9

 

“So, you’re telling me these guys aren’t even allowed to smile?” Jo looked in amazement at the tall red-coated solider with huge bearskin hat. The gold braid snug under his chin and rifle clasped tightly in his hand as he stood guard at Windsor Castle.

“Nope. He can get court-martialed for that. The same if he spoke to you.”

“Wow. That seems a little harsh.”

John slid his free hand into his pocket. “He’s paid to protect the Queen and her palace, not to smile at and interact with the tourists. Not even by the cute kid that was pulling faces at him a minute ago.”

“Even so. She isn’t here, is she?”

“No. The Royal Family travel to Sandringham for Christmas. But his duties still stand. He serves her even when her physical presence is elsewhere. Without allowing himself to be distracted, because you never know where the next threat is coming from. That cute kid may be accompanied by a terrorist.”

She tilted her head. “Like we always serve God? And keep an eye open for the attacks of the evil one?”

“That’s rather profound for this early in the day.”

Jo took a photo of the guard. “It’s eleven o’clock. Not that early. Take one of me with him.” John obliged as she posed. Then she looked at the soldier. He might not be allowed to respond but she should thank him anyway. “Thank you.”

John took her hand again. “Want to go and see Queen Mary’s dolls’ house?”

“Sure.”

Despite it being Christmas Eve, the queue was short. The dolls’ house was everything the guidebook said it would be and more. “Wow. It’s awesome.”

John grinned. “You said that a lot.”

“My dolls’ house was never like this. Look at it. It’s every girls dream. Was the Queen ever allowed to play with it?”

“I think so.”

“There’s even food on the tables.” She pointed. “My kids have got to have something like this.”

“What if you only have boys?”

She winked at him. “Then I get to play with the dolls’ house on my own.”

He kissed her. “That’s silly.”

“Maybe.” She moved around the case a little. “Do you want kids?”

“One day. I need to get married first, though.”

“That usually helps.” She moved a little more. “Oh, awesome. It’s got running water and real books written ‘specially by famous authors.”

John laughed. “Is awesome all you can say?”

“Right now?” She grinned. “Yeah.”

 

****

 

Two hours later, Jo walked hand in hand with John through Windsor Great Park. Most of the snow had melted, apart from the odd patch. A thick frost still lay on the grass and trees, making them sparkle in the winter sunlight. A cloudless pale blue sky stretched above them and birds sang in the trees. A perfect moment.

John drew her over to a bench under a huge oak tree and sat with her.

“Thank you for bringing me here. It’s beautiful. I shall treasure this visit for the rest of my life.”

“Like I will my visit to Sydney.” He took a deep breath and turned to her with a serious expression on his face. “Jo, will you marry me?”

She sat there for a moment. Chills ran through her, and her heart leapt into her throat. Somewhere in the silence a church bell chimed. Did he just propose? Where’d that come from? It was casual, nothing special, nothing like she’d imagined this moment to be.

She leapt to her feet. “You did it wrong.”

John’s face fell. Stunned shock shone from his eyes. “Oh,” he whispered. He swallowed hard, color touching his cheeks. “How…how should I have done it?”

Looking at him, Jo suddenly realized it wasn’t wrong. It was John’s way. Quiet and understated and, oh, so very perfect. “No. I’m sorry. That was just right.”

Only I’ve blown it now. He won’t ask again, will he? Oh you’re an idiot, Jo. Why’d you have to rush in and speak before thinking?

John took hold of her hand. “Will you marry me?”

Her heart leapt for joy. “Yes. Yes I will.” She flung her arms around him and kissed him.

John returned the kiss until they were both breathless. Then he pulled back and winked. “So I guess I should ask your dad, right?”

 

****

 

Having found a phone box, John pulled Jo inside. It was a squash, but then his heart was in his throat, so he was going to struggle for breath anyway.

“Not made for two, are they?” Jo giggled.

“Not really.” He picked up the receiver and slid his card into the slot. “You’d better start. I don’t know the number.”

