The Wedding Proposal

by Sue Moorcroft

  ‘Right.’ He tried to digest the information, aware of the thrust of her breasts against him, that his hands had naturally come to rest on the curve of her buttocks. ‘And you’re not at Nicholas Centre because …?’

  ‘Because I wanted to wait for you and I’m moving my stuff. I called Joseph and he’s postponed my workshop.’

  ‘I need to make calls. My parents and Vern.’ He still didn’t move, just holding her against him, enjoying the softness. But he couldn’t hold back a question. ‘How did talking to Mum go?’

  Her muscles tensed. ‘OK.’

  ‘OK?’

  ‘Yes. OK.’

  If he hadn’t been so damn tired he would have tried to encourage more information out of her than that. ‘Don’t go,’ he murmured.

  ‘I have to. You know how hard it will be for your parents to find a decent hotel at this time of the year. All the last-minute holiday companies will have booked everything up.’

  ‘Then I’ll ask Loz if I can come with you and bunk on board Seadancer.’

  She sighed, her breath hot against him. ‘Look – let’s not upset your parents.’

  Shit. Guilt filtered through the small part of his brain that was still doing its job. She was right. It was going to be tricky enough to manage the Elle/parents relationship without putting their backs up. He pressed his lips against her hair. ‘I bet Mum was pretty surprised when you picked up the phone.’

  A small silence. ‘Little bit.’

  He laughed at her unconvincing attempt at nonchalance. ‘Don’t worry about my parents this time, all right? I’ll talk to them and they’ll behave.’

  ‘Great,’ she said, so brightly that he knew she didn’t believe he could do it. Mentally, he cursed himself for not supporting her as he should have in the past.

  But this time it would be no problem. He was aware and he was in control. He yawned, hugely. ‘There’s nothing my parents can say to change things. I hadn’t told them about us because you said you just wanted to enjoy what’s happening and let the future take care of itself, and that’s fine. So long as you know that I see my future with you in it.’

  She didn’t reply. But her embrace tightened.

  Elle set the coffee machine going in the galley while Lucas retrieved his phone from the saloon. Elle had thoughtfully plugged it in to charge. Kayleigh’s phone was lying next to it.

  ‘I’ll start moving my stuff over while you call your parents,’ she said.

  ‘You don’t have to find an excuse to give me privacy. I’m not going to say anything I don’t want you to hear.’ He dropped down at the dinette.

  ‘It’s not an excuse. It has to be done. The coffee will be ready in a few minutes.’ She vanished into the cabin and reappeared with two cases, one pink and one with the union flag on it.

  He had a sudden vivid memory of her lining them up on the quay on the day she arrived, using them as a barrier, glaring at him from behind it. ‘I’ll carry them for you.’

  ‘They have wheels. Make your phone call.’ She gave him a wide smile and dragged the suitcases rapidly across the saloon and out of the door.

  The boat dipped slightly as she swung each suitcase across the gap between bathing platform and quay. After a moment he heard the rumbling of the hard plastic wheels along the concrete.

  He shook his head. This was not the way he would have chosen to cement Elle back into his life. Her tension every time the subject of his mother came up was palpable. He was going to have to make that stop.

  He pressed the button on top of his iPhone and saw eight missed calls from his mother. There were also a couple of texts. The first, also from his mother, said: Ring me asap. Dad and I are making arrangements to fly to Malta. I spoke to the hospital and they said Charlie’s in no danger but we’re coming anyway. I asked the hospital to ask you to ring me but you haven’t and Kayleigh’s and Charlie’s phones go straight to voicemail. Are you OK? Mum xxx PS Surprised to find myself speaking to Elle on your phone.

  Charlie’s phone had been in his pocket when he fell into the water, so its life was over, and Lucas already knew that Kayleigh had left her phone on the Shady Lady in the confusion after Charlie’s idiocy.

  The second text message said: You have two voicemail messages. When he dialled in, his mother’s even tones told him that they were en route already, their flight number and an ETA of just after 1 p.m. Malta time. He pressed a button on the phone to check the time. They must already be in the air.

  Pushing aside his desperation for sleep, he sent a text for his mother to pick up when she landed. I’ll meet your flight. Charlie’s going to be OK.

