Everyone laughed and Molly with them. She’d grown confident enough to be amused at her own lack of dress sense, because Euan had taught her how unimportant that was compared to what sort of person you were.
At one stage, Brian cornered her in the bay window. ‘I just wanted to tell you how much two of my old toys fetched at auction.’
She gaped at the sum he named. ‘For two little toy trucks?’
‘In their original boxes, almost pristine. I never knew I’d be thankful that I tired of things quickly and you put them away out of harm’s reach. I’ve paid off my debts, Mum, and I’m not getting into any more.’
‘Good. And I like your new friend.’
‘So do I.’ His eyes raked the crowd and he saw Carol in one corner talking animatedly to Jane. ‘She’s taught me a lot about life. I don’t think there’s anyone she can’t talk to and enjoy the company of.’ He hesitated. ‘No more trouble with Dad?’
‘No. Stuart’s keeping an eye on him, so is Euan.’
‘And Tasha’s really divorcing him?’
‘Oh, yes. She’s an ambitious woman, but she’s not into skulduggery, and I gather he did something that really upset her.’
He burst out laughing. ‘Skulduggery! I’d forgotten that word even existed.’
When everyone had gone, except for the Bentons, Molly and Euan, they sat over a final glass of wine.
‘I’m so glad you’ve got the house,’ she said to Wendy.
‘So am I. And I’m never moving house again. It was hard uprooting ourselves every couple of years.’
‘Change is always hard,’ Molly said before she could stop herself.
Wendy patted her hand. ‘But we change when we have to. I hope you and Euan will be happy together. I really like him.’
Molly smiled, hoping Euan couldn’t hear this or he’d be blushing again. ‘I’m beginning to believe we can.’
‘Don’t doubt it. He obviously loves you deeply. Everyone commented on the way he looks at you.’
When the chauffeur-driven car came to pick them up, Molly subsided on the back seat. ‘It’s tiring being happy, isn’t it?’
‘Are you happy?’
‘Oh, yes. Very. I do love you, Euan, and thank you for helping Stuart to arrange this party. It’s the right way to end my association with that house.’
‘I’ll arrange a lot more happy occasions, I hope, because I love you more each day.’
He said the most romantic things – but best of all, she believed he meant them. She snuggled against him, feeling happiness settle round them like a warm cloak.
Life wouldn’t always be perfect, she knew that, but she was quite certain this man wouldn’t let her down or bully her.
He was definitely a keeper.
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