‘OK, this is the last one,’ Stevie said as she struggled into the living room of Humblebee Farm with another box of books.
‘Thanks, Stevie.’ Nell climbed down from the stepladder she was using for loading books onto shelves to give her mother a peck on the cheek. ‘What would we do without you?’
Stevie shook her head at Xander as he came in with a load more paperbacks in his arms. ‘How can one man own so many books?’
‘You can never have too many,’ he said. ‘Supposing there was a nuclear apocalypse and we got returned to a feudal society? You lot’ll appreciate my books when all your Kindles have packed in.’
Stevie picked one out of the box. ‘Lord of the Dance: My Story by Michael Flatley?’
‘OK, maybe not that one.’ Xander took it from her and looked at the cover. ‘This is my mum’s. Not sure how it got in there.’
Stevie snorted. ‘Oh yeah, a likely story.’
‘All right, you’ve got me. I’ve had a closet Riverdance fetish for years. I was keeping it under wraps until after Nell had asked me to move in with her and there was no going back.’
Nell shrugged as she climbed back up her ladder. ‘I could live with it. Have you got one of the costumes?’
‘Of course. Velvet sequinned jumpsuit in emerald green, very me.’
She glanced around the bookshelves that now lined every wall. ‘Xand, it looks like a library in here with all your bloody tomes.’
‘I know, isn’t it awesome? Not to mention my open fire and my sexy girlfriend. I’m literally living the dream.’
‘So is that it, then? Are you all moved in?’ Stevie asked him.
He scanned the room. ‘Looks like. About fifty bookcases’ worth of books and half a drawer’s worth of clothes. I think that sums me up.’
‘Well, you can just start helping me get them onto shelves,’ Nell said, frowning at him. ‘There’s a governors’ meeting tonight and I want all your books off the floor before I have to go.’
Xander shook his head. ‘You a staff governor. I’d never have believed it.’
‘And you a headteacher in just under a month.’ Nell paused with a book halfway to a shelf. ‘Hey, Xand, we’re like proper adults.’
‘I know. I’m very impressed by us.’
‘Well, if you don’t count our pretty un-adult lack of tidiness,’ Nell said, looking down at the book-strewn floor. ‘Don’t forget we’ve got my dad and Leanne driving over tomorrow, and Freddie and his new girlfriend. I don’t want the place looking like a tip for them.’
‘OK, OK, I’m doing it,’ Xander said, rolling his eyes as he started collecting up books and slotting them into some of the lower shelves.
‘You’re still bringing everyone round for dinner on Saturday night, aren’t you?’ Stevie asked Nell. ‘Deb’s doing her famous cheesecake for pudding.’
Xander looked up from his books. ‘I thought she always claimed she couldn’t cook.’
‘Yep, that’s why it’s famously bought from the chilled aisle at Marks and Sparks. Very moreish.’
‘We’ll be there,’ Nell said.
‘Great. I’m dying to meet this girl of Freddie’s.’ She grabbed her handbag from the sofa. ‘Right, I’ll leave you lovebirds to nest.’
‘Hang on, there’s something I want to give you before you go. Present for our Mill.’ Nell climbed down from her stepladder and left the room.
When she was gone, Stevie shot a glance at Xander.
‘And should I be getting the fizz on chill for our family dinner party?’ she asked in a low voice.
He smiled. ‘I’ll let you know.’
‘Here you go,’ Nell said when she came back in, handing a little packet to Stevie. ‘It’s a commemorative Ernest Shackleton two-pound coin, I sent off for it. To commemorate Milly’s two favourite things: mountaineers and her amazing big sis.’
Stevie smiled. ‘Aww, thanks, chicken. She’ll love that.’
Nell gave her a hug goodbye. ‘Thanks for helping with the big move, Stevie. You’re a diamond.’
