�Gabriel! Oh it�s so good to see you!� June embraced her son, before noticing a little blond girl stood by his side. �And you must be Abigail, I have been so looking forward to meeting you. �Well say hello Abi.� Abi smiled shyly at June, reluctant to leave her Dad�s side. �Oh I�m sorry, she is a little shy, but she insisted on coming to meet you. Sarah is at home with Jake and Louise, perhaps you could come over later, once you have settled into your hotel. And this must be the famous Jim, I have heard so much about you!� Jim stepped forward and shook Gabriel�s outstretched hand. �Oh dear, what has she been saying about me?�
�Oh only good things. I thought that I had better see for myself, you seem too good to be true! Now the car is that way, do you need a hand with those bags Jim? You seem to have a fair amount of stuff!�
�That would be great, you know what women are like!�
�Oi, most of that is presents for the kids actually. You don�t mind do you Gabriel?�
�Of course not!�
�You have something for me?� Abi�s eyes shot up to look at her Grandmother.
�Don�t be so cheeky Abigail!� Gabriel scolded.
�There might be, you�ll have to wait till later.� June replied. The group then made it�s way towards Gabriel�s car. Jim chatted away with Gabriel and Abi, while June walked behind them, lost in thought. Suddenly Jim dropped back to join June, and asked �what�s wrong love, you seem quiet?�
�Absolutely nothing. I was just savouring the moment that�s all. I have dreamt for years of this, just simple normality. Spending time with the man I love, and my son is a dream come true. And although it makes me feel old, Grandchildren too is an added bonus!�
�Well you are the sexiest Grandmother I have ever met! But wait till the lads at work hear that I am dating a Grandmother, my street-cred will be severely shot!�
�Oi any more talk like that young man, and you�ll be sleeping on the floor tonight!� June playfully hit Jim on the arm, before running off to catch up with Gabriel and Abi. Jim followed behind, struggling with the suitcases.
June was sat on a leather coach in Gabriel�s house, holding Louise on her knee. Abi and Gabriel were sat with her, while Gabriel�s wife Sarah was sat in a chair opposite. Jim was playing with Jake, June�s Grandson on the floor, with his new train set. �I think Jake�s found a new playmate there.� Gabriel laughed.
�Yeah he�s always been a big kid!� June laughed; Jim simply smiled before getting back to work on laying the track. �So Abi, how do you like your new school?� June asked.
�It�s quite cool actually, they take us swimming every Thursday, I love swimming. But I miss my old friends. I don�t understand why we had to leave London. I miss my Gran terribly, and I know that Mum does too. And you live there don�t you erm� Oh what can I call you? I suppose that you are my Gran too, but that would be far too confusing!�
�Well I don�t know.�
�I know, you can be my Grandma, is that OK with you? Mum, Dad?�
�What do you think Mum, I think that that it kind of suits you?� Gabriel smiled.
�Well ok, as long as it doesn�t get round the nick. Jim I�m warning you!�
�Oh I wouldn�t dare Sarge!� Jim laughed.
�Jim can I ask you something?� Abigail asked.
�Of course you can my love.�
�Why are you not married to my Grandma? I thought that when two people liked each other, they would get married. Like Mum and Dad.� Jim didn�t know what to say. He was still cross with himself for not marrying her, when she had asked him last year.
�Abigail! You don�t ask people things like that! It�s none of your business! I�m so sorry!� Sarah apologised in embarrassment. �I think that it�s time you took your brother upstairs to wash your hands, ready for dinner.� Abi got up, and led her brother out of the room. �I�m so sorry Jim, June.� Sarah apologised again.
�It�s quite alright Sarah. It�s something I have asked myself many times lately.� Jim replied, but then realising how uncomfortable June looked, he changed the subject. �Would you like a hand with dinner Sarah? I�m quite handy in the kitchen, unlike June it has to be said!�
�Mmm just like Gabriel. It seems that we have a right pair on our hands Jim!� Sarah laughed, as Gabriel threw a cushion at his wife. The room erupted in laughter. June felt so happy; she wished that this day would never end.
