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“I love it. It’s in a really great position and it’s got a great window space.”
“Oh I know.” She claps her hands together with glee. “I can already picture it now.”
Pru looks very different from the young lady who left the center over a year ago. Now her pale skin is tanned and freckly, her eyes seem sparkly and happier, her hips are curvier, and her light wavy hair tumbles down her back. She carries a confidence with her too which wasn’t there before, she doesn’t ever get shy around anyone. She even tells people how she feels if she doesn’t like how they’re acting which is a massive turn around for her. I couldn’t be prouder. Now that Pru has actually dealt with the after effects of her parents’ deaths – in particular her fathers’ – she’s doing much better. I’m so glad that I’ve been through this journey with her.
“So, what are your plans for tonight?” I ask Pru, hoping that I sound innocent enough. “Are you headed out with Rosie and the girls or are you planning a quiet one in?”
The group of friends that Pru has now are incredible. I can tell that she doesn’t feel out of her depth with them the way that she did with the girls in New York. I know that she still keeps in touch with Alice now and again, but these ones are much more suitable for her. All supportive and kind, generous and sweet, always with her best interests at heart. And their social lives don’t revolve around drinking, which is always a positive. Pru needs that, it’s much better for her.
“No, I haven’t made any plans. Why has Freddie been on at you to go out?”
That’s one of the more significant changes, I think. I actually have a big group of friends of my own. I haven’t been the same closed off guy I once was and it’s paid off massively. I finally have people that I can confide in about anything, and I have to say it feels incredible.
“No, no, I just thought that maybe you and I could have a date night. A dinner, or something.”
I wrap my arm around her shoulder and pull Pru in for a kiss. I’m hoping that I can distract her from my real purpose by showering her in romance. This is something that I’ve managed to keep a secret for months, I don’t want to blow it now. If I can pull this off it’ll be best shock ever.
“Oh, that sounds nice. It’s been forever since we’ve had just a me and you night, hasn’t it? We’ve both simply been so busy… but good busy, right? Sorting out the business and things.”
“Yeah and doing the house renovations. That’s been pretty cool as well.”
Now that we’re more settled, we have a home of our own. A lovely little beach side cottage that’s near enough to civilization that we aren’t ostracized, but that also gives us the privacy that we sometimes need. I love it, which is why I’ve put so much effort in to rebuilding the kitchen.
“I might get changed,” Pru says while glancing down. She has a bright pink bikini top on under a sheer tee shirt, and some board shorts. Maybe it isn’t everyone’s idea of a fancy but she looks so much like herself that I can’t resist her. “What do you think? Should I wear a dress?”
“No.” I bring my lips back down to hers again gently. “Don’t. Stay just as you are.”
“But where are we going? What if I need to look fancy?” She giggles adorably. “They might not want me to show up in a posh place like this. Where are we going?”
I lace my fingers through hers and start walking. She comes with me easily, not putting up even an ounce of fuss. “You just let me worry about where we’re going, okay?”
“Fine, fine, whatever. But on your head be it if it isn’t acceptable.”
I don’t reply, I simply smile to myself. The fact that I’ve been sorting this out for so long and now it’s actually happening is really exciting. It hasn’t been easy to get to this point, which is why it’s good that we both have so many friends that could help me get it done. I wouldn’t have been able to do it without them, they’ve saved my ass on more than one occasion. And now they should all be there, waiting expectantly for us to arrive. Hopefully. Fingers crossed this hasn’t gone wrong.
“Where are we going?” Pru asks me, sounding a bit more concerned now. “I don’t remember there being anywhere to eat around here. Are you sure we’re headed in the right direction…” Pru’s words fall apart as we finally get to the church which has been covered in purple flowers. She’s only ever mentioned it to me once, but I recall her saying to me that they were her favorite. It took a while to gather enough flowers to make it work, but it looks great now. “What is this?”
As Pru turns to look at me with a demanding expression on her face, I stifle a laugh. I’m getting used to that look now, especially when her hands go onto her hips which means I’m in real trouble… and there they go. Her eyebrows furrow, her eyes narrow, she purses out her lips.
“Do you remember how roughly a year ago I asked you in a very unromantic way to marry me?” I still cringe at the memory of how I just blurted it out. It’s so embarrassing. “Well, because that was such a failure, I wanted to do something to make it up to you. So, I’ve organized our wedding for us.”
“The whole thing?” She claps her hands to her mouth in shock. “Are you serious? That’s just… that’s too much, I don’t know what to say. It’s the sweetest thing ever.”
“You don’t mind?” I need to ask just in case. “You aren’t mad that you can’t do it.”
“Not at all. You know me, I’m not one for all the fussy details. I love that you did this.”
I drop down to one knee, determined to do it a little better this time. “Pru, I love you, more than anything in the world. Will you do me the honor of marrying me today in front of all the important people in our lives? Will you make me the happiest man alive and be my wife?”
“No.” She shakes her head with a very serious expression on her face, but then just as I think I might vomit she breaks out into a smile. “I’m just kidding, of course I will. You know that it’s all I’ve ever wanted in my life. To be your wife.” She pulls me up into a standing position. “Come on, let’s do this. I’m excited to see what it’s like inside since you’ve done such a good job out here.”
As she drags me along I can’t help bursting into laughter. “You know, it isn’t really traditional for the wife to drag the husband down the aisle. I’m supposed to already be there, waiting for you.”
She spins around and rises up onto her tiptoes to kiss me. “Nothing about me and you have been traditional, so why should this be? We might as well do this as unconventionally as we can.”
Once she pushes open the doors, all of our friends burst into cheers. They’ve probably been waiting here for ages for us to arrive, most of them got here early to make sure they didn’t miss out on the surprise part, but they are still really happy for us. Despite the fact that we came here to start again and to keep our identities hidden, a lot of them know how we met now, and they’ve been endlessly supportive. They don’t have a history of judgment to go with it, they just see how happy me and Pru make one another, how we improve each other and life our spirits. They appreciate that and love us for it. Enough to be here for the majority of the day.
“Oh, my goodness,” Pru gasps as her eyes well up with happy tears. “I can’t believe this. It’s too much. Everyone is here… oh my God, even Alice and Becky! You got them here too!”
