A Very Merry Manhattan Christmas
Page 22
Dale opened the box and there, in the centre of a cream satin cushion was a ring. Lucie moved closer and gasped. “It’s just like my pendant.” She fingered the tiny silver book with an opal heart on its cover, that Dale had given her last Christmas.
“Yes, Lucie. I had it made especially to match.”
“It’s a silver band set with diamonds and the heart is an opal,” Glenda interrupted. “Isn’t it beautiful?”
“Mum!” Dale frowned at Glenda. “Shhh!”
“Sorry!” Glenda placed a gloved finger over her lips.
“Lucie, I cannot imagine my life without you. Will you please be my wife?”
Lucie glanced at the crowd of people who’d gathered around the mosaic. Every pair of eyes flicked between her and Dale.
She crossed the space between them and held out her hand. “Yes, Dale. Of course I’ll be your wife!”
He pulled off her glove, and slid the band onto her ring finger. As he stood up, Lucie fell into his arms.
As their lips met and Dale swung her off her feet, the crowd erupted into applause.
When they finally stopped kissing and Dale lowered Lucie to her feet, she held up her left hand and gazed at the ring. It shone as she moved her hand from side to side.
“I’ve never seen anything more beautiful, Dale.”
“I have.”
“Really?” She met his eyes.
“Of course. You – my beautiful bride-to-be!”
“Congratulations!” Glenda and Hank enveloped them both in a hug, and the crowd of onlookers began to disperse.
Something cold landed on Lucie’s nose. She looked up. Snowflakes floated down from the sky, white and feathered, cold and wet.
“I’m sure she knows,” Dale whispered. “Wherever she is.”
“I think she does,” Lucie replied, her heart full of emotion. Dale knew her so well.
“Now then… how’s about champagne at The Plaza?” Hank asked. “Our treat?”
“That sounds fabulous, Dad. We’ll catch you up.”
Hank and Glenda walked away and Dale pulled Lucie into his arms.
“Merry Christmas, Lucie Quigley.”
“Merry Christmas, Dale Treharne. You know… I thought last year was my best Christmas ever! But I think this one even beats that.”
“Really?” His eyes sparkled as he scanned her face.
“Really.”
Then, hand in hand, they crunched through the snow, headed for The Plaza, fully intending to celebrate their engagement and to enjoy a very merry Manhattan Christmas.
The End
First published in the United Kingdom in 2016 by Canelo
Canelo Digital Publishing Limited
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Beaconsfield, Bucks HP9 2DU
United Kingdom
Copyright © 2016 by Darcie Boleyn
The moral right of Darcie Boleyn to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
A CIP catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library.
ISBN 9781911420590
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
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