron.
‘I’m sorry if we haven’t given you any material to use,’ said Harry.
‘Oh, we got more than enough …’ began Freddie, before Bron put in, ‘I think we’ll have to junk a lot of it, though. The quality wasn’t that great.’
‘Sorry it didn’t work,’ said Harry.
‘Oh, I’m not sure about that,’ said Freddie with a smile, looking past them. Harry and Josie turned round and to their astonishment, Diana and Ant were walking down the path wreathed in smiles, holding hands.
‘What?’ Harry and Josie both stood staring in disbelief.
‘Guess what?’ said Ant. ‘The hypnotism worked. We’ve just plighted our troth to each other.’
‘See, I told you,’ said Freddie, smugly, ‘I am the best.’
‘Go on then,’ said Ant, handing over twenty quid. ‘Here’s your money. You deserve it, mate.’
‘You – really?’ said Harry, gobsmacked. That was the last thing he’d been expecting. He was overcome with the urge to give his friend a huge bear hug. ‘Well done, mate,’ he said. ‘What happened to your nose?’
‘Don’t know,’ said Ant. ‘I must have walked into one of those Stones in the dark. I’ve been having some very weird dreams.’
‘So that’s what I think I can call a success,’ said Freddie. ‘What about you two? Have you renewed your engagement?’
‘Not exactly,’ said Harry. ‘We’ve decided to put off the wedding and go travelling for a bit. That is, as long as we still get our fee?’
Freddie was about to protest, but Bron nudged him, and he mumbled, ‘Of course.’
‘You two, travelling? Wow,’ said Diana. ‘That’s amazing. Good luck with telling Josie’s mum.’
‘She can keep her hat for your wedding,’ joshed Josie. ‘I’m sure I can talk her round.’
‘I do hope so,’ said Harry, ‘because I don’t fan
cy having to kidnap you before our trip. Come on, let’s go home, it’s time to face the music.’
‘Thanks,’ said Diana to Freddie as they left. ‘You’ve changed our lives for the better.’
Freddie bowed.
‘Well, I’m glad to have been of service,’ he said. ‘I think the programme might need some fine tuning, but we can meet in the pub later and talk it all through.’
‘What about you, Bron?’ said Diana. ‘What are you going to do?’ She had a funny feeling she owed him a great deal.
He nodded in the direction of the theatre.
‘Tati’s asleep in there. But when she wakes up, I’m going to do something I should have done a very long time ago.’
‘Best of luck,’ said Di, and she kissed him on the cheek. ‘I don’t know why, but I think you deserve it.’
They set off down the path to Josie’s house.
‘I’m so happy for you, Di,’ said Josie, giving her a hug.
Diana felt emotional as she hugged her friend back.
‘Are you sure you’re okay about not marrying Harry?’ she said.
‘Fine,’ said Josie, ‘we’re going to have so many adventures together. I can’t wait.’
‘I could eat a horse,’ said Ant, ‘I can’t believe how hungry I am.’
‘I ache all over,’ said Josie. ‘It’s strange but I feel like I’ve been running a lot. Which is weird, because I’m sure Harry and I spent the whole night on the beach.’
‘That’s funny,’ said Diana. ‘My calves are really aching too.’
‘And I’ve got bruises everywhere,’ said Ant.
‘Harry, I’ve only just noticed,’ said Josie, ‘your shirt’s ripped. How did that happen?’
Diana had a sudden flashback to running around in the dark, trying to look for someone.
‘You don’t suppose …’ she said slowly.
‘What?’ asked Ant.
Midsummer Magic Page 26
