Page 54 of Love on the Run
Beth and Archie appeared horrified.
“Oh, no, we were sick all right,” Beth said.
Archie scowled. “I’m never getting on a boat again.”
Hannah tried not to laugh. “So, what did Monica say?”
Beth’s expression softened. “Her answer was yes.”
Hannah waited for them to continue.
“If you want the details, Mum, you’re gonna have to ask Dad,” Archie said.
Hannah pouted. “Why can’t you tell me?” She didn’t even try to hide her disappointment.
Beth frowned at her mum. “Because we were holed up in bed when he proposed.”
“Trying not to throw up,” Archie added.
“So you were still on the catamaran at the time? Poorly? And your dad carried on with his plans, instead of taking you back to shore?” Hannah pictured Carl and Monica out at sea watching the sun go down, Carl dropping to one knee, then pulling out a ring box from his pocket and opening it up. She saw Monica’s eyes brighten as tears of joy threatened. An ice-bucket, home to a bottle of champagne, sat to one side in readiness. All to the sound of her children retching in their cabins. What kind of monster was he?
“I can tell you the ring Dad gave her is an absolute rock,” Beth said.
“Nothing like the piddly thing he got for you,” Archie said.
Not only had Hannah never been one for big showy jewellery, she knew she’d always have a soft spot for her little engagement ring. Its diamond might’ve been small and the gold band it was set into thin, but when Carl had given it to her, it was the sentiment that counted. At the time, that ring had meant as much to Hannah as Monica’s boulder, no doubt, meant to her. Hannah simply hoped Carl’s second attempt at marriage would turn out to be more successful.
“Maybe you’ll do better second time round and get a rock too?” Beth said.
Hannah frowned. “What do you mean? Who says I want to get married again?”
“That’s what we want to talk to you about.” Archie straightened himself up in his seat. “We’ve been discussing things, haven’t we, Beth?”
Beth nodded.
Archie carried on. “And we think it’s time for you to start dating.”
“That’s if you’re not already,” Beth said. “I mean, you and that Gabe chap seem to be getting a bit pally.”
Hannah let out a laugh. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
“Please, Mum, we’re being serious here,” Archie said.
Hannah immediately fell quiet. The two of them might still be teenagers, but they were evidently trying to have a grown-up conversation. It was only fair she listened to them. “I’m sorry. Please, continue.”
“We don’t think it’s fair that Dad’s had all these girlfriends and now gets to marry Monica,” Beth said. “While you’re stuck looking after us.”
Beth’s words horrified Hannah. “What do you mean? I’m not stuck with anyone.” She immediately regretted letting Carl take Beth and Archie to France. The man had clearly been putting ideas in their heads. “You’re my children. Not only do I love you, I’d do anything for you.”
“We get that, Mum. But take your boat comment just now,” Archie said. “You really would have missed out on one of the biggest moments of your life because we felt sick.”
“Not any old sick,” Hannah reminded them. “You were seasick.”
“And what about that Uncle Denis you mentioned?” Beth said. “He was obviously important to you, but you didn’t get to go to his funeral because you were too busy thinking of us.”
As much as Hannah appreciated what they were saying, she couldn’t say she liked it. “I’m your mum. That’s my job.”
Hannah hadn’t lied to Aunt Dorothy when she’d said she used her business degree to its full effect as a parent. Since the day Beth and Archie were born, she’d taken everything she’d learned and efficiently fine-tuned every task that came with raising children, doing up and running a house, all the while maintaining a full-time job. She’d adapted and re-perfected what had to be done every time needs and circumstances changed.
