Page 52 of And A Partridge on Pear Street

“How would he know?”

“I asked his permission.”

I blink at him. “That’s…archaic.”

He smiles, all Elvis and charm. “Maybe, but if your dad was still around, he would have appreciated being asked, so I did the next best thing.”

My eyes sting and I swallow back the tears. “That’s sweet, Jake. That’s really sweet.”

“Come on, Mrs. Partridge, let’s get to your brother’s. I want to see baby Mary before she goes to bed.”

I roll my eyes but fall in love with him a little more every time he fawns over my niece. To be fair, she is pretty cute.

Harry and Lisa are all smiles as they greet us at the door, looking cool, calm, and relaxed, as though they aren’t just embarking on a four-day extravaganza, hosting Christmas for twenty-one people! That’s right, tomorrow Jake’s parents, sister, brother-in-law, niece, and nephew arrive as well as everyone from last year. Lisa is perfectly made up, not so much as a crease in her pretty holly and ivy dress.

“You’re here!” She wraps me in a warm hug, and I squeeze her back. “You look fantastic.”

“So do you,” I smile at her then give my brother a peck on the cheek.

We pass them into the porch and deposit our coats and shoes. When we look back at them, they both look at us with palpable excitement and expectation.

“What?” I ask, nervously.

“Have you got any news for us?” Harry asks, practically bouncing on his feet. His eyes flicking quickly to my hand.

I roll my eyes. “You couldn’t have let me get a drink first?” But I hold up my hand and show them my ring. Lisa squeals and jumps up and down, clapping her hands. Harry slumps slightly, looking to the ceiling as if saying,finally.

We hug and kiss and cry and laugh until Harry ushers me into the living room where everyone is waiting and urges me to say it out loud.

“Jake and I are engaged.”

Everyone cheers so loudly that baby Mary bursts into surprised tears and we all coo over her to turn her frown upside down. Rhiannon hugs me, her new baby bump just starting to show and when Freddie and Margot see me, they come over to say hello. They recognise me now after seeing them throughout the year at birthday celebrations and parties. I’m so happy that they have warmed to me as much as they have Jake.

“Nelly-Belly!” Lucas charges into me, squeezing my waist so tight I can barely breathe. Harry stopped using my childhood nickname as soon as I asked him to, but I couldn’t bring myself to ask Lucas to, it seems so much more affectionate from him.

“Hey, buddy.”

“Hi Aunty Nels-Bells.”

“Hi Ozzy.”

“You and Uncle Jake are going to get married?” Lucas asks.

“Yep, what do you think about that?”

“So cool,” Lucas says. “I was a pageboy for Mummy’s friend’s wedding and I was really good at it, just so you know.”

“We’ll bare that in mind, buddy.” Jake chuckles as he comes up to my side, handing me a cocktail as he kisses my cheek.

The boys scurry back to play with their little sister and the room around us fills with the sound of chatter and laughter.

“I love you, Jake Partridge.”

“I love you too, little elf.”