Page 125 of The Side Road
‘What?’ He laughed.
‘I’m serious. I want to marry you. Then I want to have a baby. We can live in my house, with Tash, our new baby, and a Labrador.’
‘That’s what you want?’
‘Yes. It’s going to be great. We can have a simple backyard wedding under a tree. I’ll make my wedding dress. After we’re married, you’ll work at the garage with weekends off, and wear overalls with a rag in your back pocket. I’ll complain about the oil stains on your work clothes, but I’ll still wash them. How does that sound?’
With a stifled laugh, he asked, ‘Are you going to make my lunch before you send me off to work?’
‘Yes. But it will just be sandwiches. I’ll wrap them in paper and fold the edges down neatly. Please say you’ll marry me?’
‘Can I think about it?’
‘I don’t understand why you’re hesitating. It’s not an unreasonable request. I have a great house, a good career, and an amazing dog. My plaster will be off in a month, and I’ll be good as new.’
Oliver, still laughing, said, ‘You’re a good catch? Is that what you’re saying?’
‘If you’re not interested, that’s fine. But if you know anyone who might want to apply for the position of husband, could you send them my way? I’d also like to point out that you’re unemployed, you can’t cook, and you still haven’t found the missing money.’
‘Mia, you should get everything you want, eventually.’
‘Maybe two babies.’
‘You had me at one. Mia, I love you. You are the most beautiful, kind-hearted, funny, smart woman I have ever met. I’m overwhelmed by everything you do. I’ve even taken up knitting. I know the difference between two-ply and four-ply. I can do this because I love you.’
‘Right, well this is good…’
He raised his chin. ‘I haven’t finished. I’ve developed a Pavlov’s dog response to the sound of clicking needles. It makes me happy because it means you’re close to me. You send my heart racing, but you also make it stop.’
‘Goodness, you go all the way.’
‘Still not finished – and this has just come to me – you don’t think you’re brave, but you are. Not fearless, but still brave, although your tolerance to physical pain is minute.’
‘I’d like a hug, please.’
Oliver wrapped Mia in his arms. She buried her head in his chest.
39
ALFA ROMEO
With her plaster-covered forearm,Mia held down the base of the knitting machine. Her free hand wound the handle. The needles clicked together. ‘I could do this all day,’ she said.
‘It might take you six years to make a jumper,’ Oliver said. They were in the parsonage kitchen. Hovering over his laptop, he was researching second-hand cars.
‘If I posted this on social media, it might get a hundred thousand views.’
‘Do you want a hundred thousand views?’
‘At the moment, no. How much did this cost to make?’
‘About a dollar.’
‘Plus the cost of the needles and wool, that would make it around fifteen dollars. Then there’s admin charges, overheads, packing and shipping.’ She looked at Oliver. ‘Do you think…?’
‘No,’ he said. ‘But you could galvanise the Men’s Shed movement. I found a car for you. It’s perfect.’ He spun his laptop around and showed her the screen.
She considered the images of the four-door sedan. ‘Oh yes, I like it. What sort of car is it?’
