Chapter 23
She hadn’t expected to end up at the aquarium.
Of all the places he could have taken her this was the last place she would have guessed.
She had wanted to visit here ever since it had opened but somehow had never found the time.
She loved these places. Smiling up at him she knew instantly he’d had help in picking the destination. “Sasha?” she asked.
He beamed at her as he nodded. “You like it? She said you loved this sort of thing. I rang her a couple of weeks ago. Am I in trouble for getting help? I know boyfriends are supposed to know exactly what their women like but I wanted to get it right this time. I wanted today to be perfect for you.” He came to a standstill on the pavement, dragging her into his embrace.
“How could I be cross at you? This is perfect but you know it will be busy. I’m sure they do school visits during the week.
” She still worried about his anxiety although he did seem much more relaxed now.
The commotion had died down once the press realised that he wasn’t showing up at any of his properties.
Once the rental board had gone back up at the lighthouse they had packed up and left there too.
She knew he still didn’t feel comfortable walking around town and very rarely left her flat unless it was under the cover of his bike gear.
She had to work on getting him back out in the land of the living but the baby steps they were taking seemed to be working so far.
“Not today it won’t be. I rented the whole place for you. We won’t be bothered at all. C’mon.” He laughed as her jaw fell open in astonishment as she fell into step beside him. Gripping her hand tightly he led her inside through the huge glass doors.
She watched him as he spoke to the reception staff who explained the layout and the feeding times for the sharks.
It was the mention of a shark cage dive that dragged her from her wanton lusting of him.
“Did she say shark dive? Are you going in the shark tank?” she asked.
The amazed look was instantly replaced with one of delight when he shook his head.
“Not me – us. We are going in the tank together. Cool or what?”
That was way beyond cool. She had longed to do a shark dive since her parents had taken her on some glass bottomed boat on holiday years ago. Alex laughed as she skipped up and down in excitement next to him.
“You are a real adrenalin junkie. Most girls would have freaked at that but not you.” Chucking his arm around her shoulder he consulted his guide map before pulling her in the direction of the main display area. “C’mon. The dive isn’t ‘til four so we can see everything else first.”
They spent the next two hours wandering around the huge display tanks, with Alex taking her photo at every conceivable opportunity.
They even had a go at feeding the stingrays.
Grace giggled madly as they nibbled the food from her palm, all the time whispering to the damn fish, telling them they were beautiful.
He couldn’t see it himself but the way their mouths made them look like they were permanently smiling was quite cool, even he had to admit.
As they stood watching the baby sharks wriggling inside the purses the attendant arrived to tell him that dinner was ready for them in the educational suite.
As they followed behind their guide she whispered in Alex’s ear, careful not to offend the man.
“We could have brought food with us. This must be costing a fortune. You really didn’t need to go to this extent to make my day off special. ”
“Grace, I didn’t do it to make your day off special. I did it because you’re special. Anyway this isn’t your main surprise; you don’t get that ‘til later.” Winking he held the door open for to enter before him.
They sat down to three courses which were all hand delivered to them by their own waiter.
The food was delicious. She had heartily tucked into it, clearing her plate at each course.
Their eyes rounded like saucers when the waiter brought out their dessert.
A huge glass bowl filled with chocolate ice cream, decorated with different toppings and white chocolate buttons, all topped off with three strategically placed sparklers that spit bright lights across the dish.
Placing it between them he left two spoons on the table. “Enjoy!”
After lunch they headed outside to the seal enclosure.
It had been redeveloped to assist with the rescue programme they now ran for seals found along the shore line.
The guide told them all about the work they carried out with the pups, ensuring their return to health before they were then released back out to sea.
They helped to feed the seals and the penguins before it was time to change into wetsuits as the instructor ran through all the safety procedures with them.
He informed them they would only be just below the surface of the tank and the cage wasn’t really necessary unless they wanted to use it.
Both of them immediately made their choice, giggling like school children as they uttered the same words at the same time. “No cage.”
As Alex disappeared underneath the water, the feeling of peace overcame him.
Completely submerged he drifted, waiting for Grace to join him.
They both watched, mesmerized, as the huge fish swarmed around the massive tank.
Their personal guide stood waving to them from the other side of the thick glass walled tank, camera poised, ready to capture this moment for them forever.
Time seemed to stand still while they were drifting with the sharks and huge sea turtles. Neither one of them was in a hurry to exit the display; the instructor had to cajole them out of there. Showing them to the changing rooms he left them to dress in privacy.
“That was amazing! Thank you so much. I don’t think I will ever forget today.” Grace stood on tiptoes, encasing his neck in her arms as she rewarded him with a kiss. “This is the best date ever.”
“It’s not over yet, babe. I have another surprise for you.” As they left the changing room Alex dragged her over to the shark gift shop, selecting a shark head grabber on a stick for her and the photo of them swimming with the sharks.
The adrenalin spiked through his veins as he led her through the aquarium towards his final surprise for the day.
He hoped to God he hadn’t misjudged this.
He was more than ready for what he was about to do but he knew she was prone to panic.
