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“Oh, I’m so sorry.” She gripped my fingers, hard. Tears welled up in her eyes, and I brushed them away with my thumbs.
“My name was kept out of the press as I was underage. I kinda lost the plot for a while afterward. Got hooked on Valium. But I gave the police Ramos’ name and evidence of his criminal activities by video at his trial.” My shoulders slumped. “I didn’t turn eighteen until the following November. Somehow, I’d managed to start elementary school a year before I should have, due to my parents’ lying about how old I was so they’d get me out of the flat and off their hands.”
Hayley let out a gasp. “No wonder you came under the influence of the wrong people…”
“Yeah, it was Mr. Phillips who saved me. But I’ve carried the guilt for his death ever since.”
“It wasn’t your fault,” she murmured.
“I hate to contradict you, love, but it totally was. If you changed your mind about marrying me, it would kill me but I wouldn’t blame you. Not in the least.”
“Hey, honey. Not gonna happen.” She put her arms around me. “Didn’t I tell you I loved you despite your faults? Not that I’m saying your teacher’s murder was your fault,” she clarified. “It must have been horrible for you.”
I decided not to argue with her. She was only trying to comfort me. However, nothing she could say would change how I felt. If I hadn’t gotten involved with Ramos in the first place, Mr. Phillips would still be alive today, influencing kids to improve their lives. It was only Hayley’s love that made me feel slightly better about myself.
“Let’s take a dip,” I said, changing the subject.
We did as I suggested, swimming over to the edge of the pool, taking selfies with the Singapore skyscrapers as a backdrop. Of course we wouldn’t have fallen off—there was a hidden ledge below with railings—but the pictures made it look as if we could have.
Soon we decided to head back to our room to get dressed. It was time to shop for Hayley’s ring in the Cartier store, which was conveniently located in the resort itself.The four-carat diamond solitaire was in a box in my pocket as I sat next to Hayley in the car Joe had rented. The jewelry shop had been great about closing momentarily while she’d chosen the ring. I guessed they’d milk the publicity for all it was worth, especially after I’d persuaded her to opt for four carats instead of one.
Hayley was looking stunning, and I told her so. Dressed in a simple, sleeveless white linen dress, her hair reaching down to her waist, she knew what was about to happen, I think. I mean, it was obvious as I’d kept the ring after I’d paid for it, but at least I’d managed to keep the location secret from her.
“Oh, awesome!” Her eyes shone as Joe rolled the car to a stop. “The Ferris wheel.” Her smile would light the world. “So much bigger than the one at Santa Monica…”
“But perfect, don’t you think?”
“Perfect.”
I’d secretly booked the dining flight which included a four-course meal. I’d also paid to reserve the entire pod on the Ferris wheel so we’d have privacy. It was the size of a minibus and could have fitted at least ten people. Bloody lucky it wasn’t already taken. I hadn’t fancied sharing the venue with other couples.
We went aboard and sat at our table, the host keeping his distance at the far end of the capsule while he prepared a Chinese meal for us.
“You’re looking real handsome tonight.” Hayley raked her eyes over my beige linen suit. “I’ve never seen you so smart.” The white cotton dress shirt was open to my abs, showing the silver chain she’d given me. She reached across and fingered it.
“I snuck out of our room while you were having a bath before getting ready. Went with Joe to an Armani store and got this specially for the occasion,” I smirked. “Nothing but the best for my girl.”
Her blush was delightful. “I like that you left your hair loose like mine.”
“Not too dirty rocker for ya?” I winked, spearing a chicken roll with my chopsticks.
“Never.” Her eyes twinkled.
We sat holding hands and picking at our food in air-conditioned comfort while we stared out at the setting sun. Gradually, the color of the sky changed from a golden glow to a bright dazzle of lights as Singapore lit up below us.
“The view is incredible,” Hayley exclaimed as our pod reached the summit of the wheel. “Oh look!” she pointed. “You can see the dam we visited this morning.”
Our flight would last for an hour, which was two rotations, and I’d already decided to wait until we’d gotten to the top on the second revolution before popping the question. So, we enjoyed our seafood soup, followed by prawns with braised noodles, and talked a little more about our families. Hayley told me about her relationship with her mum, who’d never asked her if she’d lost her virginity when she was breaking her curfew as a teen. She said that her dad had always been there for her, and a great father.
