Substitute for Lawson

16

- Do you think to get up today ?! - rang out like a bolt from the blue.

The dream, which had not been going to retreat before, disappeared somewhere abruptly, forcing Emily to wake up. Before the eyes of the frightened girl, a dark crown appears, which, as if nothing had happened, tossing and turning in a dream, opened a view of the sleeping relaxed face. Fox was touched for a second, but with a shake of her head, she took a sitting position and looked up at the recently heard voice. Mrs. Lowsen stood in the doorway, dressed in a home dress, which she belted with a kitchen apron.

“Good morning…” the blue-eyed squeak clearing her throat. While she blinked her eyes sleepily, she could not notice what a delicate position she was in.

- I certainly do not want to interfere with your idyll ... - the woman grunted slightly raising her eyebrows. - But, it's time to have breakfast ...

Alarmed by extraneous sounds, Damian spun in bed, trying to find a comfortable point for head contact, but since the pillow was generally somewhere to the side and nothing in the vicinity except Emily was found, he groped her legs with his hands, pulled himself up and clasped women's hips in a ring hands, buried his cheek, smacking his lips sweetly in his sleep. He clearly had no intention of getting up.

"D-Damian ..." Fox hissed timidly patting him on the shoulder. In response, she heard only a moo and felt how the man's hands gripped her legs tighter.

“Okay, you get up… I'm waiting for you,” the woman shook her head and quickly closed the door behind her.

- Damian! - Emily lightly punches the deputy on the shoulder, but realizing that this will not achieve anything, she tried with all her might to get out of this stranglehold. - You're not going to get up ?! Let me go and sleep on!

- Well, what ... - the "sleeping handsome man" muttered discontentedly, that he didn't even think to get up and let the girl go. - For me to sleep longer is not an allowable luxury! I just found a comfortable position, don't interrupt my sleep!

- But what does my knees have to do with it? Take your pillow and sleep on, well let go ... - resting on the man with her hands, Amy tried to push the heavy body.

- Damn it! - he growled and sat down sharply, staring at the girl.

- Just like that ... - she muttered in response and was about to get up, but not expecting the next seizure from the man, was thrown back into bed.

Changing his position once again, Damian still used Emily instead of a pillow, wrapping his arms and legs around her. It cost him nothing to easily crush the fragile body under him, which gave a plaintive whimper.

- Just relax. I can already feel how you tensed and seems to be trembling ... - the man breathed sleepily, burying his nose on the top of the girl's head. What a strange habit of hugging everything?

“Damian… your mother is waiting for us there, do you hear? She did come in!

- I heard everything perfectly, but I'm too lazy to get up ... We're playing a couple, right? So, this will show her once again that all this is not a bluff, lie still.

- Well, Damian, this is awkward ... - she spun harder, but it seems the boa constrictor has tightly twisted the poor rabbit in a deadly embrace.

- Emily, stop wriggling like a snake, you still won't do anything good, and if you don't want to excite me, then lie still.

And why does he so easily know how to drive into the paint with his directness ?!

- Okay ... - she surrenders and visibly relaxes, closing her eyes.

- Sorry, I couldn't sleep for a long time at night. For me for the first time, to lie in the same bed with a girl and not even touch her. I have to get used to ... And now, I terribly want to sleep and it seems to me to do it easier with you ... - he tried to justify himself and, finally falling into a slumber, the last words were difficult for him. It was almost impossible to make out them.

***

- Mom, let me take you to Regent Street, why would you come with us? - Damian puffed, moving quickly after the business mother, who did not want to stay at home at all.

- No, I want with you! - behind all this, Emily minced, touched by their similarity.

- We are going to apply, there is no need for a support group! You still either stay in the car ... or go for a walk! They won't let you in with us! He kept repeating.

- Okay! - when the woman stopped near her son's car, she gave him a murderous look. - Take me there! I'll choose the rings for you ...

- What?! You ... What other rings? Damian's voice broke into a scream. - We will choose and buy them ourselves!

- Then I go to the registration hall. - Briskly pulling a powder box out of a branded clutch, the woman coquettishly examined her face and gently ran it over her cheeks with a sponge.

- Mum! - the man growled nervously, to which she only smiled slyly and playfully smeared the same sponge on her son's nose, which made him stagger and began to rub the powdered place now. - Okay, choose what you want! - having fished the key out of his trouser pocket, nervously unlocked the car and opened his mother, the passenger back door, sat in a leather interior. So, something is missing. Turning his head around, the man found Emily standing next to the Aston Martin, which was parked nearby. - Why are you standing there ?! The three of us won't fit into a sports car. Damian said in the same barking tone.

- Don't shout at the girl! - the mother poked at her son, and slapping her hand on his hand, which at the moment held the door of the SUV, slammed the door quickly.

