Two couples met in Oxford's White Horse Pub for a drink. They congratulated themselves on a fine result. Dr. Angus Rawbone picked up his Scotch and made a toast.
"To Laura Hobson and Robbie Lewis, who finally made it to the opera."
"Hear, hear!" chorused Mrs. Rawbone and Mr. and Mrs. Innocent.
Chief Superintendent Jean Innocent displayed her phone to the others.
"James has even sent proof of them entering the Glyndebourne Festival Opera House."
"Laura looks lovely," gushed Mrs. Rawbone.
Angus Rawbone spoke for all of them again.
"Finally, all the years of frustration, their almosts, and maybes, and what ifs, are over."
Jean Innocent knew what he meant.
"I've wanted to bang their heads together for years. We should have formed a support group." She spied someone at the bar. "Alan", she waved to him, "join us."
Detective Inspector Alan Peterson brought his pint over to their table. Mr. Innocent congratulated him.
"I hear you are the action man of the hour, finding and discrediting the falsified reports that smeared Dr. Hobson's honor and reputation."
Jean Innocent held her breath, hoping no one noticed her husband's faux pas of using Peterson's derisive nickname.
Peterson pretended not to have heard and was genial in his response to Mr. Innocent. "I could say the same to you, having enough influence to get a judge to release Laura from jail on a Saturday."
"You are a dark horse," Rawbone nodded at Mr. Innocent.
Mr. Innocent waved away the compliments.
"My old school chum Bertie was happy to do us a favor." Bertie was none other than the Honourable Justice Julian Albert Barrows of Sussex County. He and Mr. Innocent kept each other's secrets about what they got up to during their school days.
The two unlikely heroes, Peterson and Innocent, were each forgiven for their previous interest in Laura.
Le dénouement
Back on the grounds of Glyndebourne a small crowd had gathered to hear the performance of the cover singer. They kept a respectful distance away from the couple that was being serenaded.
After finding Robbie missing from his chair, Laura sensed before she saw where he was, directly in front of her. She turned to find him on one knee looking up at her.
"Laura," he paused while there was an explosion of fireworks. He took both of her hands into his. "I've been trying to ask you something for awhile now and well, the circumstances weren't right."
Realization set in as Laura now knew that Robbie had arranged the private concert. This was his grand performance.
"The cover singer, you planned that?" Robbie nodded. "And the fireworks?" Robbie released the grin he had been suppressing since the appearance of the eager-to-perform tenor.
"Yes, all of it, for you, because I love you. I've attempted to do this four times before actually and well, I didn't have it right. I hope I do now."
"Four times?"
"Yes. The first time was at your house the night that you had those terrible flashbacks. I had been planning to ask you sometime in the future but that night after all you went through, I wanted you to know then so I whispered it into your ear. I wasn't sure you even heard or understood me but you seemed calmer after that."
"I remember having a fantasy that you whispered something lovely to me. I wasn't sure if it was real or not."
"The second time was when you were in hospital with a concussion. I was upset about not being told what was going on because I wasn't a relative. I knew it wasn't the right time then either."
"I thought that was a dream."
"The next time was the day after you helped me give Monty a bath and I brought a box of cupcakes to your office. The message on the heart didn't come out the way I had planned."
"I remember that."
"And the fourth time was the night we, erm had our dress rehearsal. I double checked the heart in the cupcake box and the message was correct. Before I could show it to you, Monty wiped it out."
"I won't ever forget that night and the cupcakes were delicious."
"Of course I shouldn't have asked you when you weren't feeling well, or in your office, or used a message written in frosting. You deserve so much more. I hope this time I got it right, that this is enough to show you how much I love you."
"Enough?" Laura wondered how he could worry that it wasn't enough. Aside from everything he planned for this magical evening, a long list of things that he had done for her lately came to mind.
Keep Her Safe
Hold Her Hand
Tell Her About Your New Chapter
Make Her Forget She Is Dr. Hobson
Bring Her Mid Morning Coffee
Show Her You Are Delighted With Her
Take Her For A Bike Ride
Make Time Stand Still
Always Kiss Her Back
Rub Her Back
Take Her To The Opera
Hold Her When She Cries
Go Wherever She Needs You
Take Her For A Special Ride
Dance With Her
Plant A Garden Together
Cook Dinner For Her
Sweep Her Off Her Feet
Make Love To Her
Hold Her Like A Princess
Take A Bath Together
The waiter returned with a box. He placed it on the table and removed the cover and tipped the box so Laura could see the red heart and read the message after which she had to remind herself to breathe. A butterfly, out much later than usual that evening, landed and perched on the edge of the box.