  The next message was from a ruffled-sounding Vern. ‘So, what’s up, Lucas? Why the no-show?’

  He called straight back. ‘Really sorry, Vern. My brother had an accident and I’ve been at the hospital all night.’

  Immediately, Vern’s attitude changed and he demanded details. ‘Good job from you,’ he concluded. ‘I’ll work round it, mate. See you tomorrow?’

  ‘I’ll let you know, but I think so.’

  Then he texted Elle: Calls made. Parents arriving early pm and he went to throw off his clothes and get himself under the shower for a couple of minutes before crashing onto the bed. Before he could close his eyes, he set his phone alarm for noon. A moment later he heard someone coming on board and soon Elle stole into the cabin.

  He held out an arm. ‘Come to bed.’

  Her eyes sparkled. ‘You need to sleep.’

  ‘Give me a break, Elle,’ he groaned. ‘I’m going to sleep. I just want to hold you for a minute.’

  She arrived on the mattress beside him with a bounce, warm, soft, brushing kisses on his shoulder and his jaw. ‘Lower,’ he suggested.

  ‘You’re supposed to be going to sleep. By the way, Joseph says he’ll take you to fetch your parents. If they want to go straight to the hospital he’ll drop you all and then bring their bags here. You’re to ring him half an hour before you want to leave.’

  He settled her more firmly against him, stroking the roundness of her bottom through her shorts. ‘That’s really kind of him. It’ll save me a lot of messing around with taxis.’

  ‘So everything’s taken care of and you can sleep.’

  ‘Right.’ And he let sleep have him.

  Later, when his alarm went off it took him several moments to locate his phone and switch off the alert. But only an instant to realise that Elle had gone.

  Picking up his parents went without a hitch. They swept into the gleaming arrivals hall towing cabin baggage suitcases, Fiona’s short salt-and-pepper hair neatly styled, Geoffrey wearing an open-necked shirt. They were visibly relieved to be introduced to Joseph and find that he was to transport them to their erring younger son.

  ‘It was Elle who arranged it,’ Lucas pointed out as they shook Joseph’s hand.

  Joseph drove them past palm trees and the pink and white oleander that lined the busy roads as Lucas filled his parents in about the accident. ‘Elle played a pivotal role. While I went to Charlie, she shot along the quay shouting for help. Sometimes, people just freeze, or they scream incoherently. But she made herself loud and accurate, told people exactly what had happened and that we needed help. Without help I wouldn’t have been able to get Charlie onto a makeshift backboard and out of the water.’

  ‘All because Charlie was showing off.’ Fiona shuddered. ‘Thank God you were there, darling.’

  Lucas contented himself with a diplomatic ‘All’s well that ends well.’ The huge bollocking he had saved up for Charlie could wait until his little brother was well enough to leave hospital. That’s if there was anything left of Charlie after Fiona had had her say. He tried not to yawn as the sun beat down on him through the glass of the car.

  Joseph dropped them at Mater Dei, a large modern building with a lot
of blue-green glass. Charlie had been moved out of the emergency admissions ward, where Lucas had left him earlier that morning, and into an orthopaedic ward on the third floor. As it wasn’t currently visiting hours they had to explain about Fiona and Geoffrey having only just arrived in the country; then they were allowed to visit Charlie if they promised to be quick and quiet.

  Charlie woke as they arrived.

  Lucas was shocked by the black eye that had doubled in magnitude since that morning and seemed to be smeared halfway across Charlie’s cheek. Around this luridness, his freckles stood out against his pallor. But the big grin was reassuring and, after a few words, Lucas went to wait in the corridor to allow his parents time with their son. Fiona would need to give him a good scolding and then cry all over him.

  In view of stern notices on the walls about mobile phone usage, Lucas snuck off into the Gents’ and texted to Elle, All OK? xxx before taking up station again in the corridor, trying not to give in to the fuzzy arms of fatigue.

  It wasn’t long before Fiona and Geoffrey reappeared, leaving Charlie to sleep now they’d assured themselves that he’d got off lightly from what Geoffrey referred to as ‘his bloody stupidity’. They traversed the corridors to an exit where they could call a taxi.