Jo nodded and dialed. “Of course, it’s the middle of night at home, but too bad.”

“Maybe we should wait until later then.”

“Nope, it’s ringing.” She stayed silent for a moment, then spoke, “Hi, Dad, it’s Jo. Yeah, everything’s fine. John wants to speak to you. John, the guy I’m staying with in England—with his parents, I mean. Yeah, sure, here he is.” She handed John the phone and gave him a thumbs up.

John swallowed and took a deep breath. He covered the phone. “He does know who I am, right?”

“Sure. It takes him a little while to wake up.”

He nodded. “OK. Hello, Mr. Heywood. This is John Connington, from England.”

The deep sleepy voice echoed down the phone, the Australian twang evident. “Hello, John. How are you?”

“I’m fine, sir. And you?”

“Tired. What can I do for you?”

“I’m sorry to wake you. I was wondering if I could marry your daughter.”

Jo leaned in trying to overhear what her father was saying. John held the phone between them hoping the sound would carry enough.

“Uh, um, ah, oh,” her father stammered.

That didn’t sound hopeful. John almost hung up. I should have phoned before I went to bed, when they’d have been awake.

Then in the background he heard Jo’s stepmother. “Just say yes, dear.”

Jo laughed and covered her mouth with a hand.

John grinned and winked at her. “I promise I’ll look after her. I’ve never felt like this about anyone before.”

“Yes, you can marry her.”

“Thank you. I’ll let you speak to her now.” He handed Jo the phone and left the phone box so she could talk in private.

He stood in the cold, his heart overflowing with joy. Thank you, Lord. Help us as we work out the details as to where we live and so on. Put us where we can serve You the best.

Jo came back out, having finished the call. She gave him his card and looked at him. “I can’t believe this. A month ago I didn’t know you, and now we’re engaged.”

“Are you regretting it already?” He slid his card back into his wallet.

“No,” she playfully hit his arm. “I’ll never do that.”

“Dorrie always told me Miss Right lived in Australia and she did.”

Jo laughed. “Speaking of Australia. Where are we going to live?”

“In a house. With each other,” he deadpanned.

She shook her head. “Silly. I’m being serious.”

He winked. “So am I. I want to live with you. That is why I’m marrying you after all. Along with the fact that I love you.”

“I love you, too, but I live in Australia. The thing is, your family, your life, is here.”

He stopped walking and turned to face her. “My life is with you.”

She held his gaze. “Would you move to Australia?”

“Yes. In a heartbeat. Actually, I’ve already looked into visas and jobs. There’s a chemist position going in Sydney. They’re going to ring me after Christmas and do a telephone interview. And if nothing comes of that, then I’ll find a job when I move out there.”

“You’d give up everything for me?”

“Not everything, because I’d have you. We’ll go where God leads us. And if that’s the other side of the world, then that’s where we’ll go. He brought us together for a reason. We just have to wait to find out what that reason is.”

“But how will you tell your parents?”

“Not sure. But I’ll do it somehow.”

 

****

 

Very early the next morning, John crept downstairs into the lounge and put the tree lights on. He sat in the dark, watching them twinkling, thinking of Christmas’s past, how different today would be, and how wonderful all the Christmas’s yet to come would be with Jo at his side.

A soft hand touched his shoulder and then she was there beside him. “Can’t you sleep either?”

He wrapped his arm around her. “No. I was thinking of you.”

She snuggled into him, laying her head on his shoulder. “Funny. I was upstairs unable to sleep, thinking of you.”

“Happy Christmas, Jo,” he whispered, kissing her.

“Happy Christmas, John.” She kissed him back. “I could get used to this.”

“Kissing me in general or just under the tree?”

“Kissing you anywhere.”

“Good. Because we have a family tradition of kissing on New Year’s Eve throughout the twelve chimes of Big Ben.”

“I can’t wait. Maybe we should practice a little first.”

He grinned. “But do you want your pressie before or after we practice?”

“Yes.” Her eyes lit up at his teasing.