Robbie took one of his hands back to reach into his pocket. He missed his target twice before his hand finally found its way. He brought out a small box and opened it, revealing an exquisite solitaire sapphire ring.
Laura gasped and her eyes widened in astonishment.
Give Her A Ring
"I hope this is all right. I meant to get you a diamond ring. The lady at the shop, she asked me to describe you and I said you were unlike any other woman, not only were you gorgeous, enchanting, brilliant, and caring; you were so much more patient than an old sod like me had any right to expect. I told her that because of you I went from existing to living again. And well, I may have told her more than once how lovely you look in blue, and that you have a unique style, not that I understand such things, so she suggested this."
"Robbie, I've told you before, I don't think you're an old sod, at least not all of the time, and certainly not right now."
"If you don't like the ring, if you would rather something else, we'll go back and you can pick out whatever you want."
"The ring is beautiful Robbie. I love it, but more importantly, I love you." The smile she beamed at him was one he had never seen before.
"Oh, that's good. It's about time I got it right, got us right, and got to the point."
He slipped the ring on her finger. Several weeks ago he had gently tied a string around that finger one night while she was sleeping to be able to bring it to the jeweler to get the right size. The ring was contoured and Robbie showed her the matching wedding band that fit into it and the one he hoped to wear that had a thin vertical row of tiny sapphires to match her much larger one.
"Laura, I made an agreement with my landlord I hope you'll like. It's not binding so if you don't fancy it, we don't have to go through with it. He's going to allow me to buy the bathtub in the flat. I found a plumber who can remove it and install it at your house. I'd rather that bathtub than any new one with fancy features. That's only if you're happy about it though."
"I'm happy about that."
"Sorry this is taking so long."
"Take all the time you need, Robbie." She paused and admired the ring on her finger. "I may need a handkerchief..."
Robbie took his handkerchief out and pressed it into her hand. Laura took a deep breath and nodded for him to continue.
"Laura, what I'm meant to be asking is, would you do me the honour of marrying me, even if it means you have to put up with my snoring, my bad back, Monty, and my large bathtub?" His back was starting to hurt but he wasn't about to complain about it now.
Propose To Her
Laura looked from Robbie to the box on the table where the red heart had the words "Will You Marry Me?" written in white frosting.
The small crowd that had gathered during the performance by the cover singer had stayed for the fireworks and now recognized they were witnessing a marriage proposal. This production was as breathtaking as the one they enjoyed inside the opera house earlier.
"Robbie, kneeling like that that can't be good for your back." She stood and then pulled him up and threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, much like she did that day in the pub. This time though it wasn't the kiss of a new relationship; it was a slow and deliberate kiss to last into eternity. Laura twisted her fingers in his hair and massaged his neck with her thumbs. He may have planned this entire evening but she was in control of this kiss and it was her turn to make time stand still.
The finale of fireworks went off and they were bathed in the colourful lights. If not for the fireworks the crowd would have heard two delighted moans escaping from the embracing couple.
Robbie kissed her back matching her passion with his own which assured her that he would always kiss her back.
Robbie was anxiously awaiting her answer and reluctantly broke off the kiss and urged time to move on just long enough for Laura to respond.
"Laura, I know it's a lot to ask, so if you need more time to consider it…"
"No!"
"No?"
"I mean no, I, we, do not need more time."
"So you are saying…?"
"Yes, I am saying yes, to you, your snoring, your bad back, Monty, and to putting our bathtub into our house." Robbie looked stunned so she repeated it. "YES! YES! YES!" She shouted it louder in case he hadn't heard her. Laura's euphoric response broke open the lone cloud in the sky and a soft rain began to fall on them. She reached up to kiss him again and he lifted her up so she wouldn't hurt her back.
The crowd applauded the newly engaged couple then started to disassemble.
Robbie and Laura kept on kissing, both still hearing and feeling fireworks, neither one taking any notice of the rain. Once again time stood still as the cloud continued to gently shower them.
Love Her Forever
Voices from the retreating crowd could be heard cheering,
"Bravo!"
This was the last chapter. Thank-you for sharing my fascination of Robbie and Laura as a couple, beginning in Laura's bathtub, then Robbie's, and finally on to the opera. Although they got wet in the final scene, it wasn't in a bathtub so I apologize to Tess 4 5 and anyone else who was expecting a different ending.
Happy Trails!
