Peg sat down with a thump.
You look absolutely divine, said Evelyn.
Thanks, Evelyn, said Peg and she lit her cigarette. Look at them all looking at us, Temps.
Ulysses turned.
Peering out from Michele’s was the elderly contessa, Giulia, the priest, Clara the baker, Gloria Cardinale who sold haberdashery, and of course Signor Malfatti, holding a roundel of cheese. All wondering if Peg and Ulysses would become a couple again now that there was space.
But Peg and Ulysses knew their time had passed. Had known it since Cressy’s death, since they’d laid on the bed together and watched the swallows. Everything had changed then. That they’d brought each other safely to the other side was everything and everlasting.
You can’t blame people for wanting a happy ending, said Evelyn.
We are a happy ending, said Ulysses. Right, Peg?
Right, Tempy.
The blare of a taxi horn and Pete waving and calling across the square.
Peg stood up and brushed ash off her trousers. Gotta go, she said. You’ll both be there at the Excelsior later?
Wouldn’t miss it, said Evelyn.
What time you meeting Glen Mollan? said Ulysses.
In an hour. Quick coffee before the set.
Nervous?
A bit.
It’ll be fine, said Ulysses. And you look lovely, Peg.
And remember, said Evelyn. It’s only coffee. You don’t have to fall in love with the man.
Ha! said Peg. She’s funny.
A year later, Peg and Glen Mollan fell in love.
So, let me get this straight, said Des. Eddie was dead all this time. His best mate, Glen – in a serendipitous turn of events – met Peg at the Excelsior and now Peg and Glen are an item.
That’s about it, said Ulysses.
Des shook his head in disbelief. You couldn’t write it, could you?
It was All Souls’ Day, and the two men were up on Monte Ceceri, sitting next to a fine-looking sapling with a bunch of flowers propped up against its trunk.
Ulysses smiled. Pete says it’s got a twist of Cress all over it, he said.
Pete might be on to something, said Des. What’s this Glen bloke like, then?
Really nice. Met him a few times. He’s one of us, Des.
（Glen Mollan literally was. A curious mix of Col, Pete and Ulysses, said the elderly contessa – BUT with matinee idol looks, she added disparagingly.） That’s all I need to know, lad. That our Peg’s in good, safe, respectful hands.
That’s what we all want, Des.
Des pulled out a paper bag from his pocket and began to chuck sunflower seeds on the ground.
Claude’s not here, Des.
Is he not?
No. Giglio.
I just presumed he was with Cress.
We scattered him under the grapevine where he always sat. Pete said he’d seen more ash from a pack of twenty. But we were all there. Even Dotty came back.
With Helena?
No. With Penelope.
Jem’s mother?
The same.
Well I never, said Des. People have been busy.
Ulysses lit a cigarette. You like being a grandad, Des?
Hate it. When your kids marry, it opens up a whole ’nother gene pool. Lot of little bleeders, they are. Here, he said. Two words for you: hypo-allergenic. My plastic is revolutionising the medical world. Who knew England was so ill? You need any money yet?
No, I’m OK, but thanks.
Well, you let me know.
And as dusk whispered its intent, the men stood up and Des brushed leaves from his new red corduroy trousers. He said, Evelyn a hundred yet, lad?
Three years off. But she reckons she’s bowing out at ninety-nine. We’ll do a big party then. Doesn’t want a telegram from the Queen. Quite adamant about it actually, so she’s cutting it short.
Not a royalist, then?
I think she thinks a bottle of champagne is more in keeping. Or a knighthood.
Such a clear-eyed appraisal of life, said Des. What a woman! When I call it a day, I’m going to be in my Land Rover with Poppy by my side and I’m going to drive straight off a cliff.
Poppy know about this?
Not yet, said Des.
Best tell her.
Maybe you’re right.
1978 and abortion was finally made legal in Italy. A milestone in women’s bodies becoming their own. Alys was more circumspect; she called it a start. In London, Col stood at the front of a large crowd with Ginny and Mrs Kaur and watched the demolition of his pub. Mrs Kaur had helped him to surrender to a situation over which he had little control. Consequently, there was no acid reflux when the first wrecking ball struck. Great laughter, though, when the pub sign went flying and took out a councilman. Dickhead! shouted Col. Col bought a pub the other side of Kingsland Road, which he said was like Timbuktu to him. Mrs Kaur said he was being overly dramatic. Ginny said he was too. Devy agreed. Col bought a VW camper van and immersed himself in Seva – what he called selfless service for purely altruistic purposes for the betterment of the community. You giving away drinks, then, Col? wrote Ulysses. Ha bloody ha! Col wrote back. And after a business meeting in Milan, Glen Mollan travelled down to Florence and asked Peg to marry him.