“That’s not an answer,” he chuckled.

“Yes it is. I want it before and after we practice. But I thought we had to wait until after the Queen’s speech at three o’clock for presents?”

“We do, but this is an extra one. Do you want to open it in here under the tree or outside?”

Jo hesitated. “That’s not a fair choice. I like both options.”

“It’s snowing. Tell you what.” He dragged her into the conservatory and turned on the candle bridge and smaller tree. “You can have both.” He opened the patio door and led her out into the snowy garden. Gentle flakes fell from the sky, landing on her hair and eye lashes.

He dropped to one knee and pulled the ring box from his pocket. “Jo, I love you with all that I am. Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

Her smile made his joy complete. “Yes.”

He slid the ring onto her finger and stood, not caring his trousers were soaked from the knees downwards. He kissed her thoroughly, leaving them both breathless, but more alive than he’d been in a long time.

He broke off as the kitchen light flicked on, shining across the garden illuminating the two of them. “We should probably go and tell them.”

“Probably.” She looked down at her ring. “Thank you, my unexpected angel, for making my life complete.”

He nuzzled her gently. “I think you’re the angel—an Aussie Christmas angel. A real answer to prayer. But this discussion can wait until later. Let’s go inside.”

She took his hand and walked inside with him.

He looked at his parents, his smile widening and matching the grins on their faces as they took in the two of them and the ring. “Mum, Dad, we have something to tell you.”

 

****

 

After church, Jo helped Liz with dinner. “I never realized there were so many components to an English Christmas dinner. I honestly thought John was kidding when he told me.”

“It’s surprising, but it’ll all get eaten.” Liz smiled. “It’s really good news about you and John.”

“You don’t mind? I don’t want to take him away from you and Vic. But we could end up in Sydney.”

“I’m not saying we won’t miss him, because we will, but he needs to go where God wants him. God went to a lot of effort to get the two of you together, so He must have plans. Far be it for us to stand in His way.” She smiled. “Besides, we can always visit.”

Jo hugged her. “We’d like that.”

The doorbell rang and the house immediately became chaotic as the rest of the family arrived. John introduced her to his other sisters as his fiancée, and she was hugged and the ring admired. Presents piled high under the tree and the kids warned not to touch.

“So when can we open them?” Taylor asked for the thousandth time.

“After the Queen’s speech.”

“But that will wait ages,” he complained.

John grinned, seeming used to Taylor’s sometimes nonsensical speech. “My sentiments exactly. But Grandma never said we couldn’t look. So why don’t we let Grandad carve, and we’ll go look with Auntie Jo. Are you hungry?”

“Yes.”

John threw Taylor over his shoulder and ran off with him. “Me, too. Maybe I just eat you instead. Then I get your presents.”

Taylor howled in laughter.

Jo grinned and followed them into the lounge where the rest of the family were listening to carols and chatting. John would make a great dad one day.

He belonged to her now. Just like she belonged to him.

“Thank you, Lord,” she whispered, following him.

 

****

 

Over dinner, Taylor looked up. “Ki John, where are you going to live when you marry Jo?”

“That’s Auntie Jo, and we haven’t decided yet. But you can come and visit us wherever we end up living.”

“Why not live here?”

“Because it’s cold here.” John laughed.

Jo winked at him. “I always said God would import someone for me to marry. I never thought He’d really do it.”

Vic smiled, handing her the gravy. “I bet you didn’t expect this when you came over.”

She took the jug. “Thank you. No I didn’t. Not in a million years. I honestly wondered if I’d done the right thing from his reaction when I got here. He seemed less than pleased to see me at the airport.”

John winked. “You can talk. First time we spoke, you all but hung up the phone on me.”

“Well, a strange man rings out of the blue and asks to stay in my house…what did you expect?”

“Not to find love.” John grinned. “But I did.”

Jo held his gaze. “This is what happens when you entertain strangers. You get an angel.”

He chinked his glass against hers. “To my Aussie Christmas angel.”