More fluff…
The Green Festival was in full swing on The Embankment. Ruth had seen them setting up the stalls two nights ago when she was looking for Harry. Now they found themselves dressed, grinning and walking hand in hand down the Thames stretch they have frequented so many times before as work colleagues.
"Why are we here Ruth when I could be wrapped up in those beautiful, naked arms of yours?" Harry teases.
"Two reasons my love." replies a cheeky Ruth
"Pray, enlighten me…."
"Reason one: you may have had my CND membership revoked when I joined Five but I am, as you know, still a bit of a hippy at heart."
"One of the many reasons I love you…"
"…..thank you. Reason Two: I wanted to prove to you, in the close proximity of our esteemed work colleagues that if they see us like this, they can talk about us all they want. In fact, If they want to shout from the rooftop of Thames House that we are holding hands and…" Ruth stops, turns to Harry and kisses him keenly of the mouth "kissing, that would be fine with me!"
"You know earlier when I said I didn't realise how much I loved you…it just changed again!" chuckles Harry wrapping Ruth up in his arms once again.
They carry on walking until Ruth's eye is caught by a stall selling books, leading Harry over they spend a few minutes skimming through the various offerings on the recycled book table. Harry stops when he sees "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy", picking it up, he shows it to Ruth.
"Colin's favourite book…." Ruth says wistfully, remembering their unlucky colleague. "So many friends that we have lost, friends that we have sat here and remembered, grieved for. I think that is one of the reasons I struggled to get close to you Harry, what if one of us became just another unlucky Five statistic?" Ruth sighs looking at her feet.
"And now?" Harry replies, gently lifting her chin with the lightest touch
"And now every moment I have with you, I treasure. I wasted too many years imagining the worse that could happen and yet, here you are. My constant, my Harry"
They hold hands again and as they walk on, taking in the quiet festivities until their bench comes into view.
"Shall we take a load off?" bids Ruth
"You go, I'll grab us a coffee"
Ruth sits on their bench, alone. Just like the other night save for one big difference, this time she can see Harry. Harry looking gorgeous in his new blue shirt, tan trousers, Medium briefs, socks (size 9-12) and a still damp pair of shiny black shoes!
Ruth watches. Harry seems to be looking for something other than coffee, in fact he has just walked right past The Daily Ground stall and instead appears to be perusing a colourful Ethnic jewellery stall. Ruth watches intently as Harry eventually saunters back to their bench, without coffee.
"Hi Ruth" says Harry cheerfully
"Harry….. did they sell out of coffee?"
"oh, um…. I don't know" he stammers, hovering near the bench.
"Are you OK Harry? Do you want to sit?"
"Um, no… in fact I rather think I'd like to….kneel" he says as he drops to one knee in front of a very startled Ruth.
"Harry! Quick, get up, people are watching!"
"Let them watch, let the whole world watch Ruth. I love you! You asked me to marry you this morning, well now it's my turn to ask you the same question" Holding aloft a beautiful jade band Harry repeats the words he spoke after Ros' funeral. "Marry me Ruth"
"Harry… yes" she smiles as he places the ring on her finger.
As Harry gets up to join Ruth, his Fiancé, on the bench he spots a very unwelcome visitor approaching them.
