Chapter 70

Chapter Seventy

Will

M y nerves were jangling as Maddy and I leaned against the counter of the jewellers we were in.

"Dad, your hands are shaking," she said, laughing as she placed hers on top of mine.

"I'm not sure whether it's the thought of Maya saying no or the amount of money I'm about to handover," I replied with a groan.

"The money, definitely." She gave me a huge grin and held her hand, palm up. "Take my hand, Dad."

Exhaling, trying to rid myself of tension, I placed my hand in hers, and her small fingers wrapped around mine. "I love you, sweetheart," I told her. "And I'm so proud of you."

A shy blush appeared on her cheeks, never one to like too much attention. "Dad, it's university, that's all."

"It's a big thing," I protested. "You're going out of your comfort zone and leaving home."

Maddy was going to Edinburgh, not staying at home and doing some online course. My relief was huge, only tempered by the knowledge that I was going to miss her.

"I'm only going because I know you have Maya to take care of you," she told me.

Maya had been living with us for three months and it had been perfect. Well, almost. There'd been a couple of teething problems over how I left the bathroom after a shower, and how she got makeup powder everywhere. Money had also created a heated discussion because I didn't think she should pay half the bills. Seeing as Maddy's habit of leaving lights on, and Zak eating every meal with us most weekends, contributed the most to our bills. After an hour of ignoring each other, though, we discussed it calmly and we finally agreed on Maya paying a third. I'd have been happy with zero, but my woman was bloody stubborn.

"How are you going to do it anyway?" Maddy asked, peering in the glass case at some diamond earrings. "And yes, I am changing the subject."

"You little turd." I ruffled her hair. "And I have no idea."

"Dad," she exclaimed. "You have to have something fancy planned out." She shook her head disdainfully and gave an exhausted sigh. "You're hopeless."

"No, I'm not," I protested. "Maya isn't into fancy. She likes normal, but romantic, and so it will be."

"Just don't do it when you're cutting your toe nails or anything like that."

I did have an idea, but it involved us being naked, so I wasn't going to tell Maddy about it. All I knew was the question would be asked soon. Now I'd made my mind up, I didn't want to wait.

I'd only told Maddy a couple of days before what I was planning on doing, in case her stupid grin gave it away, and she'd insisted coming with me for the ring. She said it was to give her guidance, but I knew it was more to make sure I shelled out a fucking heap load of money. Between us, we'd narrowed it down to three rings, all diamonds with a diamond encrusted white gold band. One was a pear shape, one round and one what the jeweller had informed me was princess cut. I knew which I liked but I hadn't said anything, because I wanted Maddy's honest opinion.

"We can go and get Maccies after this," I told her.

"With an eight grand ring in your pocket." She looked at me wide eyed. "Maybe we should do the drive thru."

I chuckled at the idea of dumping it in the bin with left over burger by mistake, then my skin went cold. "Yeah, maybe you're right."

As we continued to wait for the jeweller to come back, I looked at Maddy's profile. She was the image of Andy from that angle. The same tilt of her nose and little elfin like chin. In fact, she was a good mixture of both of us and I knew her mum and Aunt Miriam would be proud of her and her decision to go to Edinburgh. I didn't even think Zak being there was the biggest part of her reason for going. We'd been to visit the campus with Zak and his parents, and they both fell in love with the place. Maddy more than Zak. I was quite glad they would be studying a bus or bike ride away from each other, because at least then they wouldn't be in each other's pockets. Zak's parents, however, had decided to invest in a property near to the uni and Maddy was moving in with him; him, two lads and a girl who were going to rent rooms from them. I hadn't been totally in raptures about it, but I couldn't have everything, the main thing she was going to be spreading her wings.

"Right, sir," the jeweller said, coming back and placing a pad on the counter top. "Here's the three you requested a closer look at."

He talked to me about diamond clarity, and which would retain the most value, but I couldn't take my eyes off the pear shaped one. It was clearer and sparkled more, and the glint reminded me of Maya's eyes when she found something funny. It wasn't huge but it wasn't small, it was perfect, like her.

