She lifted her hands to her mouth and let the tears run down her face freely. Stevie felt his chest constrict as he waited for her answer. A sob escaped her throat and he couldn't take it anymore. Reaching for Rooney, he pulled her into his arms.
"Tell me, for God's sake, just tell me what’s wrong?" He kissed her head. "Is it too soon, did I ask you wrong? Tell me, Rooney. I can't stand seeing you in tears."
She laughed through her tears. "Foolish man. These are happy tears, Stevie. I never thought we’d ever get to this point. Even at my lowest, when I was struggling with a baby and uni, I never could have dreamed we would be here together like this." She wiped her eyes and sniffed. "I can't bear the thought of living without you. It was nice falling asleep last night in your arms. I don't want to be alone again, Stevie. Of course I'll marry you."
He held her tight as his heart beat slowed to normal. Then letting go of her, he picked up the box he'd dropped when he grabbed her. Taking the pink diamond solitaire, he placed it on her finger before kissing her soundly.
"We need a party," Tam cried, throwing herself at the pair of them.
"Sounds like a good idea. We can do with some fun in the house." Rooney kissed him on the lips, mindful of the child snuggled between them. "I can't wait to share the news."
"I...um…asked Russ, so he knows but nobody else."
"You asked my brother? How sweet you are."
"Now we’re going to celebrate and have a couple of hours to ourselves before we go up and share the news." He reached for the basket and took out a chilled bottle of champagne and a couple of glasses.
Rooney held the glasses while he popped the cork. "Cheers." They tipped glasses and sipped before Stevie took snacks and juice from the hamper. He leaned back and watched the ducks floating on the water he’d skinny-dipped in with Rooney when they were growing up. He wished with all of his heart that Tam would have such the carefree existence they’d had.
Chapter 37
"Lizzie, open the door." Russ knocked, paused and knocked again.
She could feel the vibrations as she leaned against it, willing him to leave her alone.
"Go away." Her voice was muffled and she tried again, stronger this time. "Please, just go away."
"I'm not going anywhere. We need to talk."
She looked around her lounge, debating ignoring him and climbing under the bedclothes shutting herself off from the world. But that wouldn't make anything better. What was done was done, and she had to live with it. What she didn't have to live with, was the accusations pointed at her all over again because some stupid love-struck girl fancied the new doctor. Life was cruel and unfair. The very reason Lizzie had tried not to get involved with Russ Williams, because sooner or later someone would spill the story to him and he would run. They always did.
"Lizzie, I'm not going to go away. I don't care if I sit out here all night. We need to talk."
Tired and suddenly eager to get it over and done with, she unlocked the door and pulled it open. It stunned her how beautiful he was. A blond god with gentle blue eyes and a smile that made her knees tremble. "What do you want to say?"
"Do you think I could come in? I don't think this is something the neighbours need to hear." He smiled and walked past her, stopping in the middle of the room.
She shut the door, sliding the lock closed from habit, before turning to look at him. "Say what you have to and leave. I'm tired."
"I'm sorry about what happened at work with Diane. That was unnecessary and plain mean." He looked around and took a seat on her lounge, gazing at her and no doubt waiting for her to answer him.
"Fine. Is that it?"
"No, actually it isn't. I wanted to ask you on another date. How about Saturday night? We can go dancing if you like. Not that I know where just yet, but we can work on that."
"Are you for real? I was involved in an apparent murder. My face was flashed over the newspaper this morning, as you already know. Does that not mean anything to you?" She stared at him, sitting calm and handsome watching her lose the plot.
"No. Should it?"
Lizzie ran her hands through her hair, pulling the tie and letting the curls fall loose. Pain throbbed behind her eyes and she wished it was possible to dream it away. This conversation wasn't going as she thought it would. "Don't you want to know what happened?"
"Only if you want to tell me. Your choice Lizzie, but it doesn't make any difference to me." He stood and walked to her, taking her hands in his. "Look, Stevie trusts you, so I do too. If you want to tell me what happened, then fine." He shrugged his shoulders. "If it makes you feel better, get it out and lets be done with it so we can move on. It's not important to me."
She was stunned. This couldn't be right. Maybe if she told him the gory details he might run. Lizzie had to get it out in the open.
"I had a very controlling boyfriend. Funny how you don't think that way initially. I thought he was just protective and that was kind of sweet." She walked away from Russ and stood with her arms folded across her chest, facing him from the other side of the room. "We were like lost souls who suddenly found each other, at least that’s what it felt like. It was amazing how alike we were. I was totally besotted with James. He did everything for me. If I worked late, he would have
