Chapter 7
Stuart and Hannah got back to there hut just as it was getting dark, they had been laughing and giggling all the way back, they were happy with the outcome of there visit to father Hopgood and felt that he understood their situation and was more than willing to help. In the kitchen area Hannah was preparing a meal for the two of them, nothing special, just eggs chips and beans with bread and butter, Stuart sat at the table watching her, as he did he began to realise what he saw in this woman, yes she was facing away from him, but as he watched her work cooking, he saw something very special, and he very much liked what he saw, he also began to realise that, yes he was falling in love with her and he wanted her to be his wife. His main concern was what would the boss say, and would marrying Hannah jeopardise the job, he knew that this was a possible 6 year commitment which he wanted to undertake, but would Hannah be happy with the situation. Hannah turned, in her hands, she had two plates, she pushed one towards Stuart. "Here you are love, enjoy". she sat opposite him and they ate in almost total silence, with both plats now empty Stuart sat back in his seat, he felt full, but he also felt that this woman had the ability to look after him, and he liked that. After doing the washing up together, they took their coffee into the lounge area of the hut and sat down together on the sofa, with the coffee cups on the small coffee table Hannah put her arm around Stuart's neck and kissed him. "Stuart sweetheart, I do love you". Stuart made to say something to her but Hannah put her finger to his lips. "It alright love, I understand". Stuart took Hannah's finger away from his mouth and kissed each one, then looking into Hannah's beautiful face he took a lungful of air and said. "Hannah I, I do, love you and I want to marry you if you will have me". his face was bright red, his heart was pumping like never before, but he had said what he needed to say without fluffing his words. Hannah just looked at him, he saw the tears welling up in her eyes, he made to hold her in his arms and as she fell into them her head on his shoulder he heard her say in almost a whisper. "Stuart my love, I will marry you, I would be happy to be your wife and work alongside you". she then sat up again. "Just one thing". she had a smile on her face. "If I am your wife, will you still be my boss"? "No love". Stuart said. "You will just be my wife, I have been thinking of asking Michael and about ten of the workforce to stay on once the site is finished and work as site manager and grounds people, I will be over all in charge, and you my love will be Mrs Walker, Oh and yes". he looked at her with that twinkle in his eye. "I love you, I love you I love you". Hannah looked at Stuart and started to giggle. "So my love, you can say it, with out a stutter of having to say any of the words twice". she again leaned in and kissed him. "Come on my future husband". she stood up and taking Stuart's hand lead him to the bedroom, standing at the side of the bed they stripped off and with Stuart down to his underpants he climbed into bed, Hannah had something else to do, she went to one of the carriers she had placed on top of the dresser, and from it she took out a new nighty, it was very short and just covered her bottom, but once in bed with Stuart, she realised it was more like a scarf around her neck, but she was happy, and as they made love, she felt that she had made the right choice, and no priest was going to tell her different.
Monday morning and Stuart got a phone call from the docks in Valletta, it was to tell him that a ship had arrived from England with a shipment of glass panes and steel tubular pipes, also a pile of wooded fence panels and fence posts, and could he arrange for them to be collected as soon as possible. Stuart went to speak to Michael and after a couple of phone calls, Michael told Stuart that he had a couple of large lorries organised to pick up the glass and steel posts and a couple of smaller lorries to pick up the fence panels and posts, and everything would be here on the Tuesday afternoon. After lunch on the Monday, Hannah Michael and Stuart headed for the site of the indoor pool, it was ready for the glass to go on it, the pool was now finished, the tiling was white, except a nice row of tiles in red around the side three tiles down, around the whole pool was a small wall some 2 feet high, and onto this would be fitted the uprights for the glass, each upright had a groove at either side so that the glass could be slid down into the uprights, the roof was made in the same way, as one whole unit, but on the top was a steel ringbolt, so that the whole roof could be picked up and craned into place. The outside pool was still under construction, this had been a hard job, but the two ends were now at the depth required and the concrete was being put on the walls and floor, once dry, the tilers would be able to get to work. Stuart had arranged with Michael, that the springboards and diving board be made in Malta, and when ready, once the pool was tiled, they would be transported to the site and put in place.
On the Monday evening, Stuart took Hannah to Mosta, he didn't tell her why, just asked her to get into the Range Rover and drove, all the way in Hannah asked him what was going on, at one stage she ended up crying, she had visions of Stuart dumping her in Mosta and heading back to the site alone. "Stop crying". Stuart said. I still love you, I just, well want to make it official". In Mosta Stuart found what he was looking for, it was small, but looking into the window he saw what he wanted almost immediately, taking Hannah by the hand he walked her into the jeweller's shop and told he to sit and wait, then talking to the girl behind the counter he told her what he was looking for, The girl went to the back of the shop and came back with two trays of rings, Stuart took a good look, he picked one up and looked at it long and hard, this was the first time he had ever done this sort of thing, so he needed to get it right, the girl behind the counter whispered to Stuart. "Sir if I may say so, is this for the young lady". Stuart nodded. "Then may I suggest sir, she is the one who has to wear it, why not let her choose her own ring, that way, she will be content to wear it always, you just have to foot the bill". she smiled. Stuart asked Hannah to come to the counter. "Hannah, as you are aware, I ". he took a deep breath. "I am in love with you, and I want to make you my wife, but I have never had to choose an engagement ring before, so love will you come here and chose the ring you would be happy to wear for the rest of your life". Hannah looked at the trays of rings and as she did, Stuart realised that hannah was looking at the price tags on the rings sher was picking up. "Hannah love, price is no object when it comes to what you choose, once we put it on your finger it stays there until we get married, then you will wear the wedding ring, and the engagement ring together". Hannah continued to look. "I can choose anything I like". she said. "Price no object". Stuart nodded. "Then I would like this one". she said, she handed Stuart the ring she had chosen, It was a square diamond and around the diamond were green sapphires. Stuart asked hannah why the green, but all she said was. "Reminds me of you and me". Stuart then asked the girl if she would show hannah some wedding rings, as the girl again went to the back of the shop, Stuart stood in front of Hannah, got down on one knee and said. "Hannah will you wear this ring as a token of my love, and will you content to be my wife". As hannah nodded and said yes, and Stuart placed the ring on Hannah's finger the girl came back into the shop. she smiled at Hannah. "Is it a good fit madam".she asked, Hannah looked at her. "Perfect, just like him". Hannah chose the wedding ring she wanted and Stuart paid the bill, they walked out of the shop and with Hannah doing the directing they found a nice place to eat, during the meal Hannah kept looking at her finger then at Stuart. "I love you". she said. "And this ring is beautiful, and I will never take it off until you place that wedding ring on my finger, and once we are husband and wife, and this campsite is finished, I promise to show you just what being married to a woman who loves her man and will look after him is really like, we may be of different countries, but we are man and woman, and that is all that matters in this world, Oh and Stuart love, when you feel it is right for us to start a family, just say so.
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