Wedding Night

pair of socks, and some boxer shorts, then kicks the case aside.
    “There. This is my hand luggage.” He brandishes it all at her. “Happy now?”
    The airline woman regards him evenly. “You can’t leave that case there, sir.”
    “Fine.” He snaps the case shut and dumps it on top of a litter bin. “There.”
    “You can’t leave it there either, sir. It’s a security issue. We don’t know what’s in it.”
    “You do.”
    “No, we don’t.”
    “You just saw me unpack it.”
    “Be that as it may, sir.”
    The entire place has turned to watch this exchange. Richard is breathing hard. His broad shoulders are raised. Again I’m reminded of a bull about to charge.
    “Uncle Richard!” Noah has suddenly noticed him. “Are you coming on holiday with us?”
    Richard’s whole body jolts in astonishment as he registers first Noah, then me.
    “Fliss?”
He drops a pair of boxer shorts on the floor and stoops to pick them up, looking a little less bull-like. “What are you doing here?”
    “Hi, Richard.” I try to sound nonchalant. “We’re joining Lottie. What— er—” I spread my hands questioningly. “I mean, what exactly—”
    Clearly I know the gist of what he’s up to, as does everyone here, but I’m interested in the details. Does he have a plan?
    “I couldn’t just sit back,” he says gruffly. “I couldn’t just lose her and walk away and never even tell her what I—” He breaks off, his face working with emotion. “I should have proposed when I had the chance,” he adds suddenly. “I should have cherished what I had! I should have proposed!”
    His roar of grief rises through the silent air. The wholeplace is agog, and, quite frankly, I’m flabbergasted. I’ve never seen Richard moved to such passion. Has Lottie?
    I
wish
I’d recorded his whole speech on my BlackBerry.
    “Sir, please remove your case from that bin.” The airline woman is addressing Richard. “As I say, it’s causing a security alert.”
    “It’s not mine anymore,” he counters, brandishing his boxer shorts at her. “This is my hand luggage.”
    The woman’s chin tightens. “Do you want me to call security and have your case destroyed, thus delaying the flight by six hours?”
    I’m not the only person who gasps in horror. Around us, polite murmurs of protest start swelling into hostile, pointed comments. I’m sensing Richard is not the most popular passenger in the place. In fact, I’m sensing that the boos and slow hand-claps may begin any moment.
    “Uncle Richard, are you coming on holiday with us?” Noah is consumed with joy. “Can we do wrestling? Can I sit next to you on the plane?” He throws himself at Richard’s legs.
    “Doesn’t look like it, kiddo.” Richard gives him a wry smile. “Unless you can persuade this lady.”
    “This is your
uncle
?” Noah’s friend Cheryl springs into life at the other desk, where she’s been watching proceedings with a vacant stare. “The uncle you were telling me about?”
    “This is Uncle Richard,” confirms Noah happily.
    I should never have let him get into the habit of calling Richard “Uncle,”
I think to myself. It started one Christmas and we thought it was cute. We didn’t predict a breakup. We thought Richard had become part of the family. We never thought—
    Suddenly I’m aware that Cheryl is almost hyperventilating.
    “Margot!” At last she manages to speak through her gasps. “You’ve got to let this man on the plane! He saved his nephew’s life! He’s a brilliant man!”
    “What?” Margot scowls.
    “Huh?” Richard gapes at Cheryl.
    “Don’t be modest! Your nephew told me the whole story!” Cheryl says tremulously. “Margot, you have no idea. This whole family. They’ve been through such a lot.” She steps out from behind her desk. “Sir, let me take your boarding pass.”
    I can see Richard’s mind whirring in disbelief. He glances suspiciously at Noah, then at me. I pull an agonized face, trying to convey the message,
Just go with it
.
    “And you too.” Cheryl turns gushingly to me. “You must have been deeply affected by your little boy’s ordeal.”
    “We take each day as it comes,” I murmur vaguely.
    This seems to satisfy her, and she moves away. Richard is still clutching his underpants, looking gobsmacked. I’m not even going to
try
to explain.
    “So, um, you want to sit down?” I say. “I could get us a coffee or something?”
    “Why are you joining Lottie?” he demands without