Lowsen snorted impatiently, glaring at the tinted glass and gritting his teeth as he sat behind the wheel.

“What a morning that is…” he muttered with displeasure, and out of the corner of his eye watched Emily climb into the next chair.

First of all, he dropped off his mother on Regent Street, which is one of London's main shopping streets. Now you can relax a little and forget about the annoying woman who pokes her neat nose everywhere.

“Really,” Damian let out a breath, following his mother with a gaze that headed toward the department store. - Well, how are you? - Turning his head towards the silent Emily, the man smiled faintly. - Ready?

“Yes,” she whispered as she exhaled.

- Although, I will ask for the last time? Emily raised her eyebrows in question. - Do you want to run away?

- Do you already have where? Fox grimaced. - Go.

In response, Damian just nodded, but so uncertainly, as if he himself could not make up his mind.

***

- Where exactly will your marriage registration take place? - the employee asked while filling out the papers.

“In the registration room,” Damian replied confidently, holding Emily's hand. He was terribly worried, therefore, hiding behind the fact that here you also need to behave like a couple, in front of the office he grabbed the girl by the hand. Emily all this time sat in silence and lowering her eyes to her knees, watched as Damian's hand moved excitedly and felt her fingers.

“Okay,” the woman nodded and, having finished her writing, handed the form to Damian. - You need to pay this fee, this fee and also pay for the marriage certificate. And in 28 days we are waiting for you to register!

Concentrated Damian, right up to the car itself, could not lower someone else's hand, which terribly flattered the girl. Walking a little ahead, he read the pieces of paper that the employee of the registration hall had just lent him.

- You can let go ... - Emily responded quietly when both were already standing by the black car.

- M? - Belatedly, the man turned around, raising his eyebrows inquiringly. Emily glanced down at their clasped palms, which immediately dawns on him and lets go of Fox's hand abruptly. - Sorry ... - mutters under his breath and after removing the car from the alarm opens the door, taking out a leather case from there, where he immediately removes the papers.

Without waiting for Damian to tell her to get into the car, the girl walks around the tall car and opens the door, sits on the seat and exhales with relief. It is not clear why, the cheeks are burning terribly, and the heart is beating as if it were about to explode. First, placing her hand on her chest, and then on the rosy cheeks, Emily takes a couple more deep breaths and exhalations.

- Go? - says Damian, getting behind the wheel.

- Where to?

- We have one capricious tyrant left there, who loves to be only for her. She already sent me a message that she looked after us rings. - he sighs wearily and throwing his newly locked phone on the panel, starts the car.

- Yes mom? - while the future newlyweds were heading towards Regent Street, he decided to clarify the location of Mrs. Lawsen so as not to stray for a long time. - What?! - the car brakes sharply at a traffic light, which is why Emily, who was not expecting, stares in surprise at the man who is now frowning. - When did you get to Oxford Street? The man whines, exhausted. - ... Yes, I know that it is not far away! What department store are you in now? Selfridges? Okay, we'll be there soon, I hope that by the time we get to you, you won't have time to leave.

The car had to be turned around.

- What? Where's she?

- She's always pretending to be helpless, but she walked around a bunch of department stores on two streets in just a couple of hours!

Having parked their car, young people inspect the building of the beginning of the last century, which is included in the List of National Heritage of the United Kingdom.

“Wow, beautiful,” Emily exclaimed admiringly, staring at the vintage shop windows as she trudged somewhere behind Damian, who was now more interested in finding his fussy mother than looking at the magnificent architecture of the mall. Stopping, the man turned to the voice, and only wanted to say something sharp in response, but froze with his mouth open when he saw Emily approaching one of the windows *, looking at something admiringly, like a child. The blue eyes shone with childish happiness.

- Like? He chuckled, standing behind her.

- Yes ... - she nodded, unable to take her eyes off the lights and bizarre plush toys.

“You look like you've never been here…” he grins, suppressing a chuckle, covering his mouth with his fist.

“I wasn’t…” she sighs sadly and turns around.

- Why? Damian felt a little uncomfortable.

- To go to such places, you need money ... - An indelible longing was read in the girl's eyes. He did not know what to insert in response, because if he was in such stores with girls, then they could only be surprised by the windows of jewelry stores, where it was desirable to have luxurious jewelry with precious stones.

- Come on, - Damian never came up with anything better than embracing a girl by the shoulder encouragingly. - It's even more beautiful inside! And then, after all, I ring promised ... made an offer, but did not give the ring. Isn't it a shame? - translating everything, he grinned to frivolous chatter. He pulled the girl with him, heading for the main entrance to the department store, but she pushed her boots against the stonework of the sidewalk and stopped. - What? - he was surprised, stopping with her.

- No need ... I was joking then about the ring!

- For that I was not joking! - the man again towed the stubborn to the glass doors, but she continued to resist.

