‘Don’t know, but whatever it is, it’s put Dad in a good mood. Good thing, too, after all the money me and Mum spent this morning. You should see my new outfit.’
‘Come in here, you two,’ Stu shouted. ‘I’ve got some good news, for a change.’
* * *
Brad tried several times to propose to Gina, but somehow he couldn’t get the words out. In the end he decided that actions speak louder than words and took her out on the afternoon of Bridie’s special dinner.
‘I really ought to be doing my hair and getting ready,’ she protested.
‘You’re missing one accessory.’
‘What?’
‘You’ll find out.’
They walked into town and he stopped in front of a jeweller’s shop. Taking a deep breath, he clasped both her hands and pulled her closer to him. ‘I’m hoping you’ll let me buy you an engagement ring.’
People pushed past them, muttering that they were blocking the pavement. Gina stared at him, then someone said loudly, ‘Excuse me, please!’ and poked her in the ribs. Moving into the shop’s entrance she asked with a smile, ‘Couldn’t you think of anywhere more romantic for a proposal, Brad?’
He went pink. ‘I’ve been trying to do it all week, couldn’t get up the courage. What if you’d turned me down?’
‘You fool. You must have known I wouldn’t do that.’
‘I couldn’t be sure.’ He waited. ‘Well, will you? Marry me, I mean, and let me buy you a ring?’
‘Oh, yes. Yes to both.’
She surfaced from a passionate kiss to see people standing staring at them, some in amusement, some with disapproving expressions.
‘She’s just agreed to marry me!’ Brad announced.
There was a smattering of applause, followed by a few good wishes, then the crowd dispersed and he led her into the shop, his neck bright red with embarrassment.
It took her several minutes to stop chuckling, then she chose a beautiful ruby engagement ring, saying quietly, ‘Not a diamond this time.’
He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it.
The assistant had to clear his throat twice before they realized where they were and stopped kissing.
* * *
Peggy twisted to and fro in front of the mirror. ‘Are you sure this dress is all right?’
Cheryl nodded.
‘They told me they can help your father, you know.’ Peggy had said this several times, but it hadn’t cheered her daughter up.
‘But it won’t be the same. You won’t be married to him. How will he ever cope on his own?’
‘The way the rest of us do. By using his own hands, not expecting someone else to give up their life to act as his slave,’ Peggy said quietly.
‘Can’t you try living with him – after he’s been treated, I mean?’
‘No, dear. I told you that yesterday and I don’t want to keep having this argument. I have a lot of wasted years to make up for. Now, are you ready? Your uncle Jake will be here for us in a minute.’
‘I don’t know why you want me there tonight. It’s not as if I get on with the rest of the family. And I don’t know these other people.’
‘It’s about time you tried to get on with the family. And you certainly ought to meet your new aunt. She’s come all the way from Australia to see us.’
Cheryl gave an aggrieved sigh and Peggy mentally threw her daughter’s remarks into an imaginary waste paper bin, a tactic Gillah had taught her and one she’d found very useful during several recent encounters with her daughter.
‘That dress must have cost you a fortune,’ Cheryl said.
‘Jake bought it for me. I still have to get access to my own money. You look very – smart.’ Sharp would be another word for it, Peggy decided, more suited to a business meeting than a family gathering. But at least Cheryl had agreed to come with her.
To her relief she heard a car draw up and led the way to the door. She was going to buy herself a flat with her share of the money from this house. Gillah said the rest would be kept in trust for Hartley. So the sooner Peggy could sell the house the better, as far as she was concerned. She’d would never be able to feel easy here again. But she couldn’t impose on Jake any longer, so she’d moved back to her home.
They said Hartley would need to go into sheltered housing after he left hospital, because he’d had another stroke, a bigger one this time, that had left one hand completely useless. She didn’t envy anyone who had to look after him and whatever Cheryl said, she didn’t intend to see him again, if she could help it. She still had nightmares about the way he’d treated that poor girl.
* * *
Bridie was waiting for her guests at the hotel, looking elegant in a powder blue beaded dress. It was one of those classically elegant, slender, mid-calf evening dresses that never date and it went well with her silver hair and softly pink complexion.
The dinner was superb, consisting of several courses to which everyone did justice, especially Casey. With much laughter and joy, they shared their week’s news, the engagement ring was admired and toasts were drunk.
When it got near midnight, people were yawning, but everyone was reluctant to end the evening. Bridie tapped a spoon on her wine glass to get their attention. ‘I have a little surprise for you before you’re allowed to go to bed, but we’ll have to go up to my room to see it.’
In her sitting room Jake went across to the computer, which stood on a desk at one side and switched it on.
‘Sit down everyone,’ Bridie ordered. ‘This’ll take a minute or two.’
Casey went to hover near Jake and a whispered consultation was held between the two of them when something didn’t work as it should have done.
Eventually, however, they smiled at one another and stood back. On the screen another group of people was smiling out at them.
Gina gasped and clutched Brad’s hand tightly as she saw her daughters and their families, as well as Lou and Rick.
‘Surprise!’ the Australian contingent chorused.
Everyone tried to speak at once, so Jake shushed the English group and Lou shushed the Australian group.
Gina brought Brad forward and introduced him, took a deep breath then held out her hand. ‘We’re engaged.’
‘Mum! You didn’t!’
Lexie jabbed an elbow in her sister’s side before Mel could say anything that would spoil the moment. ‘Congratulations, Mum. When are you bringing him back to meet us properly?’
‘We’ve not decided yet. We want to do some sightseeing in Europe first.’
Lou came closer to the webcam to wiggle her hand at them. ‘You’re not the only one to get engaged, Auntie Gina.’
‘Oh, how wonderful! I’m so glad for you.’
Half an hour later Bridie said, ‘Mel, you need to rest now and so do I.’
* * *
When Brad and Gina got back to their hotel room, she blinked furiously and whispered, ‘Hold me please.’
‘What’s wrong?’
‘It made me homesick, seeing my daughters and grandchildren. I do miss them.’
‘We can go back any time you like.’
‘What, and not have any adventures?’
‘Your happiness is the most important thing to me. Our being together is the most exciting thing as far as I’m concerned.’
‘Then how about we have a small adventure this year, then when I’ve seen Mel safely delivered of that baby, we can go off and have another adventure or two?’
‘Sounds good to me. And tomorrow we’ll phone my children and give them the news that I’m engaged.’
She nestled against him and gave a happy sigh. ‘Who’d have thought that tracing my family connections would bring me so much love?’
He felt something wet against his hand. ‘You’re not crying?’
‘Just happy tears.’ Very happy tears.
First published in the United Kingdom in 2007 by Severn House Publishers Ltd
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Copyright © Anna Jacobs, 2007
The moral right of Anna Jacobs to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781788634311
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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Family Connections Page 30