He is fidgety, even in the evenings, he is constantly checking emails and sending texts. He’s not troubled, he seems happy and he’s being really attentive too. Our ‘baby practice’ is going well, he can’t keep his hands off me. If I’m not carrying triplets right now, I’d be really surprised! I’m not, by the way. But we are working on it. I’m impressed with myself for not thinking the worst. The potential meaning of the fact that he is missing a lot, sending private texts and being overly attentive in the bedroom, isn’t lost on me. But I have no doubts this time, it isn’t even a consideration. Danny is all mine and mine alone. I would just like to know what he is up to.

I run into Max locking up the store room. He looks really guilty.

“Hey, where’s Danny,” I ask, pretending not to notice. I cut him a little slack today, it’s my thirtieth birthday tomorrow and they may well be planning something. That doesn’t account for almost a month of this weirdness, but I’ll let it go today.

“Parking the car, I think.” He shrugs.

“Oh.” I mutter turning away. I catch Max’s look of ‘Phew-that-was-close’ and I round on him. “I will get to the bottom of whatever it is you two are up to!” He pulls a face, but says nothing and I walk away feeling satisfied. I just wanted to put the wind up him, not ruin a surprise.

Danny is walking through the back door when I cross the garden. He looks up from his phone and grins, shoving it deep in his pocket.

“I’ve been looking for you again!”

“Sorry, I had to go out, what’s up?” he says casually as he wraps me up in his arms, distracting me with a deep kiss. This is what keeps happening. If I show any interest in what he’s up to I get the disarming, full-mega-watt Danny.

“My mum’s here, she wants to take me out for the day. I just wanted to let you know.”

He grins. “Perfect. Have fun.” He kisses the end of my nose and lets me go.

Huh! I think as I walk away, nice, I’ll miss you too! I grab my bag and find Mum and Connie chatting in the diner. It’s nice that she has come up to see me for my birthday. I haven’t really seen her much since I’ve been back to almost normal. She is so sweet coming today so that I can have tomorrow with Danny.

“Okay, we can go.” I huff as I approach them.

“Everything alright darling?”

“Oh, yeah,” I say shaking my head to let her know it’s nothing really. “Danny is just very distracted with the house and stuff. I know he and Max are up to something, it’s probably my birthday present. But I’m hoping he will come back to me once this is all done.” I sigh. I haven’t told her he is also planning to fly to LA in a few weeks to donate sperm for Jen and Scott. He hasn’t even told them yet. Apparently he just wants to sort the house out first, but it sounds like an excuse to me. I think he’s leaving it to sink in a bit, to test how I really feel. But I know how I feel won’t change. I fully support him in wanting to do this and when he goes, I’m going to go with him to prove it.

Mum smirks. “Don’t be on his case about your birthday. You know he will want to spoil you rotten. Don’t you dare ruin it for him.”

“I won’t, Mum.”

I feel a tiny bit tipsy when I get home. Mum and Connie took me to a spa as a birthday treat. We had afternoon tea with champagne and then we ordered more bubbly and sat around by the pool lazily, knocking it back. I’ve had a full top-to-toe and I feel like I’m floating. Mum went to town treating me and after having the works, they insisted we all have our hair done. I feel a bit overdone for a night on the sofa with Danny, especially as I return home to an empty flat. I was expecting Danny to be home, but he’s obviously in the bar. I turn back around to go downstairs and find him, when my attention goes to the door.

Hanging on the back of the door is a garment bag with an envelope attached. Written on the envelope is my name in Danny’s writing. I reach for it slowly, not sure if I should have seen this before tomorrow. He surely wouldn’t have left it here if I wasn’t. I open the envelope and pull out a note on heavy white paper.

Liv,

I hope you had a wonderful time at the spa, you should be feeling pampered and relaxed. I know I’ve been very distracted lately and I want to make it up to you.

Please put on this dress and meet me in the garden at 7pm.

Danny x

I read it again. Did Danny ask Mum and Connie to take me out today? Have I been played? Oh well, I had a great time and now Danny has bought me a dress and wants me to meet him. I wonder what he’s got in store? I carefully slide the zip down, revealing a flash of deep-purple silk. I gasp. The colour is beautiful.

I slide the cover off the dress and step back to admire it. It’s a fifties-style dress. Knee length, big skirt and nipped in at the waist with a belt made from the same fabric. It’s beautiful. The neckline at the front and back are deep V’s and I just know it’s going to suit me before I even try it. Danny is a genius!

