I didn’t let go of her, but kept holding her against me as we walked towards our back yard.Turning her head towards me, she said, “If you don’t ...et me go, I’m going to pee right here on myself!”“Like that would be the first time tonight?” I said to her.“Hey now! That was uncalled for,” she replied.She finally slipped from my arm and took off towards the house in a slow jog, not really trying all that hard to outrun me but fast enough to make it a game. I caught her on the deck around the pool. My whole body seemed to be shutting down, my knees felt weak, my lips parting, just a total betrayal of my feelings. I turned my head back to my tasks, trying to stay busy. I saw you put the platter down, not sure why you did that, I turned my head up towards you again. That is when I noticed your hand and it was reaching towards my cheek. Your hand was so gentle. Thinking I was in a dream, I raised my hand to yours, placing mine over yours, shocked to actually feel it. You turned me to face. . Can I have your permission to ask Nicola if she will marry me?"Silence fell over the small room, no one moved or said anything for what seemed like an eternity, at least that’s what happened in my head. The reality, I was told, was very different. It took a fraction of a second for the penny to drop before Mrs Harris screamed and hurled herself at me. The next thing I knew she had her arms wrapped around my neck and was hugging me and telling her husband off.“Don't be a shit! Answer the boy!. There was nothing to be said. We just held each other. I talked to the officer who told me that Janice died instantly. I also talked to the funeral home and told them I would be taking care of any and all arrangements and payment. I noticed that Will and Melinda were still in an embrace and she was trying to calm him down.I told Will to come home with us. He didn’t need to be alone right now. We would try to talk to the children later. Little William was only two years old so he wouldn’t.