Page 83 of The Village of Lost and Found

As she headed into the darkness of the pub, she found her mood darkening as she realised just how much it would upset her if Tom went out with Bridget.

Which meant that her feelings towards Tom were beginning to be far more than just a crush.

45

When Lucy carried the packets of crisps outside to the pub garden, a cloud had moved across the setting sun. Which at least gave her a good view as to what was going on. Everyone appeared to be gathered in a sort-of semicircle with, of course, Bridget at the centre of things.

‘Go on,’ she was saying.

Lucy headed over to their table and put the crisps down. ‘What’s going on?’ she asked.

‘I have a horrible feeling I know the answer to that one,’ said Amber, looking downcast.

Lucy looked around to see where Molly had got to. And that was when she realised. Molly was standing in the middle of the garden, looking very uncomfortable at being the centre of attention.

Meanwhile, Bridget was giving Gary a shove in Molly’s direction. ‘Go on,’ she told him, as ever, her loud voice carrying. ‘Just like we planned.’

‘Oh no,’ murmured Lucy, sinking down onto the edge of the table. ‘I’m not sure I can watch this.’

‘We have to,’ said Amber. ‘For Molly’s sake.’

Gary was now standing in front of Molly wearing his usual gormless smile. ‘Now, I know it’s your birthday and you thought I hadn’t got you a present,’ he said. ‘Well, I’ve got the best present you can ever have. Me!’ He laughed.

Bridget joined in, but everyone else was looking at each other in bewilderment.

‘What do you mean?’ asked Molly, wide-eyed.

Gary rolled his eyes. ‘She doesn’t get it,’ he said, laughing.

‘I told you that you’d have to do it properly!’ said Bridget, roaring with laughter. ‘She’ll never understand otherwise.’

So, after a moment’s hesitation, Gary sank onto one knee and held out a small ring box.

Lucy heard Belle’s soft groan.

‘Will you marry me?’ said Gary loudly, grinning around at everyone as if to make sure that they were all watching him. Which, of course, they were.

Lucy glanced over at Tom, who was frowning as he watched them. Then she turned her attention back to Molly, who was blushing bright red and looking mortified.

‘Gary,’ said Molly, her voice almost a whisper.

‘She’s lost for words!’ shouted Bridget. ‘Put the ring on and let’s get the drinks in to celebrate.’

Gary immediately leapt up and tried to grab Molly’s hand. But she pulled it back and held on to it with her other hand tightly, shaking her head.

‘Don’t be an idiot,’ they all heard Gary say. ‘You’ve got to put the ring on to make it official.’

But Molly was still shaking her head.

Gary was beginning to look cross now. ‘You’re embarrassing me, as usual,’ he hissed at her. ‘Put the ring on.’ He tried to pull her hand out, but Molly had become an immoveable object and wasn’t budging.

‘What’s going on?’ asked Bridget, stepping forward. ‘Stop messing about! Let him put the ring on your finger. Honestly! What are you like?’

Molly finally found her voice. ‘No.’

It wasn’t said very loudly, but the word carried and Lucy found she was holding her breath.

‘No? What do you mean no?’ snapped Gary.