‘More like a turnip. I don’t know how I let you rope me into these things.’ Stevie glanced around the cosy little room. ‘You know, I’d never have dreamed the night I first wandered up here to bring a bottle of wine to the new Reception teacher that this knackered old place could turn into something like this.’
‘Right? I’m thinking I ought to audition for a presenting slot on Grand Designs.’
Stevie waved goodbye. ‘OK, see you both Saturday. Bring a bottle or four, eh?’
When she’d gone, Xander took Nell in his arms.
‘Hello, roomie.’
She smiled. ‘So how does it feel to be officially living in sin, Mr Scott?’
‘Well, I don’t know.’ He nuzzled into her neck. ‘Have we got time for a bit of sin before your meeting? Just so I can really get a feel for it.’
‘Come on. We’ve got all these books to put away.’
‘Yeah?’ He tilted her head to one side so he could kiss behind her ear, one hand sliding up her top.
‘When you put it that way, I guess we are due a break,’ she whispered.
‘Happy, Nell?’
‘Very.’
‘Couldn’t be happier, do you think?’
‘Not one iota.’
‘Right. Because I did want to ask you something.’
Xander disentangled himself from her embrace and scanned the floor for a bit that was free of books. When he’d kicked a few out of his way, he fell to one knee. He fished in his pocket for the box he’d stashed in there earlier and held it up to her.
‘Um,’ he said.
‘Xand, those are Tic Tacs.’
‘Oh. Right, yeah, wrong pocket.’ He fumbled in the other one until he found the right box, then popped it open so she could see the diamond ring he’d chosen for her.
‘It’s for you,’ he said. ‘I thought, um… you might like to marry me. I mean, please will you marry me? Because… I love you. So I’d be honoured if, er… you know. Sorry, I’ve never done this before.’
Nell blinked at him for a moment. Then she burst out laughing.
He shuffled towards her on his single knee, making a little channel through the books, and took her left hand.
‘Is that a yes then?’ he asked hopefully, pressing it to his lips.
‘Xander Scott, you are still surprising me.’ She smiled. ‘Of course it’s a yes.’
‘Thank God for that. My knee’s getting cramp.’ He slid the ring on and stood up to kiss her.
‘Thank you,’ he whispered when he drew back. ‘I’ll make you happy, I promise. I love you very much, Nell.’
She smiled, resting her forehead against his chest. ‘No matter how many times I hear you say that, it always feels like the first. I love you too, Xand.’
‘When did you know?’
‘That I loved you?’ Nell thought for a moment. ‘Honestly, I’m not sure, it came on so gradually. I think probably it was that day at the fete. Seeing how you looked after your mum. What about you?’
‘Oh, I can pinpoint it to the exact moment,’ Xander said, smiling. ‘I was well ahead of you.’
‘Go on, when?’
He laughed. ‘I’m pretty sure it was at that ridiculous team-building day when you drew me a picture of a cock. Hang on.’
He freed himself from her arms and went to rummage in one of the boxes of his stuff.
‘There,’ he said, holding up the picture she’d drawn at the training day.
She shook her head, smiling. ‘I can’t believe you kept that.’
‘Of course I did. It was a beautiful gift.’ He held it at arm’s length, tilting his head to appraise its artistic merit. ‘What do you reckon, one for the mantelpiece?’
‘Leave the dirty pictures and get back here and kiss me, you.’
‘Yes Miss.’
He wrapped her in his arms again and kissed her heartily.
‘So, about that sin we mentioned… now I’ve got you in the mood by showing you my erotic etchings…’ he whispered.
‘Hey. It was my erotic etching.’ She inclined her head so he could kiss her neck. ‘Go on.’
‘I think we have to get it in before the wedding for it to count, don’t we?’
‘Mmm, you know, you’re absolutely right. Shall we make a start now?’
Xander nodded solemnly. ‘I think we ought to. Practise for the honeymoon.’
Laughing, Nell let him lead her to the bedroom, her new engagement ring sparkling in the April sunshine that blazed through the pristine windows of Humblebee Farm.