  As they waited in the shade of the building for the car to arrive, Lucas felt his pocket vibrate. A text from Elle. All OK. I’m at the centre. He wasn’t terribly surprised to learn she wouldn’t be awaiting them at the Shady Lady. The impending arrival of his parents had taken the joy out of Elle’s eyes. This uncomfortable situation occupied his woolly brain during the ten-minute drive back to Ta’ Xbiex. His parents were almost silent, probably thinking about Charlie’s narrow squeak.

  His stomach gurgled, reminding him that he hadn’t eaten since yesterday evening, which might be some of the reason he felt so spaced-out. Once he’d got his parents settled he’d arrange something about dinner. Maybe if Elle met his mum and dad again over a civilised meal in a restaurant it would be easier than staring at one another across the Shady Lady’s saloon.

  The taxi pulled up on the quay and Lucas paid.

  The boat was all shut up, as he’d expected. ‘Welcome aboard,’ he said, shoving the gangplank across, unlocking the door and leading his parents through.

  Fiona and Geoffrey’s smart little cases had been left on the floor of the master cabin, underlining Elle’s determination to vacate. The bed had been changed and neatly made. He sighed. He’d had a lot of pleasure in that bed in the last week and a half. Not just awesome sex, but talking to Elle, sharing jokes, holding and being held, waking up with her golden hair tickling his face and her blue eyes sleepy. Tracing his way around the willowy body that had been haunting his dreams.

  He shook his head to clear it. ‘You’re in here,’ he told his parents. ‘I’ll use the guest cabin.’

  But he didn’t like his new situation. Shocked by Charlie’s accident or not, it was time he got a few things straight with his parents. ‘I need to talk to you about Elle.’

  Fiona sat down on the edge of the bed with a tired sigh.

  Geoffrey rocked awkwardly on his feet. ‘Actually, we need to talk to you about her, too.’

  Lucas frowned. ‘Why?’ Then an image of Elle swam before his eyes, the wary, troubled Elle who had never coped with his parents’ attitude. A thump of his heart told him how much he liked the other Elle, the happy, open Elle. The Elle who had begun to slip from his grasp the moment that she knew his parents would be around.

  He cut across Fiona, who had opened her mouth to speak. ‘Is it something negative? Because if that’s the case I’m not comfortable with discussing her behind her back.’

  He watched Fiona and Geoffrey exchange looks, as if trying to communicate telepathically. ‘Maybe it would be best to have her there?’ suggested Geoffrey, to Fiona, not Lucas.

  Fiona looked wary. ‘Would it really be “behind her back”?’

  Lucas watched his mother curiously. She looked the nearest to shifty that he remembered seeing her. Firmly, he said, ‘I think that if you want to say something negative and we discuss it when she isn’t here, then she’d definitely have a right to feel that we were talking about her behind her back.’

  Into the strained silence he added, softly, ‘And I don’t want to have to take sides.’

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  The centre had quite a different vibe now the schools had shut for summer. The attendance of younger children had increased and the atmosphere became more about play.

  Carmelo was hanging out in the computer room when Elle finally arrived, and his face lit up. ‘You are not here this morning,’ he accused.

  Elle grinned. ‘No, I had to do something. Nothing to worry about, though. So, what are you doing on the computer, today?’

  ‘I make an e-mail to Mr Bernie Ecclestone.’ Carmelo sat back, indicating the screen.

  Startled, Elle read the e-mail over his shoulder. ‘You’re asking Mr Ecclestone to arrange a Formula 1 race in Malta?’

  Carmelo beamed. ‘I think it is a good idea. I like Formula 1. I’m for Ferrari.’

  ‘Good choice.’ She wondered quite where in Malta Carmelo envisaged a Formula 1 circuit being built. Maybe it could be added to the sports facilities at Ta’ Qali or The Marsa. ‘Where are you going to get Mr Ecclestone’s e-mail address?’

  ‘I don’t know.’ Carmelo’s expression became expectant, deep brown eyes fixed on her.

  She pulled up a chair. ‘So we probably need to find out more about him, don’t we? Where do you think you might find information? Where do you find lots and lots of information?’

