Despite having physical and emotional scars of which there are many, what remained of Harry's life depended on what happened next was something he had given very little credence to. But during what felt like a lifetime when in fact it was less than half a minute before Ruth said 'yes and when Harry' that was exactly how it felt. Beyond that for a man who had planned the end of the evening in the hope that Ruth would say yes, what to do next other than knowing that he wanted to kiss her in what was a small packed and candlelit restaurant, something which would have drawn unwelcome attention, meant that throughout the dessert and coffee which followed, he had to be content with a lot more hand holding and unspoken guarantees from the other side of the table. Before paying the bill and with a promise to return at another time he helped Ruth on with her coat and guided her outside into what was now a deserted and bitterly cold street.
Berating himself that he hadn't had the sense to order a taxi in advance, because the drop in temperature had caused Ruth to plunge the hands he'd so recently been holding into her pockets, 'I thought you might like a lift home,' from someone with a very welcome and familiar voice who had been listening to the radio and realised that the power outage which was causing chaos, from which taxi drivers were making a mint by doubling up on passengers for the simple reason that the underground had been suspended for safety reasons, didn't extend to them going to the area where his friends were dining, saw Harry opening the car door with not only of a sense of gratitude but relief.
But if their knight in shining armour aka Malcolm noticed a change in their body language throughout the journey, or when Ruth insisted that he come in and have a warm drink before he went home, he made no mention of it. His only comments being that it was no trouble whatsoever and that Ruth looked lovely and in answer to his question to which Harry responded about the content of the concert as being way above his expectations that he was pleased they had enjoyed it.
After which having thanked Malcolm and locked the front door behind him Harry finally claimed the kiss he had been waiting for before they settled themselves down on the sofa for what remained of the evening.
Where, 'you thought I was going to say no didn't you,' said Ruth accepting a glass of wine despite the lateness of the hour.
Tempted to say no, which of course would have been a lie, Harry opted for, 'only for a moment' with no idea as to where the conversation was going, or did he want the evening to end and not just because somewhere behind the question there was the suggestion that Ruth was teasing him, which together with his competitive nature made for a heady combination and one from which he was determined to emerge as the winner. By not only proving to her that he intended to be the husband she deserved, but by keeping it light hearted and if the chance came, to let her know that the humour that is unique to them will ensure that whatever happens in the future he will do whatever it takes to keep her as the someone who lights up his day. Even if it means admitting that the only other person who laughs at his jokes is Wes.
Only to hear her say, 'you're missing the point Harry,' which given this is Ruth, rather than ask her what the point is he takes a moment which is exactly what she had done and by doing so creates the light bulb moment he has been struggling to find.
Home and dry, 'I'm a man Ruth it's what we do,' he says, before playing his trump card by very slowly and without taking his eyes off her loosens the knot in his tie. Something that Jane had once suggested before threatening to strangle him whereas Ruth for some yet to be explained reason sees it as a turn on.
.
Quite how much of a turn on, would when he was trying to summon up the energy to kiss her goodnight having made love, not only have been the solution to the power outage but have shocked those who had always imagined Ruth to someone who only rose to such dizzying heights of passion when she was explaining to those around the meeting room table the contents of a coded warning in a language that only she could understand, was something he was still pondering the following morning when he was waiting for the kettle to boil, along with the question as where he and Ruth will get married and apart from Malcolm who they will of course invite, their guest will be woefully lacking. Which for someone as sweet and caring as Ruth he thought to be rather sad and something he needed to remedy.
Balanced out by the pluses of which there are more than most people have in a lifetime. The chance to retire early and move to another country, to change your lifestyle and have choices as where to live but most of all not to have to question his mortality. All of which are helped in no small way when midway through the morning by which time he is trying to decide just how much of his stuff he should take with him because Ruth has trimmed her collection of books and what she called her memories down to so little, Adam rings asking if he can come and see them?
Remembering just in time despite being surrounded empty boxes that what Adam does with his time is no longer his concern, he heads out into the kitchen to make coffee and at the same time give Ruth who is somewhere amongst the chaos of what he has already sorted upstairs a shout.
Only to find what he had thought to be chaos to be less so when Adam says 'I've come to tell you that I'd like to buy Ruth's house for the simple reason that the last few days when he's been with you have proved to me that Wes needs space and Ruth's house has a garden which is large enough that he'll be able to play with his friends, although I'll have to sell mine before I can do so.'
'Not only is that wonderful but you can move in whenever you like Adam and we'll sort the rest out when the time comes,' says Ruth with a look in Harry's direction, before giving Adam a hug.
.
'It's no more than you're currently doing in France other than you're not asking Adam for any rent but as you know him and by what you've said trust him, give him my number and tell him to get in touch,' is Andrew's response when Harry rings him. Before telling him with Ruth's blessing that they are engaged to be married and he will let him know where and when, so that he can draw up wills according to their wishes, effectively closing the door on their lives in London, other than they need to rely on Andrew to find a buyer for his house.
That said, emerging from what has been a morning of soul searching, one down and one to go does take the pressure off and with it gives them a reason to start looking at houses and areas in which they themselves might want to live thinks Harry. A scaled down Grand Tour that he is more than happy for Ruth to organise with the prospect of a wedding night either during or beforehand. Which as he sits here now looking at the woman he loves, with the list of things to do before they go home, reduced to a bit more packing and tomorrow's evening out with their once colleagues or in Malcolm and Adam's case friends who in so many ways have supported them, he who had believed on that dreadful day when she had kissed him goodbye that he would never see her again, thanks his lucky stars that the universe has dealt him a second chance.