Meanwhile, Robin was busy in the kitchen. Not only seeing to the food, but his mind had suddenly notched up a gear. A plan was forming and building momentum. He realised that he needed to be far more assertive, especially where Jasmine was concerned. He’d always admired her pragmatic approach, and still did. He applauded her get-on-with-it attitude, especially given her traumatic past. Becoming a widow at the age of twenty-nine and starting again in Samphire Bay couldn’t have been easy. Not everyone would have coped the way Jasmine did. She’d shown real resilience and strength of spirit. But, at times, Jasmine could be a little too blasé, too casual. Look at how she’d insisted on going to the launch party, saying she would be ‘fine’. Clearly that had been a mistake. He ought to have intervened, put his foot down. And now he was going to show some assertiveness. He was going to insist that they marry and make their union official. Why not, for goodness’ sake? They were blissfully happy, had two beautiful children and a lovely home.
‘It’s ready!’ he called, placing the casserole dish filled with chilli on the table along with a big bowl of rice. He’d also made a salad and garlic bread.
‘Hmm, this smells delicious,’ said Bunty, sitting down.
‘It certainly does,’ added Perry, rubbing his hands together.
Jasmine moved Barny into Jemima’s Moses basket so they could keep each other company while the adults ate. That was the beauty of twins, she thought, they always had each other. She sat at the table and poured the wine, allowing herself just half a glass.
Robin took off his apron and joined them. He raised his glass and gave a toast.
‘To us,’ he cheered and looked directly at Jasmine. She gave a slight frown before raising her glass, expecting a toast to the twins if anything.
‘To us,’ they all repeated, clinking glasses.
After a relaxing meal, which the babies didn’t interrupt, Bunty and Perry bid their farewells. Under strict instruction from Perry, Bunty was aware of outstaying her welcome.
‘We can’t stay too long. They’ll be tired and want to put the babies to bed,’ he’d warned. Bunty had nodded in agreement, glad of the advice. The last thing she wanted was to become a pest.
Once the twins had been bathed and fed again, Jasmine wound up the musical mobiles suspended over the cots. The tune seemed to soothe the babies and settled them down for the night.
‘I just need to pop out,’ whispered Robin, opening the nursery door.
‘Where to?’ asked Jasmine in surprise.
He winked. ‘All will be revealed.’
‘But, Robin—’
‘Won’t be long,’ he interrupted and disappeared, leaving a very puzzled Jasmine.
‘Grandma’s ring?’ said Robin’s mum, raising an eyebrow.
‘Yeah. She left it to you, didn’t she?’
‘Well, yes, but I was saving it to pass on to a future granddaughter, Jemima now.’
‘Can I have it?’
‘Pardon?’ she laughed.
‘I want to give it to Jasmine, tonight. I’m going to propose,’ he declared with fortitude.
Good for him, she thought, knowing her mother would have approved. Of course she would.
‘I’ll fetch it.’
Within minutes she was back with the ring, still in its original box. It would be considered a collectable nowadays. A stunning blue topaz, claw set in a golden band. It matched the blue velvet box with the name of the jewellers in gold writing.
‘It’ll be in safe hands, that’s if she says yes,’ said Robin with a grin.
‘Of course she will,’ reassured his mum.
Jasmine was in the sitting room when Robin came back.
‘What’s going on?’ she asked with a frown.
Robin knelt in front of her.
