The coastguard had received a distress signal from the fishing boat and an ambulance was already at the harbour. The storm had now subsided and a crowd had gathered awaiting the vessel. Dan, holding Freya’s hand tightly, helped Evie off the boat, while Adam guided Jess up the harbour wall steps. The paramedics then led her to the back of the ambulance.
‘Jess, you better get checked out,’ Dan said caringly, then to Evie. ‘And you, little lady, better get your face cleaned up.’
Jess had swallowed a lot of water and was still feeling sick. She lay in the back of the ambulance as they checked her blood pressure and asked her a series of questions.
They cleaned up Evie’s face and put a butterfly plaster on her cheek, luckily she did not need stitches. Once the paramedics were happy that they were OK they drove all four of them back up to the cottage.
‘Jess are you sure you are OK to come back to the cottage?’ Dan asked.
‘Of course I am,’ she replied weakly. ‘Just want to get in my own bed.’
It was early evening when they actually got back to the cottage. Despite it being mid-summer Dan turned on the heating, made them all hot drinks and ran a hot bath. Jess insisted that Evie and Freya got in first. Evie winced as the hot water stung the cuts and bruises on her legs, Freya delighted in playing nurses tending to her with a flannel. The children then moved to the comfort of the sofa while Dan ran another bath for Jess, who had just gone to lay straight on their bed.
He pushed open the bedroom door slowly and lay down next to her. He cuddled her gently and pushed her soaking wet hair back off of her face.
‘How’s my heroine doing then?’
‘Not too good actually, Dan, I feel a bit shaky.’
‘Probably shock darling,’ he replied. ‘I can never ever repay you for what you did, Jess, you saved my daughter’s life.’
‘Anyone would have done it,’ she said modestly. ‘Now don’t worry about me, how are those girls of ours?’
‘OK actually. Freya is relaying it all as a big adventure now. Evie is a bit sore but she’s in good spirits.’
‘Now come on you, let’s get you in the bath to warm you up.’ Dan helped Jess off the bed. Just has she had lain back in the warm soothing bubbles and closed her eyes, Dan bounded back into the bathroom. He got down on one knee and propped himself on the edge of the bath.
‘Just to make sure.’ He laughed. ‘Jessica Morley, will you do me the honor of being my wife?’ He produced a ring from behind his back. Jess looked at him with a deadpan face.
‘Jess?’ A look of panic went across Dan’s face. Then, just like Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman, ducked her head back right under the water then emerged with a huge grin on her face.
‘Of course I will, Daniel Harris!’
They both laughed and Dan kissed her gently on her forehead.
‘Oh my God, Dan, the ring, it’s the one from Prague, I can’t believe you did that! It is beautiful.’
‘Well you know, only the best for the future Mrs. Harris,’ he said modestly.
Just then Jess heard her mobile ringing in the bedroom. ‘Can you get that please, baby?’
Ten minutes later Dan came running into the bathroom, pulled down the toilet seat and sat on it. ‘It was Hope. I told her what had happened. She had some news for you, was going to wait and tell you herself, but thought you might need cheering up. She and Jack-the-Lad are tying the knot too.’
Jess managed a smile. ‘Good old Hope she never disappoints me. Husband number four. She vowed she’d never do it again! Have they set a date yet?’
‘Next month!’ Dan replied.
‘No! How funny. That is just so Hope though, I bet she wants to snare him before he gets a chance to run away.’
‘Jess?’ Dan said softly.
‘Yeeeesss,’ Jess said wondering what was coming now.
‘I did plan a proper romantic proposal and everything. I wanted it to be really special.’
‘Just asking me was special enough, Daniel Harris.’ Jess replied matter of factly. ‘Now, dear husband to be, do you want my bath water or not?’
‘And who said romance was dead eh?’ Dan smiled and replied. Jess threw a sponge at his head and they both laughed heartily.