Page 150 of Rough Around the Hedges

“Just get married already!” Isa said into the microphone. “Get the license quickly, and we’ll send the allotments out with style.”

“What, with them shouting their vows over Rose’s plot like usual?” Paula asked with a laugh.

“Whaddaya say, Susan?” George wiggled his eyebrows yet again, and I pressed my hand to my mouth, because I wasn’t sure if I was going to laugh or cry.

Susan narrowed her eyes and stood up, hands on her hips. “You’ll have to take out that darn peony of yours in the front garden that never flowers, though. My Queen Elizabeth II rose will need a new home.”

Me and Isa looked at each other with wide eyes.

“Crikey,” Uncle Dean said, grabbing the mic as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders. “Is that a yes, Susan?”

“I don’t recall him asking me anything,” she replied nonchalantly.

“Is it happening?” Isa whispered, clutching my arm.

“I think it’s happening,” I whispered back, still holding my hand over my mouth. “I was always joking!”

She met my gaze.

“Mostly,” I quickly said.

“Got no bloody choice now, have I?” George grumbled, handing Bernie back his stick. Everyone in his row got to their feet to let him pass, and he shuffled his way out and over towards where Susan was standing, somewhat dumbfounded. “I ain’t gettin’ down on one knee, because I don’t think I’m gonna get back up.”

“I got you, George.” Shaun grabbed his arm and helped him get down, then gave him a thumbs up.

“Ain’t got one o’ them fancy rings, either.”

“Oh! Oh! I help!” Abby, one of my girls from the nursery, stood on her chair and waved her hands. “I have a rin!”

She jumped down and scrambled over everyone’s laps in the chaotic way only a four-year-old could, and my lips curved to a smile when she pulled off her favourite little pink plastic ring.

She held it out to George, then paused. “It’s just to borrow, otay?”

“Oh, okay,” George said, nodding his head. “Just give me a minute, all right?”

She nodded wisely and stepped back, her eyes never leaving the ring the entire time.

“I’m dying,” Isa whispered.

“What’s even happening right now?” I muttered.

“The wonderful weirdness of Hanbury.” She squeezed me, resting her head against the side of mine.

Yeah.

The wonderful weirdness of Hanbury.

For the first time today, my smile was genuine.

“Would you marry me, Susan? Please. I promise never to make fun of your melons again,” George said, holding out the little pink ring.

With a huge laugh, Susan held out her left hand and nodded. George tried the ring on each finger as cheers rang out, but it only fit on the tip of her left pinkie finger. I laughed, falling against Isa. The tears I’d desperately been fighting spilled over, streaming down my cheeks as Shaun stepped up and hauled George to his feet with the help of someone nearby.

Before he’d even finished groaning about his back hurting, Susan grabbed him and smacked an absolute whopper of a kiss on his mouth.

“Woohoo, Susan!” Isa hollered, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “Get it, girl!”

I turned away from the scene and desperately wiped at my cheeks, and Uncle Dean pulled me into his chest with a gentle pat on my back.

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