19
The following morning, Jack was up and gone to work before any of the others had surfaced. Mum was still asleep when Lou brought her in some tea.
“Cup of tea,” she said.
Mum turned over and pushed up. “Thanks, love. What time is it?”
“Just gone eleven.” Lou noticed something sparkle on her mum’s left hand and sat as she patted the bed beside her.
“Last night Jack asked me to marry him.”
Lou took her hand. The emerald and diamonds sparkled. “It’s beautiful.” She hugged her. “Congratulations.”
“You really are pleased? You don’t mind me remarrying?”
Lou let go of her mum and looked at her. “Jack is one of the best and nicest guys around. I’ve liked him since I first met him. Besides, he asked my permission to marry you first.”
“He told me that. I thought he was joking.”
“Have you set a date or is it too early?”
“We have one in mind. Jack is sorting leave today. He has already spoken to the chaplain and pre-booked the base chapel. It’ll be a proper Air Force wedding.”
“He was that sure you’d say yes then?”
“We spoke about it a little before I left for England, but he hadn’t asked or anything.”
Lou stood up. “I must get dressed.”
Mum caught her arm. “Are you sure you’re OK with this?”
“Yes. Like I told him last night, I couldn’t ask for a nicer stepdad. There is one thing though.”
“Anything. What?”
“After the wedding, when you move into Jack’s room, can I have your room? It’s got a bath and a shower in the en-suite.”
Mum laughed. “Of course. Will you do something for me?”
“Anything.”
“Will you be my chief bridesmaid?”
Lou flung her arms round her mother’s neck. “Of course. I’d love to. Thank you.” She let go just as the telephone began to ring.
“Nichola? Jack’s on the phone for you,” Jim called.
Lou got dressed and then went downstairs.
Mum was down just before her, with a pile of clothes in her arms. “Jack will be home soon,” she said. “We need to talk to you all, so don’t disappear.”
“OK.” Jim looked at Lou. “Do you know what’s going on?”
“Why should I?” Lou grinned. She’d noticed that her mother had taken off the engagement ring.
Staci left the room, still mumbling and scrawling in the notepad.
“What is she doing?” Lou asked.
“I take it that’s a rhetorical question,” Jim said. “Or do you really expect me to know?”
Ailsa gathered up her books. “I’m going to study in the den for a bit,” she said. “Call me when they want us, will you?”
“Sure. Do you want some help to study?”
“No thanks, Jim. Your idea of help is not what I had in mind.”
****
Jack arrived home just before one, having done a twelve-hour shift. Mum went out to meet him, while the others sat round the table in the dining room. Staci was still scribbling in the notepad. Lou sat silently, while Jim and Ailsa tried to guess what was going on. Jack and Mum came in and sat down.
“OK,” Jack began. “We’ve called this family meeting because there are things we need to tell you.”
Jim looked at him. “Family meeting?”
Jack looked round the table. “I used the word family deliberately. Last night I asked Nicky to marry me.” He took her hand, now displaying the ring. “She made me the happiest man alive when she said yes.”
“Congratulations,” Ailsa said. Jim and Staci added their congratulations too.
Jack smiled at them. “Of course,” he continued, “this will affect all of you. Jim lives here, and Staci will be living here whenever Bill and Di are away. Ailsa, you are as much a part of this family as any of us.” He winked at her. “I’m guessing wherever Jim goes, you’ll go too, but while he’s based here, you’re welcome to stay as well.”
She smiled. “Thank you.”
Jack looked at Lou. “I’d like to adopt you. If that’s OK?”
Lou grinned. “It’s more than OK, Uncle Jack.”
“Quit with the uncle.” He grinned. “You can take my surname or keep your dad’s surname or hyphenate and double barrel them or whatever, I don’t mind.”
“We’ve arranged the wedding for September 30,” Mum said.
“But Mum and Dad are away; they just left.” Jim frowned. “You can’t get married without them.”
“We’re not going to. They’ll be here for the wedding. Bill’s giving me away. Jack’s been doing a lot of plotting and planning without me. It seems he’s been taking lessons from you lot in how to be sneaky. And I’d like you girls to be my bridesmaids.”
“Yes, please,” Staci and Ailsa said together.
Jack looked at Lou. “Are you OK, Lou?” he asked. “You’re rather quiet.”
“I’ve got a headache,” she replied. “I’m really pleased for you both.”
Jim grabbed her hand under the table and squeezed it. He shot her an understanding glance. “She’s just lost for words,” he said. “She’s excited on the inside.”
Lou squeezed his hand gratefully. He knew her too well. It was just a shame— She broke off. Jim was with Ailsa now and she just had to accept that and move on.
“We need to go dress shopping then,” Mum said. “There is a lot to do and very little time to do it in. We’ll go now.”
Lou pushed slowly to her feet, just the thought of going out making her feel sick. But she’d do this for her mother.
Staci reluctantly left her notebook behind long enough to go shopping that afternoon. They were sworn to secrecy over the color but were all pleased with the dresses they ended up choosing, especially since Lou’s was floor length and hid her false leg.
Once they got home, Staci shut herself away with the notebook again.
Jack took Lou to one side, leaving Mum to make a start on dinner. “Lou, are you really OK with the wedding?” he asked.
Lou looked at him. “I’m fine about it, honestly. I’m just having a bad day, that’s all.”
Jack looked at her. “The truth.”
She sighed. “It’s the date you’ve chosen. September 30 is the day this happened. It’ll be the first anniversary of it.” She pointed to her leg.
Jack smiled. “Lou, honey. That’s one of the reasons we chose it. We know it will be a hard day for you. This will give you something else to remember the day for. If you have a problem with the wedding, please say so now.”
“No problem, honest. I’m looking forward to it.” She sucked in a deep breath. “Can you see if I can go talk to Dr. Andrews? She offered me some meds a while back to help with the anxiety issues and I think maybe…maybe I should try them.”