‘We’ve been together for twenty years. It will come as a surprise.’
Abi cleaned her glasses.
‘Sir, it would be an honour to make your engagement ring. But you’ll need to do some detective work. You’re going to have to measure his finger with string when he sleeps.’
Danny turned to Sophie.
‘Is this what Harry did?’
Sophie shook her head.
‘He asked one of my girlfriends.’
Abi consoled Danny.
‘I know how you’re feeling right now, like you’re tiptoeing through these traditions as if you were an intruder in someone else’s house. But you are not an imposter.’
Abi stood up.
‘I’m going to brew some coffee. We’re going to smoke a joint. And then we’re going to talk precious metals and gemstones. Afterwards, I’m going to make you a ring worthy of a twenty-year relationship. And I swear to God, Gollum will be chasing you down the street for it. How does that sound?’
Danny opted for a seven-millimetre-wide ring. Nine millimetres felt like conforming to some unspoken notion that a man’s engagement ring should be broad. As for gemstones Abi described how a diamond could be cut flat and flush-set into the band like a floor tile. When Danny saw examples of diamonds cut this way the appearance reminded him of the magic rings a sorcerer might wear and his greatest fear was that any part of this marriage should be mocked as a gaudy pastiche. Keen on the symbolism of the world’s most durable precious metal, Danny chose platinum for the ring itself which was more expensive and less ostentatious than gold. He then worried that the ring seemed plain. Abi floated the idea of shaping the platinum so it would look like the gnarled roots of an ancient tree. It would be a difficult task requiring additional labour. The final cost was four months’ salary, wiping out most of Danny’s savings. What was he saving for anyway? He bought his clothes second-hand and the mortgage was almost paid off. The ring would be readyin time for the August Bank Holiday – the weekend he planned to propose.
Afterwards Danny treated Sophie to lunch at a tiny French restaurant on Lexington Street with antique tables, wooden banquettes and vases of snapdragons. The summer set menu was radish leaf soup, followed by morel mushrooms served on rye toast, finished with a lemon and polenta cake. Emboldened by a carafe of house white wine Danny asked, ‘Why did you disappear after we graduated? You didn’t tell me about Harry until you were engaged.’
Sophie turned towards the window, watching the passers-by before answering, ‘Because no one I dated was ever good enough for you. Whenever I met someone, you would find fault with them. Not in a mean way, you were being protective. But the trick when you’re dating is to discover if the great stuff outweighs the stuff that’s not so great and to do that you need to give people a chance.’
Danny apologized.
‘I’m sorry, Sophie. I had no idea. Maybe I was trying to be funny or trying to impress you. It was university. We were young, stupid and high most of the time.’
Sophie countered, ‘One of the reasons people go to university is to find the person they’re going to spend the rest of their life with. We didn’t realize it because we were messing about so much. We wasted our chance.’
Danny asked, ‘On each other?’
Sophie took his hand.
‘We were never going to get married, were we?’
Danny ventured, ‘Was I jealous?’
Sophie shook her head.
‘You were afraid of being alone.’
Danny sat back in his chair, recalling those days at university. The conclusion hit him hard. He could critique a relationship, but he couldn’t create one. Sad at the memory of that lost and lonely young man, he asked, ‘Would you have told me any of this if I wasn’t getting married?’
She pushed back, ‘Would you have asked?’
There was silence for a time. Sophie sipped her wine, before matching his boldness with a frank observation of her own.
‘When you told me you were going to propose to Luis, I admit I was surprised. After today I understand a little better what this wedding might be for you.’
Treading carefully, Sophie continued, ‘It’s an opportunity. To ask the questions you never asked. Of me. Of yourself. With the biggest question of all being to Luis. Will you marry me?’
Danny knotted his fingers together.
‘I want the world to know that we’re more than just two people living together who split the bills and share the chores.’
