Chapter 11

Susie was up bright and early on Saturday morning, her energy levels already at full tilt while her father was deep in the throes of making a special breakfast.

“I had a bad dream last night, Daddy,” she announced, climbing onto a stool at the kitchen bench. Raymond turned from the stove, his brow furrowing in concern. “Oh, darling, what was it?”

With the hint of a tremulous smile, she confessed, “I dreamed that Auntie Ruth asked you to marry her, and you said no.” Her eyes twinkled mischievously, and she couldn’t keep her laugh in.

Raymond let out a mock gasp. “Oh, you scamp! That wouldn’t have been a bad dream—it would’ve been a catastrophe!”

“A cata-what?” Susie echoed, cocking her head.

“A catastrophe—something really, really bad,” he explained.

She giggled. “But it wasn’t bad, was it, Daddy?”

“No, sweetheart,” he grinned, flipping a pancake with a flourish. “It was delicious.”

“And Mummy Ruth is delicious, and I’m going to eat her all up when she comes!” Susie declared gleefully. “When does she get here?”

“She just texted—she’s on her way,” he said. “And she’s bringing some cream for the pancakes.”

“Oh, goodie!” Susie cheered, just as the doorbell rang. She shrieked in delight and sprinted to the door, flinging it open.

“Mummy!” she cried, leaping onto Isobel with such force that Isobel staggered back a step.

“Careful, darling!” Isobel laughed, shifting her grip to keep her balance. “I don’t want to spill the cream!” She deposited the bottle on the hall table before wrapping Susie in a monumental hug. “No need to ask how you are this morning, cherub—full of beans, obviously.”

Then, turning to Raymond with an impish glint in her eye, she added, “And you, Ray?”

“I still can’t believe my luck,” he admitted, eyes warm with affection.

“Luck be blowed,” she teased. “You just recognised quality when you saw it.” And with that, she carried Susie over to Raymond and gave him a resounding kiss, as the three of them embraced in a tangle of limbs. “Talk about a bunch of three-huggers,” she grinned.

The kitchen soon filled with the enticing aroma of butter and maple syrup as the pancakes hit the plates. Breakfast was a noisy, laughter-filled affair, punctuated by sticky fingers, syrupy grins, and exaggerated ‘mmm’s of appreciation.

Once the dishes were cleared, Raymond clapped his hands together. “Right! Order of the day.”

“Yes, sir!” Susie and Isobel chimed, snapping into mock salutes before dissolving into giggles.

“I can see discipline is going to be a problem in this household,” Raymond intoned in a stern sergeant-major voice—before promptly ruining the effect by cracking up himself.

“Oh, I don’t know,” Isobel said cheekily. “I might not mind a bit of discipline once in a while.” She shot him a teasing glance, and Raymond promptly turned a shade darker.

Clearing his throat, he rallied. “Be that as it may, the pantry says it needs filling, and we need to plan a menu for tomorrow night.” He paused. “And I suspect certain celebratory items might be in order.”

Susie clapped her hands. “Shopping trip!”

“Right,” Isobel said briskly. “Let’s hit the town.”

The grocery shopping was swift and efficient—though not without the occasional detour into the confectionery aisle at Susie’s insistence. But once the essentials were checked off, the girls’ thoughts took a predictable turn.

“Wedding clothes,” Isobel declared, her eyes lighting up.

Raymond blinked. “Already?”

“Well, of course! There’s a lot to think about—what to wear to the engagement dinner, the wedding itself, the going-away outfit, and accessories—”

Raymond sighed theatrically. “I’d always thought of wedding clothes as a women’s domain. Just tell me where to show up in a suit, and I’ll be there.”

“Oh no, mister,” Isobel said, linking her arm through his. “You’re part of this operation. Consider yourself well and truly conscripted.”

And so began what Raymond would later dub The Grand Expedition of Endless Shops. Store after store, he was dragged from rack to rack in search of suitable outfits—not just for the wedding but for all the adjacent events. Scarves were examined. Shoes were tried on and discarded. Hats were debated. Nothing was purchased, but the thrill of the hunt was apparently the point. Susie, meanwhile, was revelling in the process, twirling in front of mirrors and offering her opinions like a miniature fashion consultant.

At one point, Isobel held up a sleek navy dress. “What do you think?”

Raymond tilted his head. “Looks good.”

She raised an eyebrow. “Just good?”

Raymond cleared his throat. “Looks ... stunning?”

She smirked. “Better.”

Somewhere along the way, they convinced Raymond to part with some cash for a crisp new shirt, and he considered it a small price to pay for finally being allowed out of the clothing stores. With that mission complete, they headed to a jeweller to check out rings.

To Raymond’s relief, Isobel had fairly simple tastes—no desire for the flashiest, most ostentatious ring. Her eyes were drawn to a sapphire and diamond engagement ring, elegant yet understated. When she slipped it on, it was a perfect fit.

“Well, that was easy,” Raymond said, genuinely pleased.

“Don’t jinx it,” Isobel warned, but she was beaming.

They also picked out a pair of matching wedding bands. While Isobel kept Susie occupied by letting her admire the sparkling display cases, Raymond subtly pulled one of Suzie’s costume rings from his pocket and handed it to the jeweller.

“Can you find a gold ring in the style of a wedding band and resize it to match this?” he asked quietly. “It’s for my daughter.”

The jeweller smiled knowingly. “Of course. It’ll be ready in a few days.”

Raymond nodded, satisfied.

Having accomplished a full day’s work, they rounded off the afternoon with a leisurely picnic in the Botanic Gardens. Sprawled on the grass with sandwiches and juice boxes, they basked in the crisp autumn air while Susie delighted in the swings and roundabouts. At one point, Raymond watched as Susie threw her head back, laughing wildly as Isobel pushed her on the swing. The sunlight caught in Isobel’s hair, and for a moment everything in the world felt perfectly aligned.

He reached for Isobel’s hand as she returned to sit beside him. “This—this is the life, isn’t it?”