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sixty-six

DANIEL

“Is he here?” Ben’s dad asked.

I peeked through the lace curtains. “I don’t think so. I haven’t seen his headlights.”

Tony checked his watch. “He shouldn’t be too far away. Do you want to make sure the fairy lights are working?”

“It’s too late. If we put them on now, he’ll see them from the road.” I took a deep breath. “Is everyone ready in Acorn Cottage?”

“As ready as they’ll ever be.”

“And the food and drink?”

“Jonathon’s got that sorted.” Tony studied my face. “It’ll be okay. What’s the worst that could happen?”

“He could say no.”

“That’s true.”

A beam of light cut across the room.

Tony leaped away from the window. “He’s here!”

My blood pressure plummeted. “I’m going to faint.”

“No, you’re not. I’ll be inside, ready to turn on the lights.” Tony sent me a worried frown. “If you feel like vomiting, do it in the garden.”

“Are they the best words of wisdom you’ve got?”

Tony chuckled. “Believe me. This is the easy part.”

I didn’t think anything could be as nerve-wracking as tonight. After ten days of planning, I was finally going to ask Ben to marry me. And if I made it outside without vomiting, I’d die a happy man.