Part 26 (1/2)

”Soup,” Bev put in.

”Cake and soup,” he amended. ”And some nice tea.”

He set her down to go to the phone and ring room service.

”Come over here, Emma. I have something for yon.” Johnno patted the

cus.h.i.+on beside him. She hesitated. Her mother had often said just

that. And the something had been a smack. But Johnno was smiling a

true smile. When she settled beside him, he took a small, clear plastic

egg from his pocket. Inside was a toy ring with a gaudy red stone.

Emma gave a little gasp as he put it in her hand. Speechless, she

turned the egg this way and that, watching the ring slide from side to

side.

It had been a careless thing, Johnno thought. A machine that took

American quarters, and he'd had change left after his speedy shopping

spree. More touched than he wanted the others to see, he opened the egg

for her, then slipped the ring on her finger.

”There. We're engaged.”

Emma beamed at the ring, then at him. ”Can I sit on your lap?”

”All right then.” He leaned close to her ear. ”But if you wet your

pants, the engagement's off.”

She laughed, settled on his lap, and began to play with her ring.

”First my wife, then my daughter,” Brian commented.

”You'd only have to worry if you had a son.” Stevie tossed off the words

as easily as he tossed off the drink. Then wished he'd cut off his

tongue. ”Sorry,” he muttered as the room fell silent. ”Hangover. Puts

me in a filthy mood.”

At the knock on the door, Johnno gave a lazy shrug. ”Better put on that