“Aye.”
Mrs. Gilchrist moved to her laptop and started typing at her keyboard. “Well, well, well, would you look at that? London’s wedding band is the same ring size as the turquoise ring. It was meant to be.”
Pleased, I nodded. “I’ll take it.”
“Not even going to ask the price?” Mrs. Gilchrist mused as she set about placing the ring into a box. “With all your money, Murray Shaw, I would have expected you to go to some fancy London jeweler and buy Mrs. Shaw the biggest diamond you could find.”
The comment irritated me, but I hid my exasperation with people’s obsession with my wealth. “That’s not who London is.”
“Which is why you married her, I expect.” She winked at me.
When she told me the price, I scowled. If she didn’t think that was expensive, what constituted expensive? Not that I wouldn’t have paid three times that or more for the perfect ring.
“You’ve made my day, Murray,” Mrs. Gilchrist said gleefully as she swiped my credit card. “And soon you’ll make London’s.”
I thanked her as she handed over the ring, feeling good about the gift as I bid Mrs. Gilchrist good day and headed home to set up for the party. The bonus of planning something special for London was that it distracted me from everything that was happening with the Walsh brothers.
Back at the house, I did what I could with the decorations. Tierney texted to inform me she would delay London as long as possible, and thankfully, it was just enough time for Mum and Kelly to return from the school run. Mum came bearing a homemade vanilla buttercream birthday cake and Kelly immediately started redoing my décor.
We wrapped our presents for London. It occurred to me that perhaps the ring revealed more to Kelly than it should, especially after London’s request that we maintain a secret relationship for now. After I showed the gift to her and Mum (they both approved), I asked Kelly how she’d feel if I asked London out on a real date.
My daughter had considered this for a few seconds and then nodded. “I suppose that would be okay.”
“You’re sure?” I’d frowned at her hesitant response.
“I’m sure. You’re buying her fancy rings, Dad. I think we’re past the point of me not being sure. Do you want to see what I got London?”
I went with the subject change, trying not to tie myself in knots over my daughter’s word choice. Mum gave me a reassuring wink, and I attempted to relax. She was often even more in tune with Kelly’s moods and emotions than I was.
My daughter had bought London a gift card to Pages & Perks for her lunchtime coffees and a book of sheet music for the piano. “It’s all current pop songs. Can you believe Pages & Perks had this?”
“It’s perfect.” And it was. Her considerate choice of gifts filled me with hope that she really did care for London and that we could build something together as a family.
Mum had bought London a Merino wool scarf the same color as her eyes. “You baked her a cake, Mum. You didn’t need to get her anything else.”
“I wanted to.” Mum reached up to cup my bearded cheek. “She makes my son happy. Doesn’t she?”
I knew what she was asking. I flicked a quick glance at Kelly who was distracted with hanging the gold thirtieth birthday banners. Turning to Mum, I nodded solemnly. “Very happy.”
Mum’s eyes were bright with emotion. “Then she deserves all the gifts in the world.”
“I love you.”
She beamed. “Och, more than words, m’eudail. More than words.”
To say London wassurprisedwhen she walked into the kitchen that evening with Tierney, Ramsay, and Akiva at her side to find all her friends crowded in there, waiting for her, was an understatement.
London squawked and physically jumped with fright after we shouted “Surprise!”
Everyone laughed while I strode out of the crowd to kiss her, murmuring “Happy birthday” against her mouth.
Once she’d recovered from the shock, London gripped my shirt, expression pleading. “I was going to tell you tonight. I genuinely forgot.”
“I know,” I reassured her.
London looked past me, taking in Mum, Kelly, Taran, Quinn, Quinn’s son Angus, Cammie, and Forde.
“Everyone wanted to come celebrate this milestone with you.” Tierney wrapped an arm around a stunned London.
