“Ladies, can we give it a rest?” Thomas nodded toward the royal party. “Les, we know you scooped the prince. Bravo, good for you, and well done. We have other things to talk about tonight.”
With that, he scooted off the bench and stood, his smile a bit wobbly. “Daffodil Daisy Caron—”
“Your middle name is Daisy?” This from Jones. “Were your parents into gardening when you came along?”
“Mum was delirious on pain meds.” Ella supplied the explanation as if she’d been present at her older sister’s birth. “Dad stepped out for some lunch when the nurse arrived with the birth certificate. By the time he returned, the deed was done.”
“Lads, ladies, please…a moment?” Thomas brushed his hand down the side of his trousers. Perspiration dotted his high, smooth brow. What was he up to? “Daffodil Daisy Caron—” He pointed at Jones with a narrowed gaze. “Not a word.” Then he removed something from his pocket. Slowly he lowered to one knee. “Will you marry me?”
“W-what?” She sat back as a cavernous hole seemed to open up in the pub and swallow all the lights and sounds.
“Love, will you marry me?” Thomas opened the ring box to reveal a beautiful, round solitaire. His voice echoed as if calling to her from the other side of a chasm.Marrryyyy…meeee.
A hand gripped her arm. Rick’s voice broke through. “Mate, what are you doing?”
“Daffy?” Thomas lifted the ring higher, his gaze locked on her face. “Will you?”
“Thomas, um…” She closed her eyes, trying to focus as her brief response clung to her dry lips. “I mean, w-what are you…You want to marry me?”
They’d barely declared any sort of love let alone a life partnership. And a public proposal was so unlike him. Daffy twisted her fingers together and leaned toward him, lowering her voice to gain a sense of privacy. “Thomas…are you sure? We’ve not talked about—”
“Yes, I’m very sure.”
Very sure? “We’ve never talked much about marriage.”
“Well, I love you. I think you love me. We’re good together, don’t you think?” The perspiration beads on his brow multiplied.
Slowly the cavernous space closed, and she became aware of their friends watching and waiting, heard the song from the stage and clanking pints.
“I-um, wow, darling, goodness.” She smiled, supposing her relationship with Thomas had been leading up to this moment. But of all the ways to get a proposal, this was not what she had in mind. “You’re sure? How long have you been planning this?”
“When you went on holiday I realized how much you meant to me. How we could build a life together.” He covered her hands with his. “What do you say?”
“I guess I say yes. Sure. Why not? I’ll marry you.”
With that, Thomas took her trembling hand and slipped on the ring. When he looked up, he drew her in for a kiss.
“Wait, wait!” Elizabeth “Blinky” Cox dashed through the pub, twisting and squeezing between patrons and tables. “Did I miss it? Did I miss it?”
She landed at their table like a 747, dropping the suitcase she used for a handbag in the middle, knocking over an empty pint.
“Oh my word! Thomas asked you already. Daff, you said yes. Of course you did. Isn’t the ring gorgeous? Let me see. Tell me everything. How’d you propose, Thomas? Move over, Jones.” When he scooted back from the table, Blinky plopped down in his lap. “Someone order me a pint. Daffy, go. Tell me everything.”
The vivacious chestnut blonde with bright red lips and blue eye shadow reclined against Jones, who rolled his eyes and complained she’d gained another stone or two, even as he settled his hand comfortably about her waist.
Thomas returned to his seat next to Daffy, brushed the pub floor grime from his slacks, and recounted his simple proposal.
“And she said yes?” Blinky reached for Daffy’s hand. “I knew it would fit. Well done.” Blinky stood and faced the pub. “Couple over here engaged, everyone!”
The patrons cheered, and someone ordered the table a round. Caught up in it all, Thomas jumped up with his arms overhead. “I’m engaged! She said yes!” He dragged Daffy to her feet and together they stood on the booth seat.
Daffy smiled as the voices raised in a triple “Hip, hip, hurray.” Then the singer began a soft rendition of “You Are So Beautiful.”Thomas helped Daffy down and held in her in a slow, romantic sway, his legs bumping the chair behind him.
So this was it. Love. Her story. Her prince. The next chapter ofMy Life with the Princeby Daffodil Caron began with a new hero.
“Are you happy?” he whispered when the attention dialed down. His warm breath tickled her ear.
“Surprised. And yes, happy.”
