“Happy birthday, baby.” Once again the crowd erupts as Danny picks me up and turns me around, kissing me briefly as he returns me to the floor waiting for everyone to settle down. He continues. “This has been the best and worst year of my life. I started the year thinking it would be just like every other…Without you.” He sighs as fresh tears spring from my eyes. “Then a surprise message from a good friend,” he smiles down at Connie, “changed everything.” He swallows back his own emotion. “From the very first time I talked to you again, I knew my life was never going to be the same. I’ve always loved you.”

“I love you too,” I sob. Some ‘ah’s’ come from around us.

Danny steps over to Jen at the side of the small stage and Jen hands him something. When he turns back to me I see it’s the crumpled jewellery bag from his kitchen in LA. I watch him hold up the bag. “Remember this?”

I nod. Unsure of its significance now and wary of its connection to that horrible day.

He looks into my eyes. “I asked everyone to come here today, to shock you into silence so that I could finally get these words out.” He laughs. “I’ve waited a long time for this moment, I hope it’s third time lucky!” He pulls something small from the bag. I watch it fall and then look back to him in time to see him sink to one knee. I gasp and my hands fly up to my mouth.

Steadying himself with a long breath, he finally speaks. “Liv,” he says sincerely. “You are the most beautiful, vibrant person I’ve ever known. I’ve loved you since I was six years old and I know I’m never going to stop, so please…will you marry me?” Then he opens the tiny box in his hand and shows me the most amazing ring I’ve ever seen.

“Yes!” I whisper. His eyes fill with tears and he jumps up to hold me. His lips press against mine and then several other places in the chaotic, emotional embrace. He picks me up again and holds me so tight. “Yes?” he whispers in my ear. Checking he heard me correctly.

“Yes,” I repeat, louder. I’m dizzy now and no longer aware of my surroundings. “Yes!”

Once again the place erupts, but this time the sound continues, whistles can be heard and I’m aware of some crying too. I know I am and Danny is having real trouble keeping it together. He sets me down once more and takes half a step back to get the ring, which he slides onto my finger. Oh my God, it’s perfect, it’s grey, or at least it looks it in this light, its beautiful and unusual, and huge! We both stare at it on my finger. I don’t know what to say, my hold on my senses left the building a while ago. I throw my arms around Danny’s neck.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

We descend the steps and into the waiting arms of first Jen who is sobbing, followed by Max, who is also very emotional. Then just as overwhelmingly as the first time, almost everyone here comes to greet us, offering their congratulations. I’ve no idea how long this takes but at some point a strong rum and Coke finds its way into my hand, the other hand never leaves Danny’s. He holds onto me like I’m oxygen. I’ve felt his love for me before and it was nothing like this, it’s as if he is finally free to show how he really feels, no holding back.

After some time talking to everyone, Danny turns to me and pulls me close. “Are you ok?” he asks.

I smile, shivering but not from cold. “I’m perfect.”

“That dress looks amazing on you.” He grins.

I look down. “I love it, Danny, thank you so much.”

“And this does too,” he says, lifting my left hand to his lips and kissing the ring on my finger. He sighs with contentment and holds me close, then I feel him laugh to himself. “There is one other thing,” he says and takes my hand again, pulling me once more up to the stage. I’m bemused, how can there be more?

“Um, ladies and gentlemen,” he says into the microphone, waiting for the hush to fall. “As you know, there is just one more thing. Thank you all so much for keeping this secret for me.” He turns and grins at me. “I suppose I should tell my fiancé!”

I’ve no idea what is going on as I just stare at Danny, helplessly.

“As you can imagine,” he explains, “it wasn’t easy getting everyone together in one place at the same time.” He waves a hand at Jen and his parents in particular. “So doing it twice would be damned near impossible.”

I nod as if I understand but I’m so confused.

“So I was hoping you would do me the honor of marrying me…” I frown, I’ve already agreed to that. He looks worried as he says the next word. “…Tomorrow?”

I blink. “Tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow.”

“I…But…” There are no words.

“Do you trust me?” he asks close to my ear.

I nod, this I’m certain of, now more than ever. “But…how?”

“It’s all taken care of.” He grins at Max. “Everything is in place. All you have to do is say yes.”