- Don't waste your money so thoughtlessly! Why give an engagement ring to someone you don't even like ... that is, you? What's the point of this? Give a ring to the girl you love with all your heart! If you have it, of course ... - the secretary puffs out her cheeks, looking down. - After all ... if you do this with every person you meet ... everything will no longer make any sense.

Not knowing how to find at least a word, he puts his index finger in front of him, but even opening his mouth he cannot say anything. He has nothing to use as an excuse, and it's hard to argue with a woman. He sighs deeply and, closing his eyes for a second, stares at the girl more calmly.

- Okay. He agrees, nodding. “If it’s so important, then I won’t.

- Thank you…

- Amazing ... - shakes his head and grabbing Amy's hand, pulled her with all his might into the department store. - This is the first time I see such ... - can not find the last word to finish the phrase, and again casting a glance at her, frowns. - No, I wouldn’t use it. Where did you get that ... from Disney fairy tales?

- What? - did not hear the blonde, obediently walking a little behind him.

- Nothing. I say, since you don’t want a ring, then I’ll buy you ice cream. - he grunted in response.

The couple walked along the first floor of the building, even forgetting a little that they were going to try on rings. The girl was fascinated looking at the windows, and Damian just grunted, surprised at such a naive fool. Walking up the long hall, they climbed the escalator to the 3rd floor, where Mrs. Chon was to be waiting for them.

-Ah, there you are! - the voice of an adult woman was heard from the side. On the right side of them, at the entrance to the jewelry department, there was just an adult woman, but surprisingly a couple, she was not alone. On a small sofa next to Emily's future mother-in-law, Alice and Lucas settled down, playing a child's game with their daughter. - This way! - she called with a nod, and then Alice waved her hand.

- Why are you here? Damian chuckled at once, crossing his arms over his chest. - What is the general gathering?

- Uncle Damian! - Mia yelled happily, immediately distracted from playing with her father. Throwing herself into his arms, the little mischievous woman tightly wrapped her arms around the man's legs and, lifting her head, smiled sweetly.

- Princess, - the man immediately softened and, picking up the child in his arms, lightly snapped her on the nose. The girl giggled, and turning to Emily, who was standing next to her, smiled even more.

- They made me a good company, unlike you - the smug woman interjected, measuring her youngest son with a sly look. - And anyway, I haven't seen my granddaughter for a long time!

“By the way, yes,” the Kim spouses agree.

- Okay, okay! Aside from controversy, you should go for a fitting! - Rising from the leather sofa, Mrs. Lowsen coquettishly removed the fallen black strand behind her ear. - Let's go faster!

As if on cue, the whole company hurried to the store, and the future couple, embarrassed by all this booth, followed the last one.

- How are you doing? - for all the time, Emily managed to love Mia no less than Damian himself. While she was hanging in his arms, the girl gently stroked that snow-white cheek.

“Mmmm, okay…” The girl's light brown eyes shone even more. - What will you measure? - the question seems to have been asked not only to the girl.

“Rings,” Damian interjected, smiling tenderly at his goddaughter.

- What kind? - the girl made a funny face, which made the girl giggle.

- Engagement, - he continued to answer the baby, crossing the threshold of the store.

- What is it like? - the baby did not calm down, simultaneously examining the illuminated windows, it seems they were very much interested in her.

- Like mom and dad, - seeing in front of her whispering mother, who beckoned the two of them to one of the windows, where Lucas and Alice were already looking at something, Damian lowered the girl to the floor and squatted in front of her. - We will soon become husband and wife.

- Truth?! - the little interlocutor beamed, clapping her hands. - Who will you give birth to? - the hereditary smile of the Kim family immediately appeared on the girl's face. But this question put the couple into a complete stupor. Both blinked at the girl, who was impatiently awaiting an answer from them.

- Mia! - Alice's voice was heard not far, to which the little mischievous woman was distracted. - Don't bother your aunt and uncle, let's go I'll show you something, - the mother winked slyly at her daughter, so that she was clearly interested in this. - Come on, - holds out her hand to the child, for which she immediately grabs. Calling a free seller, the girl asks to show something and takes the child to another part of the store.

- Mom, and who is Uncle Damian and Aunt Emily give birth ?! - and yet, the jewelry did not interest her as much as the question of the future offspring of her beloved uncle and aunt.

- Well, where are you? - Damian did not hear what Alice answered, because the impatient mother called out to the couple again. Encouragingly exchanging glances, the future newlyweds approached that ill-fated showcase, where a rather large number of pairs of rings were already waiting for them.

- Emily, of course I forgot to ask you about your finger size, but if it's too big or small, you can pick up something else. The woman purred as she watched the sales assistant carefully pull out designer wedding rings and hand them to them.

