‘Oh, right.’ He sounds less than thrilled. ‘Didn’t you see her recently?’
‘I haven’t seen her for a month.’ I try not to sound cross.
‘Okay, so we can tellhertomorrow.’
‘Yes, we could do, but . . .’
‘What?’
‘Well, it’s just that I haven’t seen her since Jeremy did the dirty on her and I thought she might need some TLC.’
Actually, Ididoriginally want Richard to come with me, but not if he plans to break the news. I’ll postpone that as long as is humanly possible.
‘Oh, right. Okay. I might see what Adam’s up to.’ Adam is one of Richard’s many mates.
‘Or you could go and see your parents.’
‘What, and tell them?’
‘Not tell them necessarily.’
‘Good, because I’d want you there for that.’
‘Sure, sure. No, I mean, maybe just go and see them, catch up – you know.’ And then there won’t be as much pressure for me to visit them anytime soon.
‘Or we could see them tomorrow night?’
‘Yes, I guess we could.’ Dammit!
‘Are you going to tell your mum tomorrow?’
‘I might see how it goes. I don’t want to rub our happiness in her face.’
He gives me a look, but I ignore it. I’m sure he can see right through me.
‘The other thing we need to do is find you an engagement ring,’ he says.
Oh, no.
‘Mmmhmm.’
‘What, don’t tell me you don’t want one of those either?’ Now he’s looking annoyed.
‘I . . . I’m not sure,’ I admit.
‘Lily!’ he snaps.
‘No, it’s only that I quite like the idea of one ring. A wedding band with diamonds. Engagement rings can be so . . . fussy.’
‘I thought you liked Lucy’s ring.’
‘I do like Lucy’s ring. A diamond solitaire really suits her. But I wouldn’t want one.’
He sighs. ‘Fair enough. I guess you’ve put some thought into it.’
‘Yes. I definitely have.’ I stifle a sigh of relief when he leaves it at that.
Chapter 16
