Miranda hesitates, the audience become restless. Gary twitches as his knees start to give out. Miranda kneels down and helps him up.
'So? Whatdo yousay?' He asks, still waiting for an answer. Miranda hasn't even looked at the ring yet. She looks over at the box. Gary takes it out and holds it up to her.
It is a simple white gold band with a small but gorgeous diamond on top. 'I boughtthisringtoday, beforeIcametofindyouatthestation, Iwasplanningonaskingyoutomarrymethere but forgotonthecounterthatwewerebeingchasedbyyouths. ThenwhenMileaskedyou, IknewIcouldn'tloseyou. Ihadtoaskyouthereandthen, eventhoughitwasn'tasromanticasIwouldhavelikedit!' Gary takes Miranda's hand and hovers the ring over the correct finger. 'So? Whatdoyousay?' Miranda nods, Gary places the ring on her finger and they kiss.
Gary collects a bottle of champagne and starts to pour two glasses full. Miranda stands admiring the ring. 'Gary? Arewereallydoingthis?'
He hands her a glass, they raise a toast. 'To us, and to our future!' Gary leans over and kisses Miranda. 'Shall we start telling people?' He asks, returning to his chair. 'I don't think I could keep this a secret! Oh mum will be thrilled!' Miranda downs her champagne. 'Oh no, mum, things are only going to get worse. Now she will have a wedding to bug me about!'
Gary stands up and walks around the table, he takes her hand as she stands too. 'Why don't we elope? Go somewhere far away and tell no-one! You still have the ticket to Wick right?'
Miranda hesitates. 'But mum will never forgive me. She's been looking forward to this for my whole life. I couldn't take that away from her.'
'We can still have a party when we get back, where she can do whatever she wants.' Gary says as he strokes her face.
She kisses his hand and starts to gather all of the plates. They walk into the kitchen and start to load everything into the dishwasher, Miranda looks to Gary. 'Lets stay, we are happy here. It's where our friends and family are. After all this time, it wouldn't be right if we just shut them out, I will just have to stand up for myself when it comes to Mum!' Gary sniggers. Miranda throws a tea towel at him, Gary who has started washing the glasses in the sink, retaliates by throwing foam at her. In true Miranda fashion, a foam fight starts. Gary wins when he drenches Miranda head to toe in the watery foam. 'I'm so sorry!' He apologizes continuously. Miranda starts flicking the dish water at him, soon he is also drenched. He takes off his blazer, rings all the water from it, then puts it back on. 'Shall we go?' He winks.
'My place or yours?' Chuckles Miranda as they run out of the kitchen hand in hand.