I take the hanger off the door and go into the bedroom, checking my watch. I have half an hour and butterflies are forming in my stomach. I try to concentrate on what I have to do, instead of thinking about what is in store for me.

My hair is loose and falling in shiny waves thanks to the expensive blow dry, but this dress demands an up-do. I twist and pin and artfully arrange it so that the glossy tendrils are piled loosely on top of my head. Next I apply my usual smoky eye makeup and a hint of deep pink lip gloss, then I seek out my sexiest underwear, grateful that I showered at the spa as I slip it on. I pull out my glittery, beaded black ballet pumps. I sigh that I can’t wear the heels this dress probably deserves, but I hated them anyway and I’m not taking the chance now. Danny will understand.

With only a couple of minutes to go, I slide the zip up the side of the dress and fasten the belt. I turn to the mirror and freeze. This dress is perfect, just perfect. I bite back a tear thinking how lucky I am that he loves me so much. Then without another thought, I go to him.

The diner is pretty deserted when I open my door, but I’m too anxious to care. Opening the staff door to the garden I see Danny. I feel a thrill. He is beautiful. I take him in quickly as I walk towards him, he’s wearing dark grey trousers and a matching waistcoat, shirt sleeves are rolled up and his tie is perfect. His hair is kind of slicked over in a style he doesn’t normally wear, he looks like a casual movie star. I swell with fondness when I notice his black Converse. It’s these touches that make us perfect together, the fact that even dressing up doesn’t have to mean selling out.

He doesn’t take his eyes from mine, but I’m momentarily distracted by movement beside him as I round the corner into the garden. Max is there, so is my mum. It’s then that I notice that know every single face in the crowd filling the garden. I gasp and step back behind the protective wall of the diner, my hand goes to my mouth and my eyes return to Danny.

He beams at me. Chuckling to himself, he steps forward and takes my hands. “It’s okay,” he whispers. Pulling me gently out into the open again. The crowd erupts into a cheer as he pulls me tight to his chest. I can’t believe this, a surprise party!

“You look beautiful,” Danny says tenderly against my ear.

I blush. “Thank you for the dress,” I reply. “What’s going on?” I look to his face. He looks shy and happy at the same time. He is hoping I like this surprise, but he secretly already knows I will.

“Surprise!” He laughs as he releases me and turns me to see everyone that’s here.

My mum rushes forward and squeezes me. “Surprise darling,” she says with a knowing smile. Dave joins her, hugging both of us as I start to feel overwhelmed. Over her shoulder I see Grace, holding Mia and Andy clinging onto Matty’s little hand. I gasp and look back at Danny in disbelief.

The next few minutes are a blur as I hug my sister, kiss my way through the rest of my family and friends and then find that Danny’s parents, and Jen and Scott are also here. I didn’t realise I was crying until Max slips a tissue into my hand. This is completely overwhelming, what are they all doing here? I think I say that out loud to a few people, but no one really offers me an explanation. Then I’m passed back to Danny.

“What is everyone doing here?” I ask again, while Danny catches a stray tear with a fresh tissue.

“They came to see you.” He soothes. “Do you need a minute?” A glass of champagne is put in my hand by someone.

I need a week, I think to myself. But I shake my head. I breathe in deeply and let it out in a long, juddery whoosh.

“Okay,” he says, taking my hand. “Come with me.”

What I didn’t notice in the chaos and confusion, is that our modular stage that we have in the bar for live music, has been set up in the garden. Danny leads me onto it and I follow in a daze. I turn and gasp again when I see just how many people there are.

Danny casually takes a microphone from its stand and flicks it on.

“Good evening everyone,” he says, causing a hush to fall over the crowd. “Thank you all for coming and for helping me keep this secret.” He laughs. “Liv is not an easy person to hide something like this from, so well done for all the lies, but remember it’s not over yet!” Laughter ripples through the garden. I frown at that, but Danny carries on. Turning to me, he smiles. “Liv,” he says raising my hand to his lips. “You take my breath away.” He almost whispers. He says it just for me, but shares the thought with everyone via the microphone. Lots of people cheer and I hear a few whoops and words of agreement. I’m not shy, but this is beyond doubt the most embarrassed I’ve ever felt and yet standing here with Danny, I don’t want this moment to end.