‘Things are looking a lot healthier, yes. We’re hoping the boost in revenue will allow us to resume our financial support to international conservation efforts, and we’re also putting in place a proper schools education programme, which will kick off next year.’
‘Aww, that’s great. I’m pleased that things have worked out for you. It’s a fab place and the location is great too. The air is so fresh here.’ Luna breathes in deeply as if to illustrate her point.
‘You should both come up again and see it in the winter,’ I suggest. ‘It’s so pretty with all the lights and the festive decorations. We did a Christmas market at the end of last year and it was a sell-out. Amelia had hoped to come up for a visit and see it, but she caught a bad flu and had to cancel.’
‘I’m sure we can manage that.’
‘Maybe we could do it all together?’ I look round the rest of our group at Nick, Seth and Alison. ‘Another get-together here at Christmas?’
‘Oh, yes, please,’ says Alison. ‘I can’t get enough of our family and friends discount.’
My gaze shifts to Seth, who hasn’t said anything, and he gives me the nod I’ve been waiting for. I know why he’s not engaged in this conversation. He has bigger things on his mind. Getting up from my seat, I hold his wheelchair steady while he pulls himself into a standing position.
As soon as Seth’s steady on his feet, I step far enough away to give him the space he needs for this moment, but stay close enough to follow through on my obligations. He turns to Alison, who appears confused.
‘Alison, you bounded into my life… at a time when I most needed to be… surrounded by positivity,’ he says, his speech now far improved, but laced with nerves. ‘And within hours of meeting you, I knew you were… someone really special. You saw me, not someone who’d had a stroke. You saw a man who… just wanted to be loved and be in love, without judgement or question.’
Alison’s face is a perfect picture of surprise and emotion as Seth nods at me again, and I step forward to help him get down on one knee. It’s not the easiest manoeuvre, but we’ve practiced it and seen it through with only minor wobbles. Seth then pulls a ring box out of his pocket and expertly opens it with his good hand.
‘I know we’ve only been together for a short time,’ he continues, ‘but I’ve come to appreciate that life can change in an instant… and that I should grab opportunities when they arise, rather than wait. I also know some would think it too fast, but for me… when you find someone as incredible as you, you make sure you never let them go. Will you make me the happiest guy in the world… by agreeing to marry me?’
We all hold our breath while we wait for Alison to answer. She, in the meantime, is trying – and failing – to hold back the big fat tears that are escaping down her cheeks.
‘Oh Seth, of course I’ll marry you.’ She lets out an enormous sob-cum-laugh and drops to her knees, allowing Seth to slip the sparkling diamond ring on her finger. She then kisses him so hard she almost knocks him over.
Nick, Amelia, Luna and I (and the people around us, who have obviously been watching this go down) burst into rapturous applause, then someone toasts ‘the happy couple’ and everyone follows suit.
‘So, you were in on this, you sneaky one.’ Nick slips his arm around me once we all sit back down, after lots of hugs and congratulations for Seth and Alison.
‘Yup.’ I puff myself up proudly. ‘He asked me to help him pick out the ring.’
‘Are you a little envious?’
I narrow my eyes with a sly smile. ‘Testing the water, are you?’
‘I can neither confirm nor deny. But let’s just say, after the experience I had marrying the wrong person first time round, I share your brother’s logic in not letting the right one get away.’
He leans in for a kiss and I melt into him, thrilled by what I’ve just heard, but also pleased that Seth got his moment first. After everything he’s been through, he more than deserves it. And I know that, for Nick and I right now, this park, the people we have in our lives and the wonderful animals – Rana especially – are more than enough.
