They were smoothing over his gaffe in not accepting Barry’s offer to pay.
The iron fist squeezing Daisy’s heart eased its grip.
Ethan gestured an apologetic appeal to the rest of the family. ‘I hope the other children won’t mind him having it.’
‘Not at all, ’Ken replied cheerfully. ‘They’ll be too busy feeding their faces with chocolate. Like us. The three of you had better sit down and indulge yourselves before we polish off this whole decadent box you brought for Mum.’
‘If you’ve scoffed all the ones with caramel fillings, Ken, I’ll scalp you,’ Violet threatened, quickly coming to look.
‘Haven’t got enough hair left to worry about,’ he retorted, grinning evilly at her.
Everyone laughed and Daisy’s pent-up tension was finally expelled. Ethan resumed his seat beside her and she gave his hand a quick squeeze, grateful for what he’d done for Joshua and relieved that no one seemed to be holding his generosity against him, not on the surface anyway. What they thought privately would probably never be discussed in her hearing. She could only hope that his kindness overrode any niggles about the gift.
The party mood was quickly re-established.
Daisy relaxed again.
Keith opened a bottle of champagne and insisted they all have a glass of it because he had things to say and people to toast. Her oldest brother enjoyed making speeches, which were always amusing, so as Keith took his stand, glass in hand, Daisy was smiling in anticipation, not expecting the tenor of this speech to be different today.
‘This past year has been a difficult one for all of us. It’s great to have it behind us with better times to look forward to,’ he started seriously, drawing murmurs of agreement from around the table.
‘The first toast I want to make is to our baby sister. The rest of us were not in a position to help Mum and Dad when they needed it, and Daisy took up the slack like the little champion she is. We all think the world of you for contributing all you did, Daisy, and if there’s anything we can ever do for you, you have only to ask.’
More murmurs of agreement.
Daisy flushed with embarrassed pleasure. While it was lovely to have her resolute support of their parents appreciated, she couldn’t help wondering if her family had gone out of their way to welcome Ethan just to make her happy. It fitted with Violet’s distressed cry about spoiling her day. Was there genuine liking for him or an act put on for her sake?
‘To Daisy,’ Keith went on.
They all toasted her.
‘Next, I want to thank Ethan for taking on Dad’s investments and giving him his expert advice, turning what looked like a black hole into a gold mine.’ He grinned at Ethan. ‘That was a real bonanza, and for us to see the worry lifted from Mum’s and Dad’s faces, to see them enjoying life again…you’ve done us all a power of good, Ethan. We salute you.’
They all raised their glasses again to toast him.
Ethan frowned, shifting uncomfortably, then lifted a hand in protest at the toast. ‘No, I can’t accept that, Keith. What I did…I wasn’t thinking of your parents or this family. I didn’t know you.’ He shot a wry smile at Daisy. ‘It was to hold onto this woman, to win more time with her, because I wanted her in my life and she was walking out of it.’
‘Well, we did think there was a bit of self-interest involved,’ Keith said dryly. ‘But that doesn’t alter the fact that you changed everything around for Mum and Dad and you deserve some acknowledgement for it.’
‘Then let me acknowledge something, too,’ Ethan swiftly put in. ‘Now that I’ve been amongst you, I see more clearly why Daisy is the very special person she is. Being an only child myself, I haven’t had your experience of family, but today I’ve learnt why it means so much to her. You all share something very special. It’s what I’d love to have in my own life, and I’m hoping Daisy…’ he turned to her, his green eyes glittering with#p#分页标题#e#
determination ‘…will want to make it happen with me.’
Daisy was totally stunned.
Was he saying what she thought he was saying?
Making a family of their own?
Marriage…children?
Her heart broke out of its suspended state of shock and started to gallop.
‘’Right!’ she heard Keith say. ‘Got to agree our little sister is special and we’re glad you recognise it, Ethan. Makes you special, too. Seems like a good idea if you two wander off to the front porch or behind a bush along the side fence and talk about what you want together while we clear this table for some serious poker.’