34. Murray
London was gone by the time my alarm went off. Exhaustion hit as I pushed up out of bed to get ready for the day. Last night had been worth the exhaustion, though.
You hoped when you were attracted to someone that the sex would live up to the attraction. It didn’t always. But last night … wow.
I was grinning to myself at how fantastic sex with my wife had been when a second alarm rang out of my phone. Confused, I scrambled to pick it up and disbelief hit me when I realized what the alarm was for.
When London and I got married, there were certain details we’d provided in the forms for registration and the marriage license. One of those details, of course, was London’s date of birth. I’d immediately popped the date into my calendar so I wouldn’t forget.
And today was London’s birthday. Not just any birthday. It was her thirtieth.
She hadn’t mentioned a bloody thing.
Deciding to give her the benefit of the doubt, that perhaps even she’d forgotten it in all the chaos, I let that part go. And started shooting texts off to all our friends.
Tierney answered first.
She didn’t tell you? Do you want me to take away the birthday cupcakes I got her?
Snorting, I texted back:
No, don’t tell her I know. I want to surprise her.
By noon, the plans had all come together. Everyone had made themselves available at the last minute to join us for a birthday celebration at the house.
The only thing I needed now was a gift from me.
Kelly said she’d venture onto Main Street during her school lunch break to pick something.
Tierney promised to distract London and keep her out of the village until after one o’clock so she didn’t bump into either me or Kelly buying last-minute birthday stuff.
Mum offered to bake a cake and bring that with her.
After I’d bought decorations, wrapping paper, thirtieth birthday balloons and banners, and a card from the gift shop, I made my way to Mrs. Gilchrist’s antiques store.
The last time I’d been in the shop was for our wedding bands, but I’d spotted an engagement ring then that I thought would be perfect for London and I was optimistic it would still be there waiting for me.
Mrs. Gilchrist lit up as I entered her establishment. “Word is traveling you’re planning a wee birthday surprise for your wife. Is that why you’re in here?”
Bloody hell. “Please tell me no one has mentioned it to London.”
“Och, we know how to keep a secret.”
“Do you?”
Mrs. Gilchrist gave a bark of laughter at my incredulous tone. “At this kind of thing, we do, Murray Shaw. Cheeky lad. Now, what can I get you?”
“There was a ring here last time … May I look?”
She beamed with delight. “Of course. Look away.”
I began searching the glass cabinets where antique rings were wedged into rows of velvet padding.
Relief filled me when I spotted the turquoise and diamond engagement ring. It was a simple gold band with the most unusual circular center made up of turquoise and diamond. It sat in a cabinet labeled MODERN EXCEPTIONS.
“That one.” I pointed to it.
“It’s not an antique, I’m afraid.”
“I gathered,” I replied dryly. “Even better if it means the diamonds aren’t mined.”
“They are not. Now and then, I make a purchase from an online auction and discover I’ve been gubbed.
” Mrs. Gilchrist tsked. “Knew it wasn’t an antique as soon as it arrived.
No, it was made in the last few years.” She opened the back of the cabinet to pull out the tray the ring was nestled in.
“I traced it to a modern jeweler in London.” She pulled the ring out of the velvet pocket.
“The center is a lab diamond. One carat. It’s encircled by ten tapered cabochon-cut natural turquoise and those are encircled by eighteen cushion-shape diamonds with a combined weight of 1 carat.
The band itself is 18K gold, handmade in London three years ago by a well-respected jeweler.
That’s why I kept it. Very unusual ring.
At a glance, it has the look of an antique. ”
“Aye. It does. It’s perfect for London.”
“Matches her eyes. A bonny wife you have there.”
An inappropriately timed memory rose of London astride me last night, her fiery hair tangled and tumbling down her shoulders, her perfect breasts trembling, her gorgeous face flushed as she rode me.
I cleared my throat, shoving the image out of my head. For now. “Aye, she is that. If the ring doesn’t fit, can it be resized?”
“Did her wedding band fit?”
“Aye.”
Mrs. Gilchrist moved to her laptop and started typing at her keyboard. “Well, well, well, would you look at that? London’s wedding band is the same ring size as the turquoise ring. It was meant to be.”
Pleased, I nodded. “I’ll take it.”
“Not even going to ask the price?” Mrs. Gilchrist mused as she set about placing the ring into a box. “With all your money, Murray Shaw, I would have expected you to go to some fancy London jeweler and buy Mrs. Shaw the biggest diamond you could find.”