"Mads?" I asked her. "Which do you like?"

Beaming at me she pointed to the pear shaped one. "It reminds me of Maya's eyes."

God, my daughter. I couldn't express how much I loved her.

"My choice, too."

She giggled. "And the most expensive, so it's perfect."

It really was and so was everything else in life. All I needed now was for Maya to say yes.

"Did you have a nice day with Maddy?" Maya asked as I rubbed her back with the bath sponge.

I watched the bubbles trail slowly down the groove in the middle of her back and disappear into the water. Her hair was up in a messy bun and some of the strands that had escaped stuck to her neck and cheeks as she rested her head on her knees. She was the picture of beauty.

When she'd been in plaster, taking a bath together had become our favourite thing to do with Maya sitting between my legs so I could wash her. It wasn't as easy as a shower, but it was more fun because it usually ended in me giving her an orgasm with my fingers.

I'd lit candles and placed them around the bath and the room, and I'd even brought the speaker in to play music softly in the background. We had a bottle of wine, and it was the most relaxed I'd felt in months.

"Maddy and I had a great day. She cost me a fortune, though." Maddy and Maya, but I didn't mind one bit.

"Aww she deserves to be spoiled. She'll be gone too soon."

"Ugh, don't remind me." I dropped a kiss to Maya's shoulder. "The house will seem a lot quieter without her and Zak blasting music and eating us out of house and home."

Maya didn't say anything but hummed her agreement. Maybe Maddy leaving was upsetting her more than I thought. They'd become close since Maya had moved in, their own little girl gang who picked on me relentlessly; I loved every single minute of it.

"Lisa is already talking about a trip to see them," I said, talking about my conversation with Zak's mum.

She glanced at me over her shoulder. "He's a lovely lad and such great parents. I can't believe they bought a house to make life easier for them."

"I know, I wish I could help more."

Maya shifted around and putting a wet palm against my cheek, smiled softly. "Baby, you don't have to buy a house to show how much you love and support them. And what you have done for that sweet girl all her life is incredible. You've been her mother and her father, and she has the confidence to move on to the next chapter because of you. Because of every single time you told her she was strong, she was brave, and she was beautiful."

A lump formed in my throat as I thought about the years when it had just been me and my Mads. At times it had been hard, but in the most she'd made it easy for me. She'd been a great kid to bring up. My little teammate and now she was leaving me.

"Shit, if I feel like this now, how will I cope the day she leaves?"

Maya kissed me gently. "I'll hold your hand, don't worry. Always."

Now was the time to let Maddy go and start a new team. I reached down the side of the bath underneath the towel I'd placed there and pulled out the small black velvet box. As Maya washed her arms, I flipped open the box, and cleared my throat of the nerves, and moved my shaking hand in front of her.

She didn't notice immediately, but when I kissed the back of her neck she looked up and instantly squealed.

"Oh my God, Will."

Turning around to face me, water sloshed over the sides of the bath onto the tiled floor as a small tidal wave formed around us.

"You mean it?" she asked, her palms flat against her cheeks. "Really?"

"Yes, gorgeous," I whispered. "I mean it. I love you and I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you. I can't imagine not spending it with you." Mesmerised by her beauty, I drew in a breath, unsure how I'd been so lucky. "Love wasn't something I was looking for. I didn't think I wanted it, but you, shit, Maya, you changed all of that. I love everything about you, your heart, your laugh, your jokes, your body, your lips, everything, but most of all I love how you love my daughter. So," I said, blowing out a breath, "will you marry me?"

"Yes," she screamed. "Yes, of course I will. Please put that beautiful ring on my finger."

As soon as it was on, she threw her arms around my neck and kissed me like she needed it to survive. More water splashed over the sides and when Maya straddled me, we were left with only a small amount left in the bottom of the bath.

"I love you," I told her. "So, fucking much."

Maya's bottom lip trembled as she traced my eyebrow with her finger, her gaze fixed on me. "I love you, too and I can't wait to be your wife."

Then, in a few inches of water, I made love to my fiancée and made her scream my name as the diamond on her finger twinkled just like her eyes.