  ‘Wikipedia.’

  ‘OK. Let’s start there.’

  While Carmelo found the relevant page, Elle signed into the vacant machine beside him. Then she was drawn back into trying, without success, to find an e-mail address for Mr Bernie Ecclestone through various companies of which he was the CEO. He proved elusive.

  ‘Not there.’ Carmelo sighed despondently.

  Elle didn’t want to discourage Carmelo from his aims by suggesting he do something easier, even though she didn’t think that Mr Ecclestone would base a decision about where to hold a race on the wishes of a small boy who would never be able to afford to go to a grand prix anyway. ‘What about the Maltese government?’ she suggested. ‘It’s probably their job to make the request.’

  Carmelo brightened. ‘And then I will nikteb e-mail bil-Malti.’

  ‘Write the e-mail in Maltese? That would be much easier, wouldn’t it?’

  It didn’t take long for them to find the website for SportMalta and the contact details of the offices; then Elle was able to leave Carmelo to his e-mail, writing Maltese not being within her skill set, and turn her attention to what she needed to do. E-mail Simon.

  To: Simon.Rose

  From: Elle.Jamieson

  Subject: News about Charlie

  Simon,

  Just to let you know that things have changed a bit on board the Shady Lady. Charlie’s got a concussion and a broken leg after falling off the flybridge last night.

  She gave him the details of Charlie being an idiot and Lucas a hero.

  He’s going to be OK but Fiona and Geoffrey flew straight out here. Loz and Davie kindly offered me accommodation on Seadancer so I’ve jumped ship (ho ho) to make room for Fiona and Geoffrey.

  No need to explain that Loz and Davie made the offer weeks ago and Elle only took them up on it once she knew Fiona and Geoffrey were en route. It could be viewed that she’d done a nice thing by moving out so that Fiona and Geoffrey could enjoy the comforts of the master cabin.

  Or it could be viewed as cowardice. She hadn’t completely made up her own mind.

  She finished with an airy Just to update you as I’m in front of a computer and the others probably all have plenty to do.r />
  How are you doing with the bars and the women? :-) xxx.

  Simon’s reply came a few hours later. She was still in the computer room, making up for missing the morning session. Or knowing it was a safe hidey-hole where her path wasn’t likely to cross with Fiona’s. Take your pick.

  To: Elle.Jamieson

  From: Simon.Rose

  Subject: I’ll bet alcohol was involved

  Elle, wtf was Charlie thinking? Just glad he’s basically OK but it must’ve been a big scare. Good job Lucas reached him before he got into real trouble. Tell Charlie that I’m sorry to hear he’s hurt and not to be such a bloody idiot. Sheesh. I’ll text Lucas.

  Re Fiona and Geoffrey :-/ Is that going to be a touch ticklish for you? I hope not. I never understood their stupid attitude. Anyone would think you’d done something wrong.

  Re women and bars, have recently found a new bar, full of women. Win–win. :-) xx

  Elle grinned, wishing Simon weren’t so far away. She could do with someone on her side.

  It was past six when Elle got down to the marina and she headed straight for Seadancer. Lucas hadn’t texted her for a while so she assumed that he was catching up on his sleep or was at the hospital with Charlie. It cost her a pang to make her way through the gardens to Seadancer’s mooring rather than to the familiar shape of the Shady Lady. She hadn’t realised quite how at home she’d grown to feel on board the neat little cabin cruiser.

  Seadancer suddenly seemed huge and grand. And it would be hard to keep her working and non-working hours separate. But it was incredibly kind of Loz and Davie to let her live on board for free so if it meant she was called upon to prepare the odd meal or two—

  Her heart skipped. Lucas was sitting on a bench in front of her, right opposite Seadancer’s gangplank, hair stirring as the breeze ran through it.

  She rounded the bench and dropped down beside him, pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. He needed to shave: stubble outlined his jaw. ‘This is a nice surprise.’ She kissed him again, just a peck, because it seemed to her that the Maltese didn’t appreciate public clinches. She wouldn’t want to trample on anybody’s sensitivities like some unthinking tourist. ‘How’s Charlie?’