Before I could answer, a ripple went through the building. Like a domino run, everyone rapidly flipped towards the back of the barn.
‘Oops. Here we go!’ Iris muttered, clutching onto Hugh, who had suddenly appeared at her side. ‘Hey, move to the side, people, so the bride can see,’ she ordered.
As the crowd of people parted, it revealed Barnie, down on one knee by the music speakers.
‘Oh no,’ Pip groaned, quietly. ‘We told him not to do this.’
‘Don’t worry.’ Flora popped up next to him, a knowing smile on her face. ‘It’s not what you think.’
‘Violet,’ Barnie began, holding one hand aloft in a courtly gesture.
‘No, Barnie.’ Someone nudged Violet into the empty space in front of him. She clutched her hair with both hands. ‘I can’t believe you’d do this at my sister’s wedding.’
‘I’m doing it with your sister’s blessing,’ Barnie said, sounding a little peeved.
Violet scanned the room until she found Iris, raising both eyebrows at her in awhat the hell?gesture.
‘It’s true,’ Iris said, cheerily. ‘Hear him out, sis. It’s a biggie.’
‘That’s what I’m afraid of,’ Violet ground out through a clenched jaw.
As if proving that this was indeed a biggie, Barnie whipped off his blue cap and held it to his chest.
‘Go on, Barnie-boy!’ someone called, prompting cheers of encouragement.
‘Violet, I love you.’
‘Yes, I already know that. I love you, too. But you know?—’
‘Please, let me finish,’ he said, firmly. ‘I love you, and I want to marry you. Whatever you might think, you mean far more to me than any doughnut stand. Than this island. I only love it here so much because it’s where you are. Without you, it’s nothing. Without you,I’mnothing.’
‘Yet all this still means nothing, because I’m leaving.’
‘Yes. I know. Which is why I bought you a wedding present.’
Violet took a step back, face screwed up in annoyance. ‘Have you bought me a wedding present, forourwedding, despite me making it abundantly clear that we are never going to be more than friends?’
‘Aye, well. That was before you saw the present.’
Barnie had put his cap back on and was now trying to wrestle something out of his trouser pocket, but what he eventually managed to extend towards Violet was not a ring, as we all expected, but an envelope.
‘Go on,’ he said, sounding like someone coaxing a skittish horse. ‘If you really do love me, the least you can do is open it.’
With no small amount of reluctance, Violet took the envelope, opening up the paper she found inside with an impatient huff. Gradually, as her eyes scanned the page, her body went still, her mouth falling slowly open.
‘This is a ticket to Australia.’
‘You said you always wanted to go.’
‘For two people?’
Barnie shrugged. ‘If we’re married, I think it’s only fair that I come on the honeymoon.’
‘You think a fancy holiday is the answer? Barnie, how can I even think about marrying you when you don’t listen?’
‘It’s a one-way ticket,’ Barnie blurted. ‘I’d have got more, to other places. I know you want to see Thailand, and Peru. Alaska. But I thought it would be more fun to plan that together.’
The barn was so quiet, we could have heard the bats snoring in the rafters.