A week went by, then two, and Timothy was growing impatient. He saw Shelagh nearly every day, much more than Dad did, although he suspected they were meeting privately while he was at school. Shelagh hadn't been back to the house in days, and now was away for two more. She had gone to Chichester to the Mother House and didn't expect to be home until Saturday.

At breakfast Friday morning, Patrick said, "Tim, I have an errand to do today, and I'd like you to come along. We'll need to go right after dismissal, so make sure you're there for me."

"Where are we going?" Errands on a Friday were highly unusual.

"It's a surprise. Just be at the gate."

Climbing into the car, Timothy demanded, "So, where are we going? Why couldn't you tell me this morning?"

"If I told you this morning, you might not have kept the secret. This way, we have some time ahead of the gossip."

"I don't tell our secrets, Dad. Besides, we don't really ever have any secrets. we're pretty boring."

"Are we?" his father asked.

"Well, we were. Until Shelagh. Now everyone is talking about us. Shelagh hates it," Tim added.

"I know. So let's put an end to it. We're going to buy a ring."

"A ring? What sort of-" Timothy stopped. "You're finally going to ask her!"

"Finally? It's only been two weeks, Tim. Some would say I'm rushing things." Patrick steered the car into the busy traffic.

"Are you rushing things?" Timothy asked, concerned. He thought things weren't moving quickly enough. Could it be possible that he'd have to wait even longer?

"Maybe. No. Some people will say that it's too much change, it's too soon. But I don't want to wait anymore, Tim. I want Shelagh to be my wife, for us to be a family. I know how I feel, and I'll feel this way for the rest of my life. If Shelagh feels the same, there's no reason to wait. Life can be hard and love is what makes it worthwhile. Grasp happiness while you can, Tim." It had been a long time since he had said something like that to anyone.

"Good," his son answered. "I don't want to wait anymore, either. It's already been ages."

That night, after a satisfying fry-up at a City cafe, they sat at the kitchen table, the ring between them on the table.

"So how are we going to do this?" Tim asked, conspiratorially.

"We are not going to do anything. I know you want to be a part of this, Tim, but there are some things a man has to do by himself. Proposing marriage is one of them." If Patrick wished just a little bit that he could have Tim do this for him, he wasn't telling.

Timothy frowned. "I suppose so. I mean, I wouldn't want to be there if she said no. Or what if she says yes, and then you kiss her?" He shuddered. "You're right. I don't want to be there."

Patrick laughed nervously. "Which would be worse? A 'No' or a kiss?"

Taking a long time to consider, Timothy finally answered. "I suppose a 'No' would be worse. I'd be dreadfully disappointed. But the kissing part, is that entirely necessary? You won't do that here at home, will you?"

"I'm not sure you understand what may be about to happen, Tim. If Shelagh says yes, then kissing is definitely on the table. I'll try not to embarrass you too much, though."

"You mean I'll just have to get used to it."

"Hopefully, yes. Are you sure this is what you want, too?"

Tim nodded. "Yes. How are you going to ask her?"

Patrick let out a long breath. "I have no idea. With your mother, it just popped out. We were walking back from dinner one night, and I just asked her. I didn't even think about it. I'm not sure I even remember what I said exactly."

"Very impressive, Dad. No wonder the ladies love you so much."

"I don't have a gift for language like you, Tim. Any suggestions?"

Timothy shook his head.

"Well, then, how about I make some cocoa, and we try to think of something."

As he stirred the pot, he watched his son wrestle with the problem.

"Will you wrap it?" Tim asked.

"I hadn't thought of that. I suppose I could," Patrick answered.

"What if I wrote a note on the inside? That way Shelagh could see that I want it to?"
"What sort of note?" Patrick asked, suspicious.

Timothy looked at his father with a knowing smile. "Don't worry, Dad. I know exactly how we're going to pull this off."