“I didn’t actually tell her. How could I?” Ethan quickly polished off his own glass, then habitually raised his hand to his mouth to chew on his nail.
His friend gave him a sideways glance. “So you haven’t proposed yet?”
“No, how could I? What woman wants a proposal that ends in the man telling her he’s bloody gone and lost the ring?”
“Unbelievable.” Brian shook his head. “I know I wouldn’t have let it out of my sight for a second, let alone drop the bag on the street to help some stranger. You’re way too nice for your own good sometimes, my man.”
“Well, that’s the thing,” Ethan replied, explaining that the bag had actually been in Daisy’s care. “She’s blaming herself of course. But I reassured her that it wasn’t her fault. It’s not as though the stuff got mixed up intentionally.”
Brian looked sideways at him. “I take it she knew about the grand Christmas proposal plan then. How’d she take it?”
“Brilliantly actually. She didn’t know when it was happening until I picked up the ring in New York, but she was fine, really enthusiastic.”
“That’s great, Ethan. I’m glad Daisy’s okay with it. That kind of thing could have been a big milestone, especially when she’s so attached to you.”
And why wouldn’t she be, Ethan thought, when it had been just the two of them for so long?
“Is she still just as gung ho on the health stuff?”
He smiled sadly. “Afraid so. The other day, she brought home this leaflet she’d picked up somewhere about superfoods.” It broke Ethan’s heart to see that most of the items listed were being lauded for their cancer-fighting abilities. “And she’s doing her utmost to try and make me take up jogging as a New Year’s resolution,” he told Brian. “Says it’ll help keep my stress levels down.”
Another reason why he was still at pains to reassure his daughter that the mix-up with the bags wasn’t her fault and that he’d be able to get the ring back with minimum hassle.
The problem was he didn’t yet know if that was true.
“She’s a great kid. And you’re a great father, Ethan, better than I could ever hope to be. Not thatthat’sin the cards,” Brian added sardonically. “Or if it is, I know nothing about it nor want to.”
“Thanks.” Ethan smiled, thinking that with Brian’s reputation, it was very likely that he might indeed have offspring somewhere that he didn’t know about. Although he didn’t know if what his friend had said about him being a good father was true. He’d muddled his way along so far, but there was so much he didn’t know about bringing up a little girl in today’s world. Which was why he was so happy to have found Vanessa. There was no replacing Daisy’s mum of course, but it was plain to see that his beloved daughter needed a strong woman in her life.
“So what’s your plan for getting it back then?” Brian asked. “I take it you’re still going ahead with the big proposal.”
Ethan looked at him. “Well, of course. Why wouldn’t I be? Seems like I might need to take a trip to Dublin soon.” He explained how the numerous messages he’d left for the other party were so far unreturned.
Brian looked incredulous. “And how exactly do you plan to get this mysterious trip past your lovely bride-to-be without telling her what’s going on? Hell, mate.” He paused, shaking his head. “Call me old-fashioned, but if you’re going to marry the woman, then shouldn’t you be able to actuallytalkto her?”
Ethan pushed aside his empty glass and set his elbows on the bar. “That’s funny coming from someone who hasn’t stayed with one woman longer than six months.”
“Point taken.” Brian grinned, unable to deny he was a player, his esteemed profession helping a lot in this regard.
“Anyway, as it turns out, things aren’t that simple. The woman who has the ring now… I met her in New York. Knowles’s girlfriend,” Ethan continued, stumbling over the words. “We had coffee and exchanged phone numbers. So I suppose I’ll just have to try and—”
“Hold on…woman? What woman? You didn’t mention a woman. I thought some bloke had the ring.”
“He did. At least I think he did, but he didn’t…doesn’trealize it.” Ethan glanced across at Brian and felt the weight of his perplexed look, something he’d last seen when his car had a flat and he’d admitted he didn’t know how to change a tire.
“Look, I’m not trying to say the way you’re handling this is wrong,” his friend said, his tone suddenly serious. “I just think you need to grab the bull by the horns. Anyway, what’s happening here? You’re usually the advice man, and now you’ve got me being the touchy-feely-thinky one. I don’t do this. I save it for the writing. So just get all this sorted so we can get back to our normal roles here, yes?”
Ethan raised his glass with fresh determination. “You’re right. No more waiting around. I should indeed do just that and get the ring back and propose to Vanessa as planned.” It all sounded so easy and far more straightforward hearing himself say it out loud.
Brian said nothing but raised his drink in return and gave Ethan a look that said he wasn’t quite convinced.
They sat in silence for another couple of minutes before his friend spoke again. “Actually, I’m not even saying that’s the right thing to do. Get the ring back, yes. Hell, if I’d spent that much on a piece of jewelry, I’d beswimmingto Dublin to get it back, let me tell you. But in terms of proposing to Vanessa…just make sure it truly is what you want. I know you’re anxious about Daisy, but don’t sell yourself short as a parent either. Fool yourself into thinking you’re on some sort of timeline—there should be no race to the finish when it comes to something like this.” Brian paused for a moment. “I suppose what I’m saying is don’t be afraid to take your time so as to make sure it’s what youbothwant.”
“Thanks for the advice, but speaking of time…” Ethan gulped down about half of the newly poured wine and set the glass purposefully on the bar. “I’d better go. Vanessa’s coming over this evening. She’s picking Daisy up from ballet class and then we’re having dinner.” He checked the time on his watch—it was after six thirty. “They’re probably there by now.”
Brian in turn set his glass on the varnished wooden bar top and gave the barman a nod for the bill.
“Hoofing it or cabbing it?” his friend asked when they got outside.
