‘Will you be wearing the tutu?’ she asked.
‘Only if you want me to,’ he said with a grin.
‘I think perhaps we can lose that.’
‘Is that a yes to going on a date?’ he asked, seeming unsure.
‘It is.’
‘That’s good, because otherwise I’d feel like a fool when you saw the other side of the plate.’
Ros picked it up, turned it over and wiped off the remaining foam. Underneath it said –Ros Foster, I love you, signed Cameron DeFelice.
‘I know you like things to be official,’ he said. ‘Can I kiss you?’
Ros didn’t have to do a risk assessment for that one. ‘Definitely.’
He leaned across the table and their lips met. The restaurant diners burst into applause. When they pulled apart, Ros was distracted by someone tapping on the glass window behind them. There was Darla and Barry both giving her the thumbs up, while Gazza pawed at the glass in a desperate attempt to get to Cameron.
‘I’m guessing you had help with this,’ she said.
‘Yeah, just a bit,’ said Cameron as he waved them away and went in for another kiss.
Epilogue
One week later
The smell of the barbecue was filling the air at The Brambles and Darla was on tenterhooks waiting for her parents to arrive. It was a warm sunny day with enough breeze to ruffle the leaves in the trees and to make the goats slightly skittish. They loved their new activity centre; there was usually at least one of them on it unless there was food about, then that always took priority.
It was a little gathering of the friends Darla had amassed since she’d moved to Southampton and even she was quite surprised with how many people she knew and could now call her friends. There were lots of people from both her jobs, plus Ros, who was more like family now, so she’d invited her mum, dad and Gazza too. Gazza was busy tailing Elliott, like a little furry bodyguard, as he ferried food from the kitchen. Darla watched Elliott carrying the tray of meat. His muscles were showing nicely under his polo shirt. He was such a lovely man and she was so lucky to have him in her life.
If she could just explain everything to her parents without them wanting to disown her then it would all be perfect. Darla had set up the grill at the side of the house and now the charcoal was lit there were plumes of smoke coming off it and straight into Elliott’s face.
‘It’s a bit windy here so I’m going to move around to the back of the house,’ said Elliott.
‘No, you can’t,’ said Darla. ‘I’ve done kebabs.’
Elliott looked confused. ‘There’s space for everything.’
She pulled him a bit further around the side of the house. ‘They’rechickenkebabs,’ she whispered with a theatrical nod towards the back of the property.
Elliott grinned as realisation struck. ‘You’re worried about upsetting the hens?’
‘I’d be a bit traumatised if you slapped a human toe on there.’
‘I think everyone would be disturbed by that. Including the chickens,’ said Elliott. ‘Okay, how about I turn the barbecue so the smoke blows in the other direction?’
‘Great solution,’ she said, giving him a kiss. They were interrupted by the sound of car wheels on gravel and her stomach felt like it was full of stones.
Ros appeared. ‘I’ll keep an eye on everything here while you speak to them,’ she said, giving Darla a much-needed hug. ‘You’ve got this. And I’ve got you,’ she added.
Darla swallowed hard. ‘Thanks.’ She turned around, slapped on a smile and went to face the reckoning.
***
Ros went on tiptoes to look over the wall and watch Darla greet her parents who seemed impressed by the faded grandeur of The Brambles. She wished she could do more to help but this was something Darla had to do alone. All she could do was be there to support her whatever the outcome. She was fast learning that was what friends were for, and what an important lifeline they were. She felt familiar hands slide around her waist as Cameron hugged her from behind, his hair and then his face appearing at her shoulder. ‘Has the firing squad arrived?’ he asked.
‘Don’t say that! I hope she’s okay. And them too to be fair. It’ll be a bit of a shock. They think she’s been sailing the seven seas trying exotic cuisine when she’s been here living off discounted food from the 7-Eleven.’
