We walked into my mother's kitchen hand-in-hand. Harry still had a stupid grin on his face, and I'm certain I did too. Looking at the clock, I realised we were almost half an hour late and braced myself for my Mom's rage.
What time do you call this? She screeched indignantly. I thought I raised you to be a punctual young lady, but apparently not! You have kept the entire family waiting. Look, your father is only in from work and you have him waiting twenty minutes for his dinner! How dare you be so inconsiderate!
Mum! I interrupted, wisely, in my opinion. You have to head her off early or she gets into her stride and goes on for ages, a valuable lesson I learned from my trouble making older brothers, Fred and George. Harry apparently thought differently of my decision, wincing and shaking his head, all the while staring at the floor like a little boy in disgrace. I am obviously the braver one in our relationship.
Mum, we had a very good reason to be late! I protested. She stopped to draw breath, puffing herself up for my no doubt inadequate reason. Oh, yeah? She said, looking sceptical. And what might that be?
I took a deep breath and squeezed Harry's hand before letting go.
Well, because Harry just proposed to me, I said with my eyes closed, ready for the uproar.
OH MY GOD! Squealed the entire female population of the room, plus my very gay and very out brother Percy. My other brothers all looked dumbfounded, except for my brother Ron, who winked at me and Harry. There had obviously been a conspiracy that I had been unaware of.
My mother seized my left hand and yanked it up to her face to examine it, obviously not believing a word of my story. She stared at my ring for a few seconds, momentarily rendered speechless. I savoured the rare silence.
Oh, my baby is getting married! She exclaimed. We'll have to start planning right away, she started, before lapsing into rapturous silence, already enthralled by the visions of my wedding that her mind had no doubt just conjured up. I sighed. My mother is a demon when it comes to events.
My dad got up from his chair to wring Harry's hand. Always knew you were the one for her, he confided in him, before pulling me into a hug. I'm happy for you, he told me quietly. Indulge your mother, he pleaded. I'm the one who'll have to live with her sulking if you don't.
When he let me go, I was instantly surrounded by my excited sister-in-laws and sister-in-law to be. They pulled me into the sitting room and I wasn't released until I revealed every last detail to them.
Harry eventually rescued me from the clutches of my wedding mad sisters-in-law after letting me suffer for over two hours under the pretense of having to get home before the roads got too busy. I will get you for leaving me there, I growled in his ear as my brothers escorted us to our car.
No sweat, Gin, he whispered back. I'm a glutton for punishment.