The Proposal Plan Read Online Free

drinking had more charge of his life than he did himself.
    Dragged down with him was her mother, who developed her own drinking problem alongside him, almost in sympathy with him.The rows had become more and more frequent, verbal at first, then at times physical. By the time Lucy was sixteen her mother had left and she was running the house herself as well as managing her own schoolwork. She had kept everything perfectly as if she could somehow bring order to the rest of her life by making the house run smoothly.
    Watching Ed now in her tiny kitchen, helping her clear up after eating the meal she had cooked for them both, she felt a warmth deep inside her. She felt totally at ease, relaxed, secure. She wanted that feeling to last and to envelop every aspect of her life. She wanted to start thinking about having children now, a family of her own to look after. It was the logical next step for them, and getting married was the way she wanted to start that journey. She felt excited at the thought of it—a proper family at last.
    The following evening, Gabriel was late as usual.
Only in his private life, though
, Lucy thought fondly as she tidied up. He was always impeccably presented, perfectly prepared and absolutely on time when he was working. In fact he was the most professional person sheknew, totally reliable and with absolute integrity when he had his lawyer hat on. A rising star in legal circles, he had attained partnership before the age of thirty and his career was going from strength to strength. Unfortunately it never seemed to wrap over to his personal life. He was always late and his beautiful house was always a pigsty.
    She let him in and he kissed her on the cheek. She caught a whiff of his aftershave, something woody that made her want to breathe in deeply. He marched straight through into her neat little kitchen, grabbed a couple of glasses and rummaged in the drawer for a bottle opener. She followed him in and leaned against the doorway, watching him with amused interest.
    ‘Make yourself at home,’ she said teasingly.
    He grinned without looking up. ‘You’re such a creature of habit, Lu. After living with you for six months I could probably find any given kitchen utensil or crockery item in this room without even looking.’
    ‘Steak knife?’
    He opened the drawer below the hob and pulled the knife out with a flourish. She likedall sharp items to be close to hob and chopping board.
    ‘Luck!’ she protested. ‘Olive oil?’
    He pointed at the high cupboard on the left. ‘In the ingredients and condiments cupboard, of course.’
    She didn’t have to open the cupboard to know he was right. Everything in her kitchen had order to it. She liked it that way. ‘Salad spinner?’
    ‘What the hell is one of those?’
    She laughed and he grinned back at her as he uncorked the bottle of wine.
    ‘OK, let’s get started.’ She took one of the glasses and led the way into her little sitting room. It was neat and tidy. The scented candles she’d lit earlier gave off a delicious warm winter scent of orange and cloves. He followed with the bottle and took the armchair. She settled herself close by on the sofa.
    ‘So, where do you think we should start, then?’ she asked him as soon as she was comfortable.
    He glanced up at her as he poured the wine.
    ‘Should I ask him on his own, or with all our friends and family there?’ She put her head on one side and screwed her nose up, considering.‘Do you think it would be too weird if I bought myself a ring?’
    He held up a hand for her to be quiet and she waited impatiently while he took a slug from his glass. ‘Firstly, for the record, I want you to know I think this is possibly the most crackpot idea you’ve ever had. I’m including in that the time when we were kids and you convinced me my mother would be pleased if we repainted the sitting-room door yellow with my fingerpaints.’
    She laughed and he smiled back at her. He had a heart-melting smile