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“You could be partners with Dex and farm goats.”
“The goats I wouldn’t mind, but business partner with Dex? Nah. I know him too well. That would surely kill me. It’s best if we stay just friends.”
We’re quiet for a while. The waiter clears our plates.
“How about dessert?” Cam asks.
“Maybe.”
“What about some ice cream?” Cam waves at the waiter who nods, then disappears.
He soon returns with two spoons and a large white plate with two scoops of vanilla ice cream nestled in a bed of strawberries. I love you Molly is written around the rim in chocolate sauce. I can’t hold in my tears anymore. The waiter brings me another serviette and a box of tissues.
Dinner at the Old Oak was such a romantic moment. But Cam didn’t propose that time.
In hindsight, I should have clicked that something was going on when Lydia came to see me at the library. That in itself was not unusual. We often had lunch together and sometimes she would stop by just to say hi. But this particular day Lydia stopped by the library to see if I was free for lunch, there was something suspicious about it.
We each got a take-out sandwich from The Half Moon Café and went to the park to eat, picnic-style. She asked me about Cam, and I filled her in with details of him surprising me at the library. Then having dinner at the Old Oak Bar & Grill and the I love you ice cream.
“Wow! Sounds like an absolute dream.”
“Yes. I’m walking on air. Things couldn’t be better.”
“No?”
“No. Not really. I mean it’ll be better when Cam is living here. He’s on leave and still needs to move out of his apartment. But, gosh Lydia, I’m so in love. He is unbelievably sweet and kind and... oh, everything. I never dreamed that I would feel like this.”
“And he is absolutely in love with you too.”
“Yes. I know. It’s wonderful, isn’t it?” I’m squeezing Lydia’s hand with excitement.
“So has he proposed yet?”
“What? No. It’s a bit soon, don’t you think?”
“Not at all. I mean when you know, you know, right?”
“We haven’t even been dating properly.”
“What does that matter? And you have been dating, sort of… spending time together, organizing the Spring Fair?”
“Ah yes. And then there was that hiccup.” I laugh at it now. How I got all defensive and upset on Cam’s driveway and said some terrible things.
“And you’ve moved on. So, now things are hunky dory, huh?”
“Yes. I would say so. The hunkiest doriest that things can be.”
“So, what would you say, you know, if Cam popped the question? Hypothetically speaking.”
“Are you nuts, Lydia? Well, yes, of course.” I laugh. “There’s no way I would say no to that wonderful man and let him get away. In fact, if he doesn’t ask me soon, I might just have to ask him. And why not?”
“Well, we could practice with this ring. Where’s your finger.” Lydia takes off one of her rings and puts it on my wedding finger. “Does it fit? Mmmm. That’s a bit big,” she says, then takes it off and puts it back on her finger. “Try this one?” Lydia takes off another ring and offers it to me. This one slides on my wedding finger with ease. “Perfect!” she says.
The significance of this conversation didn’t resonate with me until later that evening. After work, Cam met me at the library. I locked up and we walked home the long way round. It was a beautiful evening: warm and golden.
We walked past Westie’s car yard and laughed about the first time that we met and reminisced about the fire that burned itself out.
“I’ve been in love with you since I saw you stomping toward the firetruck, that first day,” Cam says, squeezing my hand gently. I lean my head against his shoulder.
