Chapter27
Jenny
You’re blocking my view.” Rosie pushed Jamie to one side and knelt on the window seat next to Hayley. “Can you see anything?”
“Not really.” Hayley squinted. “They’re just standing there. They look as if they’re talking.”
“Talking? Well, who stands outside in below freezing temperatures to conduct a conversation?” Phyllis peered between Hayley and Rosie. “I can’t see anything. My eyes aren’t good enough. Martin, don’t you own binoculars?”
“I do.”
“Good. Then perhaps you could fetch them.”
“I will not fetch them. And I feel obliged to point out that the entire family pressing their noses to the window watching their every move constitutes a gross invasion of privacy.”
Jenny sighed, feeling an equal measure of guilt and hope. “You’re right, of course, in normal circumstances—”
“But these are not normal circumstances,” her mother finished for her. “Don’t be a killjoy, Martin. We’re looking out for her, that’s all.”
“You are not looking out for her, you’re lookingather. It’s different.”
“They’re kissing,” Rosie said, almost bouncing on the seat. “And he’s giving her something. Dad,pleaseget the binoculars.”
“I will not.”
“What is going on in here?”
Jenny turned her head and saw her father standing in the doorway, a sheaf of papers in his hand and a bemused expression on his face.
“They’re watching Becky and Will on the beach,” Martin said, shaking his head as he joined his father-in-law. “Are those the new pages you printed out?”
“Yes. All updated and ready for you to take a look.” Brian gazed at the crowd by the window. “What exactly are they hoping to see?”
“I’ve no idea. I’m assuming they’re tired of watching Christmas movies.”
“Who wants a movie when you can watch a romance unfolding in real life. He’s given her something!” Rosie clutched Hayley’s shoulder. “Did you see that?”
“Yes!”
“Could it be a ring?”
“I don’t know. They’re too far away for me to get a proper look.”
Jenny decided she really ought to be the adult in the room and intervene. “Really, whatever is going on, it’s between Will and Becky.”
“Yes,” Martin said. “Don’t involve poor Hayley in your family meddling.”
“Hayley’s part of the family now,” Rosie said, “she’s part of everything we do. Including meddling.”
Martin opened his mouth to protest but then saw Hayley clap her hands.
“Itisa ring! Look at the way she’d staring down at herhand. It’s a ring!” She and Rosie hugged each other and Jenny felt something unravel inside her as she watched them laughing together.
She glanced at Martin, who gave a slow, despairing shake of his head. But he was also smiling.
“If meddling is part of the job description for joining this family, it looks as if Hayley is going to fit right in.” He took Jenny’s hand. “Looks as if you were wrong this time.”
Jenny was sure she hadn’t been wrong. Will had stepped in to help Becky, she was convinced of it. But she didn’t need to share that thought with anyone. It didn’t matter how they’d reached this point. She was just glad that they had.
