Page 8 of Be More Lucy

Jack went back inside, leaving Em standing alone on the terrace.She leaned her forehead against the cold stone of the pillar next to her.Oh god, why now just when everything was going so well?

A few minutes later, Lucy appeared at Em’s side. ‘What’s wrong?’

‘What makes you ask?’ Em didn’t want to discuss it, particularly given Lucy’s situation with Adam.

‘You’re standing here alone in the dark looking like you’ve just accidentally flushed a winning lottery ticket down the bog, and Jack’s sitting by himself at the bar, nursing a double scotch on the rocks. I may not be the most observant friend sometimes, but I think something isn’t quite right.’

Em would have to tell her. ‘Jack’s asked me to marry him.’

‘But that’s fabulous. Why are you looking like he’s left you?’

Em was shocked. ‘I thought you were dead against marriage?’

‘I was. I hate the whole idea of being given away like some prize cow. And taking someone else’s name as if they own you. But you don’t have to do either of those now. My biological clock’s ticking. And so is yours.’

‘What’s that got to do with anything? You don’t have to be married to have children,’ Em said.

‘No, but it makes life simpler if you are. And you’ve just confirmed you are feeling broody.’ Lucy looked almost triumphant. ‘I thought that when you were showing me those pics of Jack’s niece and nephews the other day. We’re both 30 now. Our eggs are ageing and not like fine wines. We can’t leave it too long. If someone like Jack asked me, I would say yes now. I might even propose to him.‘

Em looked daggers at her.

‘Someone like Jack, not Jack. He doesn’t make my heart skip a beat like he does yours. There are only two men who’ve ever done that.’

‘Two?’ Em asked. She knew about one - dishy Dylan from Lucy’s uni days. But who was the other?

‘Em? You zoned out then. Are you ok?’

‘Sorry, I was just running through all your exes. I think my brain overloaded.’

‘Charming! It doesn’t matter. It’s all in the past.’ Lucy looked like she’d regretted saying anything.

‘You promised me after I left Connor that if I ever said I was getting married again, you’d talk me out of it.’

‘If you ever said you were marrying Connor or some other shit again, yes. But Jack’s different. He’s straightforward.’ Lucy sighed. ‘Unlike any of the men I attract.’

Which was true. Lucy’s boyfriends had all turned out to be liars, whereas Jack was honest, loving and caring. ‘So why am I scared getting engaged will ruin everything?’

‘Because you think it ruined everything with Connor, but I bet he’d still have cheated on you even if you hadn’t agreed to tie the knot.’ Lucy hugged her. ‘Do you love Jack?’

‘Yes.’

‘Do you think he’d cheat on you?’

‘No.’

‘Can you see yourselves growing old together?’

‘Yes.’

‘Does he want to marry you for your money.’

‘He’s going to be seriously disappointed if he does,’ Em laughed. Jack had a good job, and a very healthy balance on his savings account thanks to his divorce settlement. Meanwhile, Em had her holiday let concierge job and some extra income from her art business. But she still earned a fraction of what Jack did.

‘I guess I need to get used to the idea. I always thought we’d get married eventually. I just never thought he’d ask this soon. It’s taken me by surprise, that’s all.’

‘Even if it’s still a no, you need to reassure him that you two are still ok. He looks like he’s been kicked in the balls by a herd of angry elephants.’

6

---