Page 3 of Merrily Ever After
‘Hmm. True, but even more exciting than snow is waiting to get a word in edgeways, to ask a wonderful woman the most important question a man can ask.’ He stopped walking and, taking hold of my scarf, tugged me gently towards him.
I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. ‘Ask away.’
His eyes were on mine, my hands in his, and suddenly I realised what was happening. ‘Merry, I’m in love with you, you make my every day magical. And I wondered … will you do me the honour of becoming my wife?’
My heart stuttered in my chest, and I stared at him, for once completely speechless. The rest of the world faded away until there was just him and me, snowflakes fluttering like confetti; a tiny perfect moment stretching between us, one I’d remember for the rest of my days.
Finally, I gasped, incredulous and elated. ‘Cole, is this … Are you proposing?’
He nodded. ‘If you’ll have me. This year has been one of the best of my life and it’s all because of you,’ he said, his expression soft and earnest and full of love. ‘You said yourself it feels like we are a family and seeing you with the kids this week has made me love you even more. The only way next year could top this one is if we were married. So, what do you say?’
A bubble of laughter escaped from me. ‘I say yes!’ I threw my arms around his neck and kissed him, for once not caring that the children might see.Married. I was going to be Mrs Cole Robinson. ‘Absolutely! Thank you.’
Cole’s face relaxed into a smile of relief. ‘No, thankyou, darling, you’ve made me a very happy man.’
‘I love you,’ I said, kissing him again. ‘So much.’
‘Dad? We’re going on ahead,’ Harley shouted, interrupting. ‘See you at Astrid’s.’
I stepped away from Cole automatically, but he held onto me.
‘Wait there, please!’ he called to them and then lowered his voice. ‘I want to tell them now before we tell anyone else, is that OK with you?’
A wave of nerves wiped the smile from my face. ‘Do you think they’ll mind?’
‘Not at all, they’ll be pleased! They’ve had a great week staying with us and they’ll be excited about the wedding.’
‘Hurry up then!’ Freya yelled.
My stomach lurched as we ran to catch up with them, wishing I could share his optimism. What if they were completely against the idea? I thought they liked me, but that was as their dad’s girlfriend, maybe they didn’t want a stepmum? What if Harley stormed off? What if Freya burst into tears?
‘I’m thirteen,’ Harley protested when we reached them. ‘I walk home from school by myself, I don’t need to walk with you.’
‘I know, son,’ said Cole, reaching for my hand. ‘But that wasn’t why we asked you to wait. We’ve got something to tell you. I’ve just asked Merry to marry me and she said yes.’
I held my breath as I watched the expressions on their faces, hoping that this would be good news.
‘Oh right.’ Harley frowned and shoved his hands in his pockets. He was impossible to read. Maybe he wasn’t sure himself how he felt about it. After all, it had come as a surprise to me so it would certainly be a shock to the children. ‘Erm, congratulations, I guess.’
‘Thank you,’ I murmured.
Cole ruffled his son’s hair. ‘Thanks, mate, I appreciate that.’
‘When?’ Freya asked. ‘Because this tooth is wobbly and I don’t want a gappy smile on the photographs.’ She peeled off her glove and gave one of her top teeth a good wiggle to demonstrate.
‘We haven’t set a date yet,’ I told her, taking heart from the fact that she saw our wedding as something to be happy about. ‘But your smile will be beautiful no matter what.Would you like to be my bridesmaid?’
‘Yes!’ Freya launched herself at me, wrapping her arms around my hips. I hugged her back, grateful for her simple approval. ‘Do I get a long dress and flowers, and can I wear make-up?’
‘We can sort all that out,’ said Cole fondly. ‘And you’ll be an usher on the day, I hope, Harley?’
‘If you like,’ he replied with a shrug. ‘Can we go to Astrid’s now?’
Cole nodded. ‘Make sure you hold hands across the road.’
‘Can we tell Grandad and Astrid?’ Freya demanded.
Cole looked at me for guidance and I nodded.
