“Jesus, that was the last thing I was bothered about, Ness. I’d have played seven people’s parts if it meant you’d come back feeling better.”
She smiled at the mental image this evoked and squeezed his hand.
“You’re…” She couldn’t think of words big enough to express it.
“The love of your life?” he suggested hopefully.
“Yes. That’s it. That’s what you are.”
“So, if I were to get down on one knee…?”
“Don’t talk about it, Dummkopf! Do it!”
Vanessa was aware of many a curious eye straying away from its focus on companions or the contents of its tankard when the lanky young man stood straight, pushing back his chair, then felt inside his many layers of coats and jackets for something.
“Right,” he said. “I haven’t lost it. Good.”
Then he dropped to his knees, and the loud echoes of discussion dropped several levels along with him, something close to hush descending in the time it took for Ben to start speaking.
“Vanessa Robertson,” he said, the sudden quiet making him speak out as clearly as he could rather than mumble. He wasn’t shy, and Vanessa loved that about him. “Oh dear, I feel I should say this in German now, or at least provide subtitles.”
There was some low laughter and a few red faces looked delicately away.
“Meine Damen und Herren,” he announced, to louder laughter, then he turned back to Vanessa. “No. This is for your ears only. Vanessa, I’ve been a dick and I’ve let you down but I love you and I want to be with you, always. Will you marry me?”
A few shouts of “Ja!” competed with others of “Nein!” as Vanessa tried to shut out everything but her and Ben, together, here, from her mind.
“I could kill you sometimes,” she said. “Yes. Yes, of course. Of course I will.”
A loud cheer erupted from wall to wall and even the characters on the ceiling appeared to beam with approval.
Ben took the ring from the box and slipped it on Vanessa’s finger then the pair of them stood together and embraced then kissed, all accompanied by delighted applause.
When they broke apart, a waiter stood at Vanessa’s shoulder with a tray bearing a champagne bottle and two glasses.
“If Madame would wish,” he said formally, and she laughed and gave him her profuse thanks.
People were standing on tables singing drinking songs by the time Vanessa had poured the first glass.
“You really want this?” she said, clinking rims with Ben. “You really want to spend your life with an old crock like me?”
“I really want to spend my life with a strong, passionate, incredible woman. You seem to fit the bill. Not sure why you want to bother with a silly little squirt like me, though.”
“I want to spend my life with a warm, funny, sexy, kind man, as it happens. And there’s one of those right here.”
* * * *
Once the taxi had left the Leipzig city limits behind, Lydia felt Karl-Heinz really owed her an explanation.
“Karl-Heinz, with respect, where the hell are we going?”
“I’m glad you included the respect,” said Karl-Heinz, “or I’d be considering stopping this cab and warming your bottom on the side of the road for that.”
Lydia eyed the cabbie nervously, hoping he didn’t speak English.
“I’m only asking."
“I’m only telling you. Wait and see.”