�You will thank Sarah for me won�t you Gabriel? It is so good of her welcoming June and myself into your home like this.�
�Well she loves playing hostess, and besides she knows how much this means to me. I have spent years imagining what my real mother is like. Don�t get me wrong, I loved my adoptive mother so much, I would have loved to have had them both in my life.�
�Yes I am so sorry about what happened to your parents. You must have been devastated.�
�I was, and that is why I gave up looking for her. I felt so guilty about the row we had before the crash.�
�But Gabriel accidents happen. You can�t blame yourself.�
�I know that now Jim. That is why I am so glad that she found me, even though I am not too pleased with my brother�s role in it all. She is such a lovely woman, so special. She has been through so much, yet she still wanted to know how I was doing.�
�Yes, we are both so lucky. She�s always thinking about others, that is what makes her such a good copper. I must have had rocks in my head to let her go, and I will not make that same mistake again.�
�Look about what Abi said earlier. She can be a right cheeky madam sometimes, but do you think that one day you might marry her?�
�Well actually I have been thinking about it a lot recently. I know that we have only just got back together, but I have known her for over twenty years. We are hardly teenagers anymore, and I don�t want to waste another moment. I was actually thinking of asking her tomorrow, on your birthday. She has dreamed of sharing your birthday with you for years. I thought that I could make the day even more special for her. Well that�s if she�ll have me!�
�Really? That�s brilliant! I�m sure she�ll say yes, I can see how much she loves you.�
�So I have your approval then?�
�Of course you do, but if you ever hurt her, I know where you are! Have you got a ring yet?�
�No, I was going to make my excuses tomorrow afternoon, and pop out to get one. I think that as Sarah is working, June would really love to spend sometime with just you and your kids. Have you any idea where might me the best place to get one?�
�Well it depends on your budget, but I think Sarah might me the best person to ask about that.�
�Oh June only deserves the best. And besides, I think that a diet of lentils and beans might do me good!� Jim laughed, patting his rather large stomach.
�Well that was delicious! I don�t think that I could eat another bite.� Jim said, wiping his hands with his napkin. �You must me sickening for something then Jim!� June remarked. Jim smiled, although not fully as his nerves were starting to get the better of him.
�Well Mum thanks very much for the watch, it�s perfect.�
�My pleasure,� June smiled.
�And thanks for a lovely day, but we�re going to have to relieve the babysitter now. You and Jim stay though, and enjoy the rest of the evening.� Gabriel smiled at Jim. He then got up and went round to Jim to shake his hand; whispering a message of good luck into his ears. Jim then gave Sarah a goodbye peck on the cheek, as Gabriel and June shared a warm embrace.
As Gabriel and Sarah left, Jim felt the knot in his stomach tighten. It was times like this when he wished that he could have a quick drink to settle his nerves. �Are you alright Jim, you�ve been very quiet this evening? I am sorry if you feel that I was ignoring you.�
�No don�t be silly; you and Gabriel have a lot to catch up on. I hope that we will have the rest of our lives to be together.�
�I hope so too!�
�June there is something that I want to ask you, and if your not sure, then please take all the time you need to answer.�
�Oh go on, that sounds interesting.�
�June I was such a fool to turn you down, when you asked me to marry you last year. I have regretted it so much, as with out you my life is empty. June I love you so much, will you do me the greatest honour of agreeing to be my wife?� June�s face broke out into a huge grin. She knew that she didn�t even need to think about it, it was what she had wanted for a long time. �Well if you don�t mind marrying an old Granny, then yes, of course I will!�
�Really! Oh June you have made me so happy! Thank you!� Jim got up off his seat, and ran round to where June was sitting. They kissed passionately, not noticing that the whole restaurant was watching them. Then applause broke out around the room, as they held on to each other, savouring the moment.
�Well you take care of her Jim! And congratulations once again, I am absolutely delighted for the both of you!� Gabriel said, as he shook his hand.
�Don�t worry I will! I hope that we see you again soon!�
�You can count on it!� Gabriel then turned to June. �Thanks for coming Mum, it has meant so much to me that you have come all this way to visit me.�
�And thanks for having me, this week has been the best of my life! The both of you have made sure of that. You will come to the wedding, won�t you?�
�You try stopping me!� They hugged for what seemed like ages, before June reluctantly pulled away. �Goodbye Gabriel, take care of yourself, and that lovely family of yours. A tear then rolled down June�s cheek, as she turned away from her son. Jim put a protective arm around her shoulder, as they went walked through the door that led to passport control.
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