Prologue- The engagement.
It was a warm June afternoon and I was taking my goddaughter Amber for a walk in Hyde Park. She was just coming up for two now and was already a bright and happy child. I had to get out of the house that morning. Daniel was away on work business and I didn't feel like sitting in a house where I knew that Sherlock would be blowing stuff up. So I asked Mary if I could take Amber out. I remember, she had looked at me curiously. To be honest, I had been acting oddly for a while and there was a very good reason why. I am pregnant. 15 weeks to be precise-the exact amount of time that Daniel had been away for. Obviously I knew that Daniel was the father, Daniel is the only man I have ever been with. But here I was, knocked up without a husband. The one thing I had vowed I would never do.
"Abi! Abi!" a little voice was calling to me from a way ahead. I looked up, squinting in the early morning sunlight. Amber was up ahead pointing at something-or someone. I ran to catch up with her.
"What is it, sweetie?" I asked, concerned.
"Look Abi. Uncle Dan!" she pointed excitedly up the path.
Stood in the middle of the path was my man. My Dan. Tall, handsome and a sight for sore eyes. I ran all the way down the path and straight into his open arms, kissing him full in the mouth. He laughed and kissed me back.
When we eventually pulled away, he looked into my eyes. Tears were stuck to my face and he wiped them away.
"My Abi," he said smiling, "My darling Abi."
"And my Dan," I replied, "My Dan the man!" and we both laughed.
"Abi, I know." He said bluntly.
I looked at him in amazement. "Know?" I stuttered, "Kn...Know what?"
He smiled "I know that you are pregnant with my child and that you didn't tell me because you were ashamed because of your beliefs."
I just stared at him.
"So…. I wanted to ask you something." And he got down on one knee.
I gasped.
"Abigail Charlotte McNiesh…. You drive me mad. I've been in love with you since I was 15 and I know you feel the same way. Would you do me the honour of becoming my wife?"
Tears were truly falling fast now as I smiled down at him. "Yes!" I replied, "Yes, yes, yes!" and he scooped me up into his arms kissing me and crying too.
