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“Maybe.”
I look at the box. “Can I see the ring?”
“Oh. Of course.” He opens it up and passes the box to me.
The diamond on the top glitters in the electric light. To my uneducated eye it looks huge. It’s stunning, but it’s the band that draws my attention. It’s inscribed with what look like runes. I take it out and turn it around, examining them. They’re on the inside and the outside.
“It’s Old Norse,” Titus says as I give him a querying look. “It loosely translates as ‘You are my Valkyrie, and I would follow you across the nine realms and into eternity.’”
My jaw drops. “Oh Titus.” I press my fingers to my lips. “It’s beautiful.”
“I don’t know if it’ll fit. Will you try it?”
“Of course.” I take it out and slide it onto my fourth finger. It’s a fraction too big.
“You can get it altered in England, if you like,” he says.
I turn my hand back and forth, watching the diamond glitter. I absolutely adore the words on the band.
I look up at him, overcome with emotion. “Yes, I’ll marry you,” I whisper.
He gives the most dazzling smile. “I love you.”
“I love you too.”
He pulls me to my feet, and I lift my arms around his neck as he lowers his lips to mine.
While he kisses me, I open my eyes just a little and watch the diamond sparkle in the light over his shoulder.
Chapter Thirty
Heidi
The school year starts on Monday the fifth of September, the first day of the autumn term.
I’ve already been in school for a few days, cleaning my classroom, organizing wall displays, resources, school supplies, and getting ready for the manic first week. I have a whole new classroom of children, most of whom are nervous and unused to being away from their parents full-time. Some of them have attended the nearby playgroup or some form of nursery school, but even so, going to big school can be daunting and overwhelming for even the bravest kids.
The first week is taken up with basic tasks. I sit the children in a circle, and teach them that they have to be quiet until their name is called, and they learn each other’s names. We work on life skills—they learn to hang up their coats and bags, put their own shoes on, and get changed for PE. There are sniffles and tears and one or two accidents as they get used to using strange bathrooms, but my assistants and I take it in our stride and explain it doesn’t matter.
Much of the week is concentrated on play, so I can watch how the children interact, and decide what activities to plan going forward. I need to see who can count up to twenty, and which of them is familiar with the letters of the alphabet. Our topic for the week is ‘All About Me,’ and we talk about their families, friends, and pets, and about going to the shops, and places they might visit on a regular basis like the doctor’s surgery and dentists.
Of course, a big part of the first week is settling the parents, too. Those who already have several school-age children know it’s best to walk away without looking back, but for many this is the first time they’ve had to leave their little ones, and they’re as stressed as the kids. I reassure where I can, and if the child is upset, promise I’ll ring Mum or Dad at break time to let them know they’ve settled, which they invariably have.
On top of all this are staff meetings and all the paperwork that goes along with teaching—noting each child’s level of progress. It helps that it’s not my first year, and I’ve learned from my mistakes. I already have detailed lesson plans, and I know the importance of getting organized before classes start.
As the week draws to a close, I feel the usual exhaustion that accompanies it, but I also feel a seed of excitement settle in my stomach. Next Wednesday, Titus is due to arrive. Since I left New Zealand two weeks ago, we’ve spoken on Zoom every day, usually when it’s evening here, once Titus has arrived at his office in the morning. He also texts and emails me, and I’m used to feeling my phone buzz against my hip half a dozen times through the morning.
I miss him terribly, and I can’t wait for him to get here. We’ve decided that we’ll stay at the cottage in Briarton for a few weeks at least, and then once he’s here and settled in at Acheron, we can talk about where we go from there. I think we’ll probably rent somewhere between here and Acheron, maybe in Exeter. I’m excited to look at properties, and to move in with him.
I had his grandmother’s ring altered, and now it fits comfortably on my finger. I’ve shown all my friends and the other teachers who’ve noticed and asked about it. I adore it, and I’m so touched that it belonged to his grandmother. It means a lot more to me than a huge diamond that’s just for show.
On Friday afternoon, I wait for the last pupil to be picked up after three p.m., then spend an hour tidying the classroom, replenishing the supplies, and jotting down some observations. At four there’s a staff meeting, and that takes forty-five minutes, so it’s close to five p.m. before I’m finally done for the day.
It’s only four a.m. in New Zealand, so I’m not expecting to hear from Titus yet. Occasionally he has texted me that early if he’s woken up, but usually the first I hear from him is in the evening. I keep my phone in my pocket anyway, just in case.
He’s been a bit distracted the last few days. I’m not surprised—this close to leaving, he’s got to be feeling the pressure of handing over the running of his company. I know he’s been training his team in Auckland, and also meeting with Saxon several times to make sure he’s comfortable with the organization.
Unfortunately he had to skip our usual Zoom call last night because he had an important early morning meeting with his research team, so it’s been a couple of days since I’ve spoken to him. He did text me this morning, and he was as chatty and loving as ever, but I still miss him. Still, Wednesday isn’t long. I’ll keep myself busy this weekend, and weekdays always fly by.