If he hadn’t read the situation correctly this could all go massively wrong and he had no idea what he would do if she turned him down.
He didn’t want to go back to London alone.
He had spent the last few weeks making sure everything was perfect and he knew exactly what he was about to say; he didn’t want to mess it up.
If she was going to agree he knew he had to have the right words in order for her not to go into a meltdown in front of him.
As they stood at the entrance to the ‘The Cool Seas’ display their guide wished them a good evening.
“Everything should be in there ready for you, Alex. Any problems and just use the phone on the wall by the main tank.” Alex shook his hand and thanked him for everything.
Grace’s eyebrows were pinched together not quite understanding that statement; what was in there?
What on earth was he planning? Rooted to the spot she could only stare at him, examining his face for some kind of clue as to what was going on but he was giving nothing away.
“Don’t you look at me like that! I told you I had one final surprise for you.
” He grabbed her hand, leading her down the almost black corridor which wound around in a semi circle of darkness.
When they reached the room in the centre Grace was speechless.
They were stood beneath a dome shaped tank which was filled with thousands of jellyfish.
It felt like they were in the ocean with them; the whole room like a small pocket inside a larger tank.
Only the floor beneath them was solid, everywhere else was glass.
The soft blue light emanated around the dome lighting up the mesmerizing creatures as they drifted and pulsed in gentle motion.
Slowly turning around she took in the full view; nothing but beautiful jellyfish everywhere she looked, glowing as they pulsed around inside the tank.
“Alex, this is amazing. So breathtaking.” Grace wrapped her arms around his waist, squeezing him tightly. “Thank you so much.”
“You really like it? I hope so because we are sleeping in here tonight.” Alex held his breath waiting for her reaction. Her jaw dropped open when she finally saw the makeshift bed set up behind them. There was an airbed, sleeping bags and a cool box all ready and waiting for them.
“Seriously? I mean we get to stay here...all night...until tomorrow?” Grace asked him. “Just the two of us?”
Alex nodded. Guiding her to their bed for the night, he made her sit on the bed before taking his place in front of her.
“Alex, this is too much. I can’t believe you did all this for me.”
He shook his head. “Nothing is too much for you. You deserve the best of everything and I intend to make sure that is exactly what you get from now on.” Grace stared at him intently as he spoke.
“I know that being with me can be...challenging at the best of times, but I want to spend the rest of my life with you and I really hope you feel the same.” He reached into his jacket pocket producing the small black leather box.
Grace was glad the room was too dark for him to see the colour drain from her face.
She couldn’t take her gaze from the box but at the same time she didn’t want to see what was inside it either.
This was all too much too soon. Would she say yes when he asked her?
She really couldn’t think straight now. Her thoughts were all jumbled together as she tried to calm her racing mind.
It’s just a box, she reminded herself. Just a box.
“Grace, stop panicking. I can see the fear in your eyes. They are glowing more than the damned fish!” He chuckled.
“It’s not what you think.” He saw her shoulders drop slightly as she took a breath.
“One day I am going to propose. I am putting a ring on your finger. I want you to have my babies, but you’re not ready for that yet.
I am. God, I have been ready since the first time you agreed to have dinner with me.
You, however, need a little more time for that.
” He held out his hand, offering her the small box. “Open it. Please.”
Grace tentatively took the box from his hand.
It didn’t go unnoticed that she was shaking like a leaf as she held it.
Checking his face for encouragement she cautiously flipped open the lid.
A look of confusion spread across her face.
“You bought me a key ring?” She lifted out the little enamel lighthouse from the box, admiring it.
Alex chuckled; he knew if she hadn’t been freaking out so much she would have realised exactly what it was.
Fishing in his pocket he pulled out his own bunch of keys, carefully removing a brass key from the ring.
“I couldn’t fit the key in the box. I didn’t just buy you a key ring, I bought us The Lighthouse.
That’s your front door key. I want you to move in with me.
I want it to be our forever home. If you’ll have me, that is.
I want to relocate to Scotland to be with you.
” He waited as she took in the enormity of his words.
She stared at the gift, turning it over and over in her hand.
“I don’t know what to say. I mean...yes.
YES! Of course I will move in.” She jumped into his lap, showering his face and neck with kisses as he allowed himself to breathe again.
“There are a couple of conditions though.” Adjusting her position on his legs she made herself comfortable.
“I thought there would be!” He chuckled. “C’mon then, let’s have them.”
“Okay, firstly, I’m not selling the flat.
Just in case this thing with us doesn’t work out.
Secondly, I want you to call one of those numbers you have stashed away at home.
You need to get back to work. If I am going to live with you then I want the full Alex Carter experience that was promised to me in the brochure.
That’s non-negotiable.” She really hoped that she had played this right, if he refused than she would have to carry out her threat and not move into the lighthouse. She felt sick at the thought.
Alex studied her face, waiting for the familiar fear to build in his stomach, the fear that always arose when he thought about working again. When it didn’t happen he nodded his head in affirmation. He could do anything with this woman by his side; she made him invincible.
“I love you, Alex.” The pride was evident in her eyes.
“Forever and a day, Gracie. Forever and a day.”