Nick raised the kitchen blind, surprised to see the gardens shrouded in sheets of rain. He opened the fridge and poured himself a pineapple juice, thinking of the previous evening, thinking of Del’s delight when she found the ring in the crystal tulip, and of his own delight when she let him slip it on her finger. This was the start of an exciting new chapter in their lives, a consolidation and strengthening of their love. He’d been debating when to pop the question for a while, and last night had been the perfect time. They’d weather the challenge of a long-distance relationship best with this commitment in place
He sculled the glass of juice and turned on the espresso machine, wishing he hadn’t drunk quite so much bubbly the previous night. The kernel of a headache was germinating in hi
