I groaned and looked to the sky, asking for strength. “I’ve told them before, people our age don’t kiss and tell.”
Isabelle clapped her hands. “Wait until I tell Dad he lost the bet.” Within seconds she was on her phone. She had better be texting only her father and not the farm group chat. I pulled my phone out; nothing came up on the screen. Thank God.
Dan’s brow furrowed. “What bet?”
“How long it would take for you two to be married.”
“We’re not married,” I said, forcing my voice to be insistent rather than amused. That kid had a wild imagination. They all did.
Isabelle grinned. “Dad said you can’t be married because Dan didn’t ask him for Nan’s hand.”
I let out a sigh. “You tell your dad…” I didn’t bother finishing the sentence because I could see him walking up the road with Callum. Just like Isabelle looked like her mother, Callum resembled his father with his wavy brown hair and everlasting smile. Sometimes living five minutes away from them was detrimental to my sanity.
“Callum,” Isabelle called out. “I’ve earnt some money to put back into our car fund.”
The car fund they’d used to parent-trap Ciaron and Taylor during their separation.
“How much?” he asked.
“Two weeks’ pay.”
His brow furrowed so hard I thought it might collapse. He looked between Dan and me and screwed up his face. “They did that much kissing?”
Ciaron regarded us and smirked. “Aye, they did.”
Oh my God. This was not happening. I glanced up at Dan who had a bemused look on his face. I forgot that he was used to their antics. He’d been around us for so long nothing would shock him.
When Ciaron came up beside Taylor, I said, “Dan doesn’t need your permission to marry me.”
“According to Isabelle you’re already married.”
“If I agree, will you all go away?”
They grumbled amongst each other, shook their heads, didn’t come to any agreement.
Dan squeezed my hand. I glanced at him. His gentle smile was only for me as he leant down and whispered, “I think eloping is our best option.”
“When?”
He chuckled. “Six months, tops. When Curtis is fully in charge of the hospital.”
“Deal.” I turned to Taylor and Isabelle. “If you’re finished, we’d like to go inside now.”
“I’m sure you would.” Taylor waggled her eyebrows. “I sure do hope you used a condom.”
Isabelle threw her hands in the air and walked to her car. “I’m out. I don’t need to know about it. STDs in nursing homes was bad enough.”
“What?” Callum said as he hopped into her car.
Taylor and Ciaron soon followed suit, and Dan and I stood watching them drive away.
Within seconds I got a text from Taylor:Dan needs to askmefor your hand in marriage, not Ciaron.
And another:And the answer will be yes.
And:I haven’t seen you this happy for a long time <3
Dan was watching every message come through and was grinning like his horse had won the Grand National.