The comment irritated me, but I hid my exasperation with people’s obsession with my wealth. “That’s not who London is.”
“Which is why you married her, I expect.” She winked at me.
When she told me the price, I scowled. If she didn’t think that was expensive, what constituted expensive? Not that I wouldn’t have paid three times that or more for the perfect ring.
“You’ve made my day, Murray,” Mrs. Gilchrist said gleefully as she swiped my credit card. “And soon you’ll make London’s.”
I thanked her as she handed over the ring, feeling good about the gift as I bid Mrs. Gilchrist good day and headed home to set up for the party. The bonus of planning something special for London was that it distracted me from everything that was happening with the Walsh brothers.
Back at the house, I did what I could with the decorations.
Tierney texted to inform me she would delay London as long as possible, and thankfully, it was just enough time for Mum and Kelly to return from the school run.
Mum came bearing a homemade vanilla buttercream birthday cake and Kelly immediately started redoing my décor.
We wrapped our presents for London. It occurred to me that perhaps the ring revealed more to Kelly than it should, especially after London’s request that we maintain a secret relationship for now.
After I showed the gift to her and Mum (they both approved), I asked Kelly how she’d feel if I asked London out on a real date.
My daughter had considered this for a few seconds and then nodded. “I suppose that would be okay.”
“You’re sure?” I’d frowned at her hesitant response.
“I’m sure. You’re buying her fancy rings, Dad. I think we’re past the point of me not being sure. Do you want to see what I got London?”
I went with the subject change, trying not to tie myself in knots over my daughter’s word choice. Mum gave me a reassuring wink, and I attempted to relax. She was often even more in tune with Kelly’s moods and emotions than I was.
My daughter had bought London a gift card to Pages & Perks for her lunchtime coffees and a book of sheet music for the piano. “It’s all current pop songs. Can you believe Pages & Perks had this?”
“It’s perfect.” And it was. Her considerate choice of gifts filled me with hope that she really did care for London and that we could build something together as a family.
Mum had bought London a Merino wool scarf the same color as her eyes. “You baked her a cake, Mum. You didn’t need to get her anything else.”
“I wanted to.” Mum reached up to cup my bearded cheek. “She makes my son happy. Doesn’t she?”
I knew what she was asking. I flicked a quick glance at Kelly who was distracted with hanging the gold thirtieth birthday banners. Turning to Mum, I nodded solemnly. “Very happy.”
Mum’s eyes were bright with emotion. “Then she deserves all the gifts in the world.”
“I love you.”
She beamed. “Och, more than words, m’eudail. More than words.”
To say London was surprised when she walked into the kitchen that evening with Tierney, Ramsay, and Akiva at her side to find all her friends crowded in there, waiting for her, was an understatement.
London squawked and physically jumped with fright after we shouted “Surprise!”
Everyone laughed while I strode out of the crowd to kiss her, murmuring “Happy birthday” against her mouth.
Once she’d recovered from the shock, London gripped my shirt, expression pleading. “I was going to tell you tonight. I genuinely forgot.”
“I know,” I reassured her.
London looked past me, taking in Mum, Kelly, Taran, Quinn, Quinn’s son Angus, Cammie, and Forde.
“Everyone wanted to come celebrate this milestone with you.” Tierney wrapped an arm around a stunned London.
“You were stalling me deliberately,” London accused, laughter in her voice.
“Do you really think I’m such a bad friend that I’d ask you to help me online shop for my baby’s nursery on your birthday?”
London giggled harder. “I thought it was a bonding moment.”
Soon my wife was surrounded by everyone wishing her individual happy birthdays.
It was difficult to order any kind of takeout here, so we’d bought what constituted as party food from the bakery and mini snacks from the supermarket we could heat up in the oven.
Angus, despite being younger than Kelly, followed my daughter around, clinging onto the only other person in the group even close to his age.
Akiva went out onto the deck, lying down, face between her paws, eyes flickering drowsily as she stayed out of the way of the noise.
When it was time for cake, we all sang “Happy Birthday” loudly and out of tune, much to London’s delight, and she spluttered everywhere while blowing out the candles when Forde announced, “Now the dirty bastard is only ten years older than you!”
“Children present.” Quinn smacked Forde across the back of the head, much to my gratification.
“Ouch.” Forde rubbed at the injury, but he still wore a shit-eating grin.
Tierney raised her glass of water to the mechanic. “Hey, I highly recommend an age gap.”