ChapterForty-Six
‘You’re going to be late.’Lexie pushed Owen’s half-finished coffee closer to him. ‘Are you sure you don’t want breakfast?’
‘Positive.’ He caught her hand and pulled her down onto his lap.
Lexie tried to break free, protesting, ‘Emi’s only in the next room.’
‘She’s going to have to get used to us canoodling, otherwise what kind of marriage are we going to have?’
‘A long and happy one.’ Lexie smiled and dropped a kiss on Owen’s brow. ‘Now finish your coffee. I’m going to dress, and I’ll drive you and Emi to the station.’
He kept hold of Lexie’s hand, not wanting to let her go. ‘I wish you could come with me today.’
‘It’s probably best I don’t. Not if you want to be allowed to take Emi to Hamleys.’
‘You’re right.’ Owen sighed and pushed the unfinished coffee away. He felt uneasy, though he couldn’t pinpoint why when everything was so good. He’d just had two great days with the two most important girls in his life, and Lexie had said yes to marrying him. Life was almost perfect.
* * *
They settled on the train,and Owen watched Emi as, nose against the window, she gazed out at Brighton, a tight cluster of buildings on steep hills leading down to the sea. She wasn’t saying anything, but he thought he could sense she didn’t want to return to London and her mother.
Once they were beyond the urban sprawl, Emily shifted her attention and stared thoughtfully at Owen.
‘Daddy, do you love Lexie?’ she asked.
Surprised by the sudden directness of the question, Owen said, ‘Yes, Emi, I love her. I said right at the start, she’s almost as special to me as you are. You don’t mind, do you?’
‘No.’
‘That’s all right then. Do you want a drink or crisps from the buffet?’
‘No, thank you, Daddy.’
Owen hid a smile. The formality with which his daughter often spoke was endearing if worrying. It was a product of Margaret’s parenting, which he suspected was too cold and strict. He’d heard more happiness, more spontaneous childish laughter from his daughter in the last two days than he had ever heard, and that was primarily down to Lex. His heart heaved in his chest, swelling and aching at the thought of his impossible dream. He, Lex and Emi, together – a proper family, living together all the time.
‘Will you marry her?’ Emi asked.
‘Yes. Were you listening? Did you hear me propose to Lex last night?’
‘No, Daddy. I just thought if you love Lexie, then the proper thing to do would be to marry her.’
‘Proper?’ Owen echoed. Sometimes Emi acted so old. ‘Would it be all right with you if I married Lex?’
‘Oh, yes … then I’d have a new mummy.’ Emily beamed at him.
Shocked, Owen sat back. Part of him was delighted that his daughter had accepted Lex so readily. The other part was horrified to confirm what he had suspected. Emi did not like her own mother.
* * *
The train was late arrivingat Victoria, so Owen took a cab to make up time, and as they turned into Trafalgar Square, Emi squealed in delight.
‘Look, Daddy.’ She pressed her finger to the window, her excited breath steaming the glass. ‘It’s a giant Christmas tree, Daddy. Can we go look at it, please?’
Owen took out his phone. Just time to take a photo of Emi admiring the tree.
‘Can we please Daddy, please?’ Emi asked again.
‘If your mother agrees, yes.’