Carefully trying on each ring, Emily was more and more amazed at how beautiful it all was. When Mrs. Lowsen asked her every time: "how?", She really could not say anything concretely. She certainly liked all the rings, and it seemed to her it did not matter at all what they would be: with stones, without or with engraving. It doesn't matter at all.

- What do you want? - Damian asked at the end, when he himself was tired of trying on. He didn't care either. He hoped that Emily would choose herself.

“I don’t know…” the girl breathed out resignedly, examining the glass tabletop, which was covered with a huge number of rings.

- And I don't know ...

- Let's poke at random? - Fox grimaced guiltily, tired of all the commotion. She cautiously glanced sideways at the future mother-in-law that in the meantime she decided to make herself purchases in the form of a set of white gold, which was so elegantly combined with red diamonds.

- What are you poking there at random? - came a distrustful voice above them, from which both shuddered.

- We take these. - in order not to explain anything to the meticulous mother once again, the man chose the first pair he found, because everyone, without exception, was excellent.

- A good choice. - the seller got in, obviously glad that these two rings cost a lot of money.

Emily exhaled. She seems to have to wear this expensive rose gold diamond ring, albeit not for long. Damian did not have a stone, in design it was identical to a woman's, although it was wider for a man's hand. While everyone was distracted by the checkout, she turned her head in search of the Kim family, who were all busy with another sales assistant. Well, apparently it will not be possible to talk to Alice, so the girl slowly pacing between the shelves began to consider expensive jewelry that she could not afford in her life. Beautifully illuminated by small lamps: rings, bracelets, lead, earrings, brooches, cufflinks, whatever, they just beckoned the girl who, spellbound, stopped at the showcase, again with women's rings. Shyly looking at her hand, where there was a neat golden ring, which was definitely not a match for this, Emily pulled her hand behind her back. She did not notice how another consultant followed her, that she was eager to sell at least something.

- Can I help you with something? - the girl begins, which catches the blue-eyed by surprise.

- Well ... uh, I'm just looking ... - she apologizes apologetically, but it seems she was interested in one thing.

- Want to try it on? - the girl did not calm down and already crawled with the keys to open the pull-out showcase.

- I still won't take ... - Emily muttered awkwardly, catching herself thinking that she would not mind trying on what she liked.

“Fitting doesn't cost any money,” the uniformed girl smiled obligingly. - What do you want?

- This is ... - as the girl exhales, she bites her lip in anticipation. The salesman takes out the required ring and Emily takes it on her finger. It looks good on the left ring finger. Fox stretches out his hand and, admiring the view, examines from all sides, counting each pebble. Ideally. It doesn't even compare to whoever the pair she will wear after the wedding ceremony.

- Like? Another voice took Emily by surprise, and this time it was Alice. Kim quietly crept up on the side, because she was very amused by the blue-eyed look that was so fascinated looking at the ring.

- Yes ... - she nodded inhibitedly, still unable to remove this jewelry miracle from herself.

- So you need to buy it! - the girl beamed and immediately wrapped her head around, saw her husband's friend in the company of her mother. - Damian! - the aforementioned responded immediately. - How much does it cost?

- 23 thousand pounds sterling. - she announced with a smile.

- Not! - Emily screamed in fright, which frightened both girls very much. The euphoria from the beauty of the ring disappeared at the same moment, and it is not clear, whether from the price, or because Damian was heading here. Convulsively removing the ring from herself, she put it on the transparent tabletop and smiled apologetically. - It is too expensive and I just measured ...

- A normal ring, Damian will buy it for you now! - Alice objected in response and had already opened her mouth in the direction of the young man, as he immediately did not keep himself waiting.

- Not. It ... I don't need it. - when the boss approached, Emily seemed to disappear into thin air, or rather, quickly retreated from the boutique.

- What? - the deputy said in confusion, that he did not understand what exactly they want from him now. Staring questioningly to Alice, he was expecting an intelligible answer.

“Why don’t you buy Emily a ring since you proposed to her?” - she snapped bluntly, knowing the meekness of her friend.

“She said that she didn’t need…” he shrugged frivolously. - So what did you call me? Why did Emily rush off somewhere?

Alice clearly did not like the behavior of the man that he treated the girl like that. Looking back at the exit from the store and finding Emily there, putting cool hands to her cheeks, the general's wife pursed her lips.

- Because you, Damian Lowsen ... - Alice sighed, shifting her gaze to her unsuspecting friend. - Fool. - with these words, she goes to her friend, who stands so lonely at the automatic, glass doors.

The man left without explanation, looks after her in surprise, and with a displeased click of his tongue glances at the still standing girl, who is reaching out to the just measured ring.

- "Did Emily measure it?" - flashes through his thoughts. Did she like it? Is that why Alice called him? - What do these women want? - he clicked displeased, already voicing his thoughts aloud.