* * *
The door opened and Ruby scrambled off Ethan’s lap, sneaking a quick glance at the impassive face of the chauffeur and figuring he’d probably seen worse as Rafael Martinez’s driver.
She looked around in an attempt to work out where they were. Not that it mattered—all that mattered was Ethan’s proximity and the sheer sense of wonder that doused her. Ethan loved her. The urge to cartwheel, to grab passers-by and tell them of her sheer happy feelings nigh overwhelmed her.
Instead she looked round and took in a tree-lined canal, with moored narrowboats of all colours bobbing up and down on the water. Cream Georgian architecture abounded, and the whole area felt like a quirky peaceful oasis in the midst of London’s sprawl.
A quick tour of her mental knowledge told her they were in Little Venice.
‘Come on,’ Ethan said.
His grin was so boyish, so relaxed, that her heart threatened to burst.
‘Close your eyes.’
Ruby scrunched her eyes shut and wrapped her fingers round Ethan’s capable hand, anticipation unfurling as he guided her along the pathway.
‘Okay. You can look.’
A small gasp escaped her lips as she surveyed the boat—gaudy, cheerful, bright red. It looked as though it had a personality all its own.
‘Ta-dah!’ Ethan beamed at her. ‘Welcome to the Oasis. Fifty-eight feet long, six foot ten inches wide, she’ll be able to take us all over England’s canals.’
The grin dropped from his face, to be replaced by a serious expression, his blue-grey eyes full of passion and determination. ‘It’s symbolic. I want you on board my boat, Ruby, and I don’t care how much it rocks or rolls or even if it capsizes, as long as we are on it together.’
The words caused a prickle of tears and he looked at her, consternation written all over his face.
‘Hey, don’t cry!’
‘I can’t help it. That is so beautiful and...’ She gulped. ‘I can’t believe you bought a boat!’
‘Come and see.’
Ruby followed him inside and felt an instant sense of home. The interior had a clean, homey, compact feel, with the space used to incredible effect. The kitchen area gleamed with pine, and as she explored she gave a small gurgle of delight at the dexterity of the storage space. Already she could picture rustling up meals as they chugged along England’s canalways.
Walking further in, she saw the tiny but functional bathroom and shower room. ‘There’s even a dining area!’
‘Well, meals are an important consideration. And look—when we don’t need the table it can be folded away and we convert it into a lounge. Plus there are two cabins—a double room and a twin. Tight fit, but...’
Ruby stilled. ‘Why the twin bedroom?’ she asked.
‘Because one day I hope that we will have children. Adopted or birth or a mixture of both.’
His words caused her to freeze, unsure whether to believe him or not, and needing him to understand that she truly loved him for himself. Only him. That he was way more than enough.
‘You don’t have to say that. I meant what I said. You are who I want. I want my future to be with you—to wake up every day wrapped in your arms.’
‘I get that, Ruby, but you have changed me. You’ve opened my heart. And I have enough love in there for you and for children. Of course I’m scared—scared I’ll mess it up, terrified I’ll let them down—but I also know I will strive every day to be the best parent I can. Because you were right earlier. I don’t blame my mum for what she did, but I could never do that to my child. I would never give up and I would never stop loving them. I’ll be there for them, Ruby. I swear I will.’
‘There is no doubt in my mind, or in my heart.’
Of course he was scared—after his childhood how could he not be? But she knew that Ethan would be a wonderful dad, and she wanted to whoop with joy that he too wanted a family.
‘I know you will be a wonderful dad, and I so want us to be a family. I’ve decided to try to trace Tom, Edie and Philippa as well. Make some new memories.’
The idea still scary, but with Ethan by her side, there to catch her if she fell, as she would be there for him, it seemed less daunting.
‘I’ll support you one hundred per cent. In this and everything, Ruby. Now and for ever.’