‘Thanks, Bridget.’ She hugged her again. ‘I really appreciate it.’
‘Not at all.’ Bridget patted her back. ‘I can’t believe Cal and I are going to be grandparents!’ She beamed. Then she hesitated, biting her lip. ‘I mean, I hope you’ll want us to be.’
‘Of course I do.’ Sive frowned, puzzled Bridget could think otherwise. ‘You’re the only shot at having grandparents this child is going to have.’
‘I just wasn’t sure … we feel bad about the way things happened with Ben,’ Bridget said in a hushed voice.
‘Well, I’d love you to be involved, as much as you want to be.’
‘Be careful what you wish for,’ Bridget said with a mischievous smile. ‘Anyway, Ben’s in the living room.’ She waved to the door. ‘Go on in.’
‘Your mother didn’t kill you, then?’ Sive said to Ben as she entered. He was sitting on the sofa.
‘No.’ He smiled sheepishly. ‘She’s trying not to let on to me, but she’s secretly over the moon.’
This time Sive sat beside him on the sofa. ‘Why didn’t you just call over to my house instead of summoning me here? Scared of Mimi?’
Ben gave a crooked smile. ‘Of course I’m scared of Mimi. What man in his right mind wouldn’t be?’
‘That’s fair. How did the stag go? You’re back early.’
‘Yeah, well, this seemed more important. It was good, though.’ He fell silent and seemed awkward, fidgeting and shifting in his seat.
‘So … what are you thinking?’ she prompted him. Having called her over here to talk, he didn’t seem inclined to say anything.
He turned so he was facing her and cleared his throat. ‘I’ve been thinking and…’ He broke off, blushing.
‘Yes?’
‘Um … do you want to get married?’
Sive was speechless, her mouth flapping open and shut like a grounded fish. She had not expected that. Was he actually serious? She studied his face, that had broken out in a riot of discomfort as vivid as a rash. She waited to see if there was more – would Ben produce a ring from his pocket maybe? But no. Apparently, that was the entire proposal, if you could call it that.
‘Do you?’ She frowned. Not that she really needed to ask – the pained look on his face was almost comical.
Ben shrugged. ‘I mean … I don’t know. Maybe it’s the right thing to do?’
‘Right for who?’ It certainly didn’t feel right for her. And it didn’t look like it was right for Ben either. ‘What about …’ She tried to remember Anna Purna’s real name. ‘Your girlfriend?’ she finished.
‘We’d split up, obviously.’
‘Well, if you married me, I should certainly hope so.’ This conversation was taking on a surreal aspect. She felt like she was in some sixteenth century farce. ‘You haven’t split up with her already?’
‘Well, no. I mean, I didn’t know…’
Sive felt laughter bubbling up inside her. This was beyond ridiculous. She decided to have some fun with it and punish Ben a little for being such a prize idiot.
‘You really mean it?’ she asked, making her eyes wide and excited.
Ben shrugged. ‘If you want.’
Well, it wasn’t the most romantic proposal she could hope for.
‘Oh wow! Yes!’ she squealed, beaming at Ben. She struggled to stop herself laughing as he tried and failed to disguise the shock and horror that played across his features. ‘Yes!’ she cried, larding it on. ‘A thousand times yes!’ She threw her arms around him, burying her giggles in his shoulder.
‘Oh, really?’ Ben mumbled as she pulled back.
‘Yes! Of course I’ll marry you, Ben. What girl could resist such a proposal?’
