“It was fantastic,” Tara exclaimed, holding up her hand to show Max the ring. “We’re engaged.”
Max’s smile widened. “Oh, that is good news. Congratulations.” He kissed Tara on the cheek and shook John’s hand. “I’m delighted for you. Not surprised, but delighted.”
“Many thanks, Max,” John said as Tara gave him another kiss on the cheek.
“You’re the first to know about our engagement,” Tara told him. “We’ll tell everyone else a bit later.”
Max chuckled. “Well, I’m sure that, like me, your friends won’t be too surprised at your news.”
After Max left, Tara called Marie and Nina and arranged to meet them at the pub in the evening. Listening in, John could hear Tara struggling to keep her excitement in check. “No, no special reason, only that I’ve missed you.”
That evening, while John and
