I stared at the blindfold in his hand recalling how Leo had just deigned to call me strange. “Why?” I asked, suspicious.
“Because I want you to.”
I eyed the length of black cloth. Unless Leo was about to dump me by standing me in front of a firing squad, blindfolds symbolised a surprise celebration, not an ending.Oh, Lordy.As I took in Leo’s eager expression, I asked myself how I could have been so stupid. Wanting to take back every negative thought I’d had about the man, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. If only I could figure out what we were meant to be commemorating. Although in that moment, we could have been rejoicing the arrival of spring, such was my relief.
“Tess, are you okay?” Leo asked.
I let out a whimper and grabbed the banister to steady myself. “Yes and no,” I replied, my voice suddenly three octaves higher. I hastily stepped forward and throwing my arms around him, hugged Leo tight. As I breathed in the scent of his aftershave, I felt his body relax and his arms envelop me. Enjoying the moment, I couldn’t believe all the misery I’d put myself through.
I suddenly pulled back. “Stay where you are.” Leaving him stood there, I calmly headed down the hall and into the kitchen. Letting myself out into the garden, I paused for a moment, before finally allowing my emotions to burst forth. I jumped up and down and squealed in delight, not caring that I looked like a complete idiot as I launched myself into a range of happy dances. Being wrong had never felt so right.
Finally I stopped, and Floss, Carlton, and Moonwalk over with, I took a second to centre myself, ready for events to continue. Re-entering the house and making my way back down the hall, I repositioned myself at the foot of the stairs and took a deep breath. “You were saying?”
While a part of me was overwhelmed with happiness, another part felt mortified. On the one hand, Leo hadn’t been working up to theIt’s not you, it’s mespeech at all. On the other, when it came to dates and special occasions, I had a memory like a sieve. Wracking my brains, I knew it couldn’t have been Leo’s birthday. Not only wouldn’t there be a blindfold involved if it had, in my small circle of family and friends, such celebrations were like proverbial buses. They all came at once. To say the back end of the year was an expensive time was an understatement. With Christmas on top, my bank account took a hammering.
Of course none of that made me feel any less guilty. While Leo had secretly made plans to mark some special occasion, I hadn’t only failed to mention it, I didn’t even know what it was. No wonder Leo had been distant; he was probably disappointed in me. In his position, I’d have been the same.
I sneaked a glance towards the lounge, hoping to spot balloons or a banner that might give me a clue, but the old oak door was firmly shut. “It’s our anniversary, isn’t it?” I said, tentative. “Of the day we met?”
Leo chuckled, enough to tell me I’d guessed wrong.
I didn’t mind him laughing at me. It was the first genuine smile I’d seen on Leo’s face since he got back from Cumbria. I wrinkled my nose and took another stab. “Of the day you moved in?”
Still the man said nothing.
My shoulders slumped. Whatever I’d forgotten, it was clearly important. “Come on, Leo. Help me out here.” I was beginning to feel desperate.
He indicated the blindfold. “Not until you cover your eyes.”
“But you know I don’t like surprises.”
Leo refused to give in.
Observing his determination, it was clear I had little choice in the matter. Not that I was in any position to argue. We’d have been there all night if I’d had to work it out. “Okay,” I said, my shoulders slumping. “If I must.”
Leo tied the blindfold around my head, before fiddling with the fabric at the front to make sure I couldn’t see. “You ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” With my world suddenly black, I felt Leo take my hand and as he guided me the few steps to the lounge, butterflies fluttered in my tummy. Opening the door to let us in, I felt the warmth of the open fire and heard the crackling of logs. He steered me to the couch and lowered me into a seating position.
“No peeking,” he said.
As he let go of me completely, I sensed him step back. I heard shuffling and then Leo whispering something. “What’s going on?” I asked. “Who else is here?” Curious as to who Leo was talking to, I suddenly felt self-conscious. If I’d known we had company, I’d have foregone the flannelette.
“You can take it off now,” Leo said.
Untying the blindfold, I had to blink to clear my vision. At last able to focus, my breath caught, and I put a hand up to my mouth. A smile spread across my face at the sight of Otis sitting patient and still. “So that’s what the dog treats were about,” I said. I gaped at the ring that balanced on the black Labrador’s nose – a gold band, home to a huge solitaire diamond. My look fell on the neckerchief he wore, which bore the wordsWill you marry my daddy?Tears threatened my eyes as I turned my attention to Leo.
Crouched on one knee, he looked nervous. “Well?” he said. “Will you?”
I struggled to get my head around what was happening. Moments before, it was as if I’d been plummeting down the steepest of tracks bracing myself for a crash landing into singledom; only to suddenly find myself racing skywards again. As my regard flitted from Leo to Otis to Leo, I couldn’t imagine a proposal more romantic. My tears began to fall, and my heart swelled. I nodded. “Yes,” I said, my voice barely audible.
Leo’s face broke into a smile, before he jumped to his feet and pulled me up into an embrace. Planting his lips firmly on mine, he lifted me into the air and spun me round. Dropping me back down onto terra firma, he produced a treat from his pocket and turning to Otis, gave him a fuss before swapping the ring for the dog biscuit.
I smiled with glee as Leo took my hand.
“You sure about this?” he said.
Again, I nodded, and I couldn’t help but giggle as he placed the engagement ring on my finger. “So, it’s not some anniversary then?”
