Page 107 of Coming Home to Wishington Bay
‘Only a starter.’
‘Let’s get you something else.’
‘No, really.’ I stayed him with my hand. ‘Honestly. I know my stomach is saying something different but I don’t think I could eat anything.’
As it turned out I managed to force myself to snaffle down at least half of Gabe’s king-size Mars bar, which did at least stop the rumbling.
‘I’m sorry if I came in at an awkward time earlier. In the restaurant, I mean.’
‘Truthfully, it couldn’t have been more perfect. I owe Carrie a huge bouquet for choosing to go into labour this evening.’
‘I’m not sure Carrie had much to do with it. Babies don’t tend to stick to schedules.’
‘Well then, he or she gets a massive present too.’
‘Although, if we’re being pedantic, I was actually the one who came into the restaurant and stopped him full flow.’
‘Wow. Needy much? Fine. You get a present too. Happy?’
His mouth tipped up a little, almost tentatively. ‘That was some diamond.’
‘Yep. But then Paul always did like to try and outdo people. I’d heard his ex had got engaged to a hedge fund manager and is sporting quite a rock herself, definitely a traded-up version of the one she had from him.’
‘You think that’s what all that was about?’
‘Honestly?’ I shrugged, turning towards him. ‘I have no idea. I know the ring itself will be. With Paul it’s never been about keeping up with the Joneses, it’s about getting two steps ahead of them.’
‘And the other? The proposal? Surely someone doesn’t do that just to prove a point. He must care for you.’
‘Must he?’
‘You don’t think so?’
‘I don’t know. Which is certainly a good enough reason for saying no. If someone proposes you should know with every fibre of your being that they love you, and they’re doing it because they want to make a statement about that.’
‘I think I know the answer to this one, but I take it you don’t have feelings for him anymore?’
‘No. None. Not even anger really now. Holding on to all that stuff was just making me feel worse, and I didn’t deserve to feel like that. So, I let it go.’
‘That’s great.’
I shrugged. ‘Some days are better than others. Some days I still want to kick him in the nuts so hard his grandchildren would be sopranos – but apart from that.’
Gabe nodded. ‘That’s great, Holly. I’m glad you’re working it all out.’
‘Thanks.’
‘Can I ask another question?’
I glanced at the doors to the delivery room. ‘Why not? Doesn’t look like we’re going anywhere for a while.’
‘That whole soprano thing?’
‘Uh-huh.’
‘Does that apply to me too?’
I rubbed my left thumbnail with the pad of my right thumb, then shook my head. ‘No.’
