‘I wish!’ Finn chuckled. ‘Not myself, but to hold.’ His eyes widened, and he sniggered. ‘Don’t tell Titus I said that. He’ll go mad.’
Titus and Finn had a great relationship and trusted each other implicitly, so Thora knew Titus would take Finn’s comment with a pinch of salt but she laughed, anyway.
‘You wouldn’t know what to do with a twenty-something now,’ she said, shaking her head.
‘Nah, you’re probably right. Too set in my ways now and far too much in love with my Titus.’
‘Yes, you are.’ Thora nodded.
‘Speaking of love…’ Finn worried his lower lip. ‘I have something I want to tell you.’
‘Go on.’
‘I … I want to propose to Titus.’
‘Oh my god that’s amazing! And about time!’ Thora’s eyes filled with tears and she reached out to grab Finn’s hand. ‘I’m so happy for you, love.’
‘Thanks.’
‘Why now?’ She squeezed Finn’s hand, then released it so she could rub her fingers over Barry’s silky ears.
‘I just thought it was time we made it official. After we… you and I, that is… split up, I didn’t think I’d ever want to get married again. With you, I thought it would be for keeps but obviously, back then I didn’t know myself properly. You helped me to work that out by being so kind and open and I’ll be forever grateful for how you supported me. And then when I fell in love with Titus… I was scared. Falling in love is scary.’
‘Terrifying.’ Thora shuddered. She couldn’t imagine ever falling in love again because the risk to her heart was too great. Her life wasn’t just about her anymore; it was about her children and her dog and any risk to her came with risk for them.
As if reading her mind, Finn said, ‘And there were the children to think about and I was worried about them and how me falling in love again would impact upon them. But they have proved to be more accepting and resilient than I could ever have imagined.’
‘For them Titus is just another dad,’ Thora said, thinking about how readily Rosie and Reggie had accepted Titus into their lives and family.
‘Part of that is down to how accepting you were of him and our relationship,’ Finn said, his eyes glistening. ‘You’re the best, Thora.’
‘No, you’re the best, Finn!’
‘No,we’rethe best.’ He said and they giggled together. ‘But back to your question… I love Titus. He’s a good man and a loving partner and he’s taken to fatherhood like a duck to water. And so it hit me recently… What am I waiting for? Life is short. I want to ask him to marry me and I’d like your help with that.’
‘You want my help?’
‘Yes, please. Will you help me propose?’
‘When are you thinking of doing it?’
Finn smiled. ‘Christmas.’
‘Perfect!’ Thora’s vision blurred again and she sniffed. ‘I’m so happy.’
‘Me too!’ Finn shuffled over on the sofa and slid his arm around her shoulders then kissed her forehead. ‘Thanks for being my best friend.’
‘It’s a pleasure.’
On her lap, Barry shifted position so he could place his head on Finn’s knee and the three of them stayed that way for a while, gazing at the fire while on the TV celebrities waited anxiously to find out which couple would be voted off the show.
‘Do you think you’ll ever fall in love again?’ Finn asked.
‘I don’t know,’ Thorawhispered. ‘There’s so much to lose.’
‘And so much to gain.’ Finn sat upright. ‘What if you’re already in love and you just need to open your heart to it?’
‘Already in love?’ She frowned.