I look at Max. He gives me the thumbs up. I realise that this is what they’ve been up to for weeks, in secret, working hard on this whole plan. I couldn’t deny them this, either of them. “Of course I will,” I say. Danny once again swamps me in his relieved embrace.

“She said yes everyone,” he says triumphantly to the crown when he lets me go. “You are all officially invited!”

We once again dismount the stairs to rapturous applause, it’s getting a bit embarrassing. I have a million questions and before anything else comes up, I need a word with my husband-to-be. I get goose bumps just thinking that he is so soon to be my husband. But, intent on finding answers, I grip his hand tightly and pull him towards the back of the diner. Danny smirks as I punch in the code to the flat and lets me tug him through the door, misunderstanding my intentions.

Once in the relatively tranquil environment of the hall, I sink to the bottom stair, rubbing my head with my fingers, just taking a minute to readjust to all this new information.

“Liv?” Danny says. I take a deep breath, there is so much to ask I don’t know where to start and I’m really enjoying the peace for a minute.

“What’s wrong?” Danny drops to his knees in front of me. I’m still trying to formulate a coherent sentence in my head when he cuts in again, his tone more like panic now. “Liv, no, please…”

My eyes shoot to his in alarm, “What?” I ask, confused.

“Don’t back out now,” he says quietly. “It'll kill me.”

“I’m not backing out!” I’m stunned that he would think I could.

“But you look like you’re getting ready to tell me something really awful.”

“No! Not at all. I have so many questions and I just wanted a minute alone with you that’s all.” I stroke the side of his face. “I’m just a bit overwhelmed, it’s a lot to process.”

“You’re not going to tell me it’s off?”

“No way.” I frown. I suppose I did act a bit like that. “Sorry if I scared you, but it’s so calm out here I just shut down for a second.” I grab his hands. “I’m so happy, honestly.”

He studies me, sagging with relief once he sees the sincerity in my eyes. “I did it again didn’t I?” He sighs, joining me on the step.

“Did what exactly?”

“Blindsided you.”

“It’s becoming a habit, but I love you for it.”

“I’m sorry, I just get so caught up in how to show you just how much I love you.”

“You can stop now.” I laugh. “I believe you!”

He nods solemnly. “Do you still want to marry me?” he asks, his voice so small.

“More than anything.” I grin and look at my ring. “This is so beautiful.” It’s grey, I can see it properly now. I’ve never seen anything like it, I think that was probably the point. I never really imagined this milestone in my life, because I was nonplussed about all the usual girlie details. I couldn’t see myself picking table centres and things. But if Danny’s choice of ring is anything to go by, I think the wedding is in safe hands.

Danny runs his thumb across the ring. “I knew it was for you the minute I saw it.”

“When did you buy it?”

“In LA. I was going to give it to you at the party the night it all fell apart.”

“So I’ve left you hanging with a ring in your pocket…twice?” I sigh and touch my thumb to the tiny band on my right hand.

He regretfully nods.

“I’m so sorry.”

“Hey, it’s done now. We made it,” he says softly. “Just marry me tomorrow and I swear we can just get on with our lives. No more drama.”

“Are you sure?” I laugh.

“Positive.”

“I love you so much,” I say touching his newly styled hair. “I like this a lot,” I tell him, leaning forward to kiss him. I pause before our lips touch. “You look lovely tonight.”

His sharp intake of breath as our lips meet fires up my insides.

“You look amazing,” he murmurs.

“You picked the dress. It’s perfect. Thank you.” I glance down at the fabric and realise with a smile that the colour matches my nails. I suspect that this was carefully orchestrated and it explains my mother’s enthusiasm for the shade when she was urging me to get my fingernails and toenails painted today.

“I’m glad you think I picked well.” He smiles. “Because I’ve picked you one out for tomorrow too.”

I giggle. “That answers one of my questions.”

“I know.” He smirks. “This must be killing you!”

I hang my head in shame.

“Do you think you could not ask me? Just trust that I’ve thought of everything.”

I take a deep breath, hoping I can do what he has asked. “I’ll try.”

“Tomorrow is going to be…just…it’s so ‘us’, Liv. I can’t wait for you to see it.” His smile is infectious.

“Where is it?” I ask, not thinking. Then I clap my hand over my mouth, realising my mistake. Danny gives me a raised eyebrow in disapproval. “Sorry,” I whisper.