Cammy
Nothing was going to plan.
For a start, he got there first, which – on the positive side – gave him enough time to sort out the ring. Neil, the manager, was nowhere to be seen so he gave it to the waiter who came to take his drinks order and introduced himself as Jude. ‘Can you give this to Neil please? I’m proposing to my girlfriend tonight and Neil has it covered. The ring is to be brought out with dessert.’
‘No problem at all,’ Jude said, slipping it in his pocket and going off to get the requested bottle of bubbly. Not Cammy’s drink of choice, but this was Lila’s night. He’d stick to water until the deed was done. Slurring out a half-assed proposal probably wasn’t the best way to seal the deal.
As he watched Jude depart, he did have a moment of hesitation. He’d just given over the most important component of tonight’s events to a guy who didn’t look old enough to legally marry let alone to oversee another person’s proposal. Enough. He was just panicking, of course it would all be fine.
It would.
His phone buzzed with an incoming text, and he checked it anxiously, worried that Lila was cancelling.
It was Josie.
Not too late to change your mind. We’re here for you. Can storm building and have you out of there in seconds.
His reply was succinct.
Go away.
At least keep us regularly updated? We’re old, could die at any minute.
I’m switching my phone off.
Smiling, he flicked the handset to silent and put it back in his pocket.
Josie and Val coming tearing in here would be a nightmare.
He had plenty of time to ruminate over that, and at least a dozen other disaster scenarios in the twenty minutes he spent sitting on his own before Lila’s mum and dad came in. They were late, but at least they were there.
Okay, this was progress. Although, he would feel easier if Lila was here too.
He tried to engage as they chatted away about the round of golf they’d played that afternoon, but he’d be lying if he said he wasn’t distracted. So much for the French bloody football team being at the other end of the restaurant. He’d thought they’d be right up the back on the raised area, separate from the rest of the diners, but no – they were smack bang in the middle and just a few feet away from their table.
Great.
It did somewhat blow the romantic ambience. He could see Neil, the manager, floating around in the room, but, probablywisely, he avoided coming within shouting distance of Cammy. Instead, he gave him a thumbs up from a distance, and then pretended to ignore Cammy’s glare of annoyance. He’d be making sure he recommended trousers that were way too tight next time he was in the shop.
Lila’s parents were still talking. Sometimes, he thought they were a strange couple. Lila’s mum, Louise, looked just like her daughter, even shared her mannerisms, her voice, her opinions. They said if you wanted to know what your wife would be like in twenty years’ time, look at her mother. Going with that theory, Lila wouldn’t change much at all. Her dad though – Cammy had never quite clicked with him. Apparently he’d worked away most of Lila’s life, and that would probably explain why he always seemed a little… detached? Once or twice, it had actually jarred with him to see how much Lila sought to get his attention, his approval even. That said, he was a nice enough bloke, good company, and Cammy knew he had to stay most definitely on his good side if he wanted to marry his daughter.
A thought struck him. Shit, should he have asked him first? He should have.
It wasn’t too late. Lila wasn’t here yet – now was his chance.
‘Jack, Louise, you know I love your daughter very much…’
Crap, he’d gone with an adaptation of the corny line and now Louise was frozen, her glass halfway to her mouth.
‘We do,’ Jack replied, a shade of anticipation in his voice.
‘Well, I’d like to ask her to marry me and I’d like your blessing.’ There. That was okay, wasn’t it?
Louise gasped, yelped, then threw her arms around him. He took that as a blessing delivered. Jack, on the other hand, merely nodded, as if he’d been asked if it was Friday or if he’d like a sauce with his steak.
After a pause, he seemed to muster up the right words, even if they weren’t exactly delivered with overwhelming enthusiasm. ‘That’s fine with us, Cammy. Welcome to the family.’ He shook his hand, and Cammy marvelled again at how cool he was, unruffled, like he was dealing with a situation that really didn’t matter too much at all. Cammy decided never to play him at cards – that kind of poker face would be unbeatable.
‘When are you going to ask her?’ Louise chirped, unable to keep the beaming smile off her face or the pure excitement out of her voice.
