Page 3 of Up All Night
“Agreed.”
She licks her lips.“Does your dad know about what happened with Chas?”
I try not to reveal the whole story yet, as I gracefully tuck my left hand under my thigh.“He knows enough.”
“And has he mentioned anything about any oddities going on?Any staff reporting weird calls or unmarked letters?”
With a soft scoff, I think back.“Not that I’m aware of, although I’m starting to think that perhaps daddy and mummy have sheltered me some.”
“Why do you say that?”She asks, draping one leg over the other.
“Because I’m pretty sure that he was the one that paired Rush and I up together.”
Her eyes widen and her eyes dance.Her voice is flat, and she speaks almost in an exhale.“Really.”
I smile.“It seems that my father had both Rush and I on the same project.Only neither of us were aware.”
“I’m impressed, although, your father does seem like the romantic type.I mean, look at your parents together.They could not be cuter.”
I lean my chin on my hand, pressing my elbow into my knee.“I just wish that if there was any trouble, that my parents would let me know.I’m glad that you told me this.”
“Well, as Jagger said, the bigger we get, the more that we become magnets to crime.And we’re also vulnerable to people that feel that they deserve a stake, no matter how corrupted they are.”I'm about to agree with her, when her eyes bulge.“Oh my God!Is that what I think it is!”
It’s too late for me to hide it.And I chide myself for not simply removing it before Bowie’s arrival, I should’ve known better, but I can’t help the ear-to-ear grin, either.“Yes.Nobody knows about it yet.And Rush and I didn’t even discuss how we were going to spread the news.”
Both her hands go to her cheeks briefly, and then she reaches for my left hand.“Wow!I don’t mean for this to come out wrong, but now Jagger and I aren't the only ones to rush into marriage!I believe that you too upstaged us!”
Fanning out my fingers, as if the large, half carat diamond wouldn’t otherwise be seen, I try to be modest.“Yes, because that’s exactly what we were trying to accomplish.”I am facetious.
Her head tilts slightly, as she smiles.“You know what I mean.So, are you two going to do the more delicious approach, and keep this engagement a secret?”
“We didn’t even have a chance to discuss that part.He was only here for a day.He wanted to stay for longer, but you know how it is, when you’re running a business.”
She’s still examining the jewel.“And it’s not too soon?You're sure that this is what you want?”There is an edge of caution in her voice, and concern is registered on her face.
There is no hesitation in my voice.“I never knew that my heart could react so quickly and so deeply to someone.And I’ve always been a planner, a dreamer, never making any move, unless it was purely calculated.But when he proposed, it’s like all of those things happened simultaneously.It’s like all my life I’ve been thinking about this very moment.And as much as my lips spoke, and said yes to him, I could feel that affirmation throughout my entire body and soul.I don’t know if that answers the question or not.”I close with a soft chuckle.
She gives my hand to squeeze.“I don’t think I could’ve said it any better myself.”
My phone beeps, indicating a text message.“I’m sorry, I just need to check this.”
Bowie waves.“No need to explain.Go ahead.”
“It’s my mum.She’s saying that the meeting got pushed up.It’s in an hour.Is that okay?”
The way she looks at me, it’s like I’ve just offered her the best deal on the planet.“Does a bear shit in the woods?”
We laugh together as we rise.
“We’ll take a walk through the garden.I’ll have the driver pick us up on the other side.”
“Works for me.”
We see my parents, who evidently have the same idea, taking a walk through the garden.“Wesley!Emily!”Bowie exclaims, as she sees them.
“Bowie!How lovely to see you again!”Pleasantries are exchanged.
“I can’t wait for you to see the new site and all the new plans, Bowie!”Mum comments as she kisses her on both cheeks.
