Dr. Devereux's Proposal by Margaret McDonagh

Author:Margaret McDonagh
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2008-01-15T00:00:00+00:00

It was the last weekend before Christmas and the shops in Newquay had been manic. Thankful to escape the crowds, Lauren wedged her purchases with Chloe’s in the back of her friend’s car before sinking thankfully into the passenger seat.

‘Oh, boy, my feet are killing me.’

‘Tell me about it.’ Chloe slid behind the wheel and sighed. ‘I can’t believe we got everything done.’

‘I don’t want to see another shop or hear another tinny carol ever again.’

Chloe chuckled, steering the car out of the parking zone and heading out of town towards home. ‘You’ll get a second wind. Let’s hope Oliver and Gabriel have managed to pick out decent trees. Do you think we were right to entrust the job to them?’

‘They’ll be fine.’ Lauren wasn’t so fussed about all the Christmas paraphernalia as Chloe but she kept her thoughts to herself, knowing how miserable Chloe’s childhood had been and how much she wanted this first Christmas with Oliver to be perfect. ‘That set of baby clothes you got for Rachel Kenner’s little boy are so cute.’

‘Thanks. I can’t wait to see him. I’m just so relieved both she and the baby are well after the birth. Rachel’s naming the baby Daniel after her father,’ Chloe added, a wobble in her voice.

Lauren smiled in sympathy. ‘She’s been through so much, the poor girl, but she’s remarkable, the way she’s handled everything.’

‘She is. And her aunt and uncle have been wonderfully supportive.’

Dusk was falling as they arrived back at Gatehouse Cottage and Lauren wasted no time in switching on plenty of lights as soon as she went inside. Foxy greeted her enthusiastically. After she and Chloe had unloaded the car and hidden away their packages, they sank down for a reviving cup of tea while they waited for Gabriel and Oliver to come back. Foxy laid his head on her knee and she stroked him.

‘Lauren?’

‘Hmm?’

‘I want to tell you something.’

Alerted by the uncertainty mixed with excitement in her friend’s voice, Lauren opened her eyes and looked over at Chloe. ‘Is anything wrong?’

‘Nothing, it’s just…’ A blush pinkened Chloe’s cheeks.

‘You’re pregnant!’

‘No! No, that’s not it.’

‘Sorry.’ She sent Chloe a rueful smile. ‘Everyone in Penhally seems to have been breeding like rabbits this year! I wouldn’t have been surprised.’

‘I know! And I do want children one day. We both do. For now all this is so new to me and I just want time to be alone with Oliver, to enjoy being a couple,’ she explained, her blush deepening.

Lauren fought a grin. ‘Of course you do.’ Chloe was such a sweetheart and it was obvious that she was more than well loved—and satisfied—thanks to Oliver. As she deserved to be.

‘The thing is…’ Chloe’s green eyes sparkled with delight. ‘This is a secret and you can’t tell anyone. Except Gabriel.’

‘OK, I promise,’ she agreed, reaching for her tea.

‘Oliver and I are eloping.’

‘What?’ Lauren nearly dropped her mug she was so surprised at Chloe’s rushed announcement. Setting it safely on the table, she faced her friend. She felt Foxy’s tension at her sudden movements and soothed him.

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