JONATHON - Book 1 [Watty Awards 2012]

Chapter 26

The last week in London was hectic with rounds of interviews and location shots, promos, voice-overs. In the midst of it, midweek, Bea’s ring was delivered by hand to their hotel room after the day’s shooting.

Jonny let the man in and asked him to wait.

‘Jonny, what is it? asked Bea.

‘I’ll bet you had few surprises on Christmas Day…’ he teased her. She gave him what he laughingly called her ‘little cat face’, pursed up lips, wrinkled nose and slitted eyes, and a little, quick shake of her head as if worrying at a mouse. He was the mouse.

‘It’s your ring.’ he said indulgently, curving his arm around her and drawing her close.

‘Oh Jonny.’ she said excitedly.

‘You can open it, but I’m putting it on your finger.’ he insisted.

She looked down shyly and blushed. He squeezed her gently.

‘I know.’ he said. ‘Not very romantic, but this is just to see if it fits properly. Once we know, it’s either going back to the jeweller’s to be adjusted, or back in its box till we get to Ireland.’

‘Oh Jonny!’ she protested.

‘Ha!’ he said. ‘For one who doesn’t want anyone to know, you’re pretty keen to have it on your finger. There’s a very special place I want that to happen and when it does, you are never to take it off again. Promise me and then you can open the box and try it on.’

She swallowed hard and tried to blink back the tears.

‘I promise.’ she whispered.

He kissed her and gave her the box. She ripped the paper off and then opened the lid. Jonny held his breath.

‘It’s beautiful, Jonny. It’s just perfect.’ She gazed at it and then up at him. He took the box from her and took out the ring.

‘Give me your hand.’ he said huskily. She slid her left hand into his, her ring finger already slightly raised. He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed her finger before sliding the ring over her knuckle. It was a perfect fit and he kissed her tenderly on the mouth. The delivery man was still waiting. Jonny lifted up and Bea experimentally shook her hand; the ring stayed on her finger.

Jonny went to the delivery man, tipped him generously, thanked him and showed him out.

Bea was still admiring her ring, turning her hand this way and that.

‘Come on.’ he said. ‘That’s going back in its box for now.’

Bea tugged at her finger.

‘Bea,’ he warned her.

‘It won’t come off, Jonny!’ but she giggled at the end. He started for her. She ran round the other side of the bed. He laughed and chased her.

‘It won’t be the only thing to come off if I get hold of you.’ he assured her, making a grab and deliberately missing. She dodged round the other side of the bed, squealing. He laughed and ran at her again, but he didn’t let her get away a second time. He wrapped his arms round her and they both fell on the bed laughing and kissing.

He swiftly unbuttoned her and pulled off her blouse.

‘Will it come off yet?’ he asked huskily. She tugged at the ring and shook her head. His hands slid to the waistband of her skirt. She stopped him and he looked up.

‘May I?’ he asked.

She placed her fingers against his lips and shook her head again.

‘It’s my turn.’ she said. He swallowed hard. She held out her left hand to him. ‘You try.’ she said.

Jonny took hold of the ring and pulled gently. It wasn’t tight at all.

‘No.’ he murmured. ‘I can’t get it off either.’ he lied. She smiled and took his shirt off.

Try as they might, that ring wouldn’t come off. Everything else did and when they were both lying naked on the bed, laughing and giddy with joy, Jonny loomed over her and looked down into her happy, flushed face.

‘May I?’ he asked. Bea admired her ring again.

‘I think so.’ she conceded.

Jonny did a very good impersonation of her ‘little cat face’ and she laughed heartily. They made joyous love and later Bea started to slip her ring from her finger. Jonny stopped her.

‘You don’t have to, darling Bea.’ he told her. She smiled.

‘You have a special place where you want to give me this ring.’ she said. ‘And I don’t want to spoil that lovely surprise, One thing though….’

What’s that?’

‘It had better be good.’ She took off her ring and handed it back to him.