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Larry returned to his chair and hesitantly took a sip of wine. "Look, I'm not going to put you under any pressure. It's an open offer, you get back to when you want to. I know this is an unusual situation and I'm the reason we're in it. It would be wrong for me to rush you."
"Thank you, Larry. I do still care about you, it's just been a lot to take in, all of a sudden."
"I still love you, Sue. I never stopped loving you. I never stopped thinking about you from the moment I woke up to the moment I fell asleep. I'd wonder where you were and what you were doing. And most of all, I just missed holding your hand and walking with you at my side. It just felt wrong not having you with me. The last few months were a right off, a complete right off."
"That's so sweet, Larry. I've missed you terribly. Let's just take it easy and get back to where we were, ok? I'm sure everything will work out as long as we don't rush it."
* * *
"Happy Birthday, Jack! You're 3 years old already. You're amazing," Larry smiled as he hugged his favorite and only nephew."
"Wow, is he happy to see you? He was asking about you since breakfast. Thank God you made it, it would have been a rough evening for us otherwise," Joe smiled at his brother.
Larry took his jacket off and took a seat. "There's no way I'd have missed this. He's growing up so fast, another year already. What are you feeding him?"
"Yeah, time flies when you've got a mischievous little boy in the house, that's for sure. Anyway, Larry, tell me, what's the latest with Sue?"
"We've been back together now for almost 8 months and everything is good. In fact, we get on better than we ever did. We've both grown up a lot, she doesn't nag me like she used to and I don't storm out when I get annoyed, so that's helped a lot," Larry laughed.
Joe patted his brother on the back. "That's great, I'm so pleased for you, for both of you. So, you going to get back on the marriage track?"
Larry nodded his head and loosened his tie. "Yes, actually, I'm trying to muster up the courage to ask her to marry me again. This'll be the third time I ask so I hope she says yes. I'm quite nervous about it. More nervous than I was the first time."
"I thought, you'd be a pro at it by now. I know people who have proposed twice or even three times but you are definitely the first guy I know who has proposed to the same woman three times," Joe laughed.
Larry smiled and shrugged his shoulders. "Tell me about it, it's not something I'm particularly proud of. Sue's mother must think I'm a total idiot. Can't blame her really."
"She'll say yes this time, Larry. Don't worry, the last time was different, I'm sure it'll all work out."
"I hope so, Joe. I can't imagine being with anyone else. I'm not joking, I can't go a day without seeing her."
Joe grabbed Larry's arm. "Sounds like true love alright. I'm still available to be your best man, Just let me know ok?"
* * *
Sue checked her make up, locked up and walked across to the park to meet Larry at the lake. She was happy, very happy. Larry was like a new man, they didn't argue anymore and even though her mother had her doubts about him, she no longer even cared if they got married. Maybe they'd move in together, maybe that's why he wanted to see her right away, it had all sounded so urgent on the phone.
Larry stood by the lake wearing a navy blazer and white chinos with a bunch of flowers in one hand and a bag of breadcrumbs in the other. He smiled as Sue approached. She looked beautiful in a white summer dress, her long brown hair tumbling down to her shoulders. He kissed her and held her, "Sue, you look beautiful, absolutely stunning, I'm the luckiest man in all of London."
"Yes you are and don't forget it," Sue joked, "And you don't look so bad yourself, very handsome indeed."
"Thank you. Here, a beautiful woman should always have fresh flowers and I brought some breadcrumbs too. A little angel told me you'd like to feed the ducks."
Sue beamed as the ducks quacked their way across the lake, she always loved feeding the ducks and the swans, and she loved the way Larry always made a point of stopping at a park so she could feed the birds whenever they visited a new town. It was her favorite thing.
"That's the lot, they must have been hungry," Larry put the empty bag in the bin and they walked on before sitting on a bench.
Sue looked into Larry's brown eyes and smiled. "This is a perfect day for the park. It's beautiful. So, what do you want to ask me?"
Larry put his arm around Sue's shoulder. "Oh yes, that. I'd like you to help me redecorate my house and help me pick out new colors and fabrics, all that stuff you're so good at."
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"Really?" Sue smiled, "You always strenuously objected before whenever I suggested it, why the sudden urgency to redecorate?"
"Because there's something else," Larry slid off the bench and went down on one knee, he looked up into Sue's clear blue eyes, "Sue I love you so much, I love you more than I've ever loved anyone. Will you marry me?"
Sue felt her heart miss a beat and then felt tears form in her eyes as she fell into Larry's arms, "Of course I will darling, how could I not, you're my Prince, my handsome Prince Charming." They kissed and he held her tight as she relaxed into those strong, muscular arms.
