Forever Love at Wildflower Lock (The Wildflower Lock #4)

Chapter 42

42

They left the restaurant together, Theo’s arm looped around Daisy’s waist, her weight propped up on him. They had opted for another bottle after they finished the first, during which time Theo filled Daisy in on some of the things his mother had said. Things that made Daisy’s jaw tighten and fists clench, although she was grateful he told her.

Lines like, Why did we spend so much on a private education for you to marry a waitress? and, Surely you must struggle to have an intelligent conversation with someone who doesn’t even have a university degree.

It was about his mother and not Daisy, Theo said time and again, and Daisy could see that. It wouldn’t have mattered who Theo had brought through the door that morning; Daisy was certain Penelope would have found something wrong with them. She had never wanted to welcome Daisy into her home, but at the end of the day, it didn’t matter. All that mattered was what Daisy and Theo thought of one another. And what the mess of the last day was teaching her was that she loved him. She loved him with her whole heart. She loved him because of the mistakes he made, because of how he only ever really got things wrong because he was trying too hard to get everything right. Without doubt, Daisy knew that she loved Theo more than she had known it was possible to love someone. And she was pretty sure that Theo felt the same.

‘You two have a good night,’ the barman said, throwing Daisy a smile as they left.

‘Thank you,’ she said, holding his gaze long enough for him to understand the gratitude wasn’t solely about his farewell.

Despite the summer heat, there was a crisp chill blowing off the lake as they walked back to the campsite. Although Daisy barely felt it, what with the wine warming her from the inside and Theo’s arm keeping the rest of her protected from the breeze.

‘I was thinking,’ Theo said as they stood for a moment and watched the moonlight reflect off the gentle ripples. ‘There are some lovely jewellers in town. Maybe tomorrow we could go and take a look. You could pick out a ring that you like. That’s yours and only yours.’

Daisy glanced down at her hand. She had yet to take the ring off her finger, but that was mostly because she had been worried that it would fall off in the grass and she wouldn’t be able to find it. Whether or not she wanted it to be the ring that she wore forever as a sign of her love for Theo, she wasn’t sure. Maybe something they picked out together, to remind her of how strong they could be when days got rough, would be a much better fit.

‘That would be nice,’ she said, then reached up onto her tiptoes and kissed him. ‘But now, we should get into that tent of ours. It seemed pretty small, though. I’m not sure how we’re both going to fit inside it.’

‘Trust me.’ Theo grinned at her. ‘We’ll find a way.’