A memorable evening

Helen didn' t think she deserved her boyfriend. But she was very wrong

Helen smiled at Tom. This was the first Valentine' s Day she' d spent with him and it was her best ever. They were dining at a fancy restaurant, the candlelight was flickering, the atmosphere was so romantic, everything was wonderful.

`A rose for the lady?'

Helen looked up at the man with an armful of long-stemmed roses who' d been moving from table to table.

No, no¼' she began.

Yes!' said Tom, reaching in his pocket for his wallet.

And then he frowned and went red.

What is it?' asked Helen. I don' t believe this. I' ve left my wallet in the flat. I can tell you exactly where it is¼'

Never mind,' said Helen, waving away the rose-seller.

No, you must have a rose. I' ve got some coins here¼' He produced a handful of change. Is that enough?'

The rose-seller took pity on him and gave the flower to Helen.

Shall we go now?' Tom hissed to Helen, as soon as he' d gone.

What?'

Well, I can' t pay for our meal, can I?' he said. Not without my wallet.'

Don' t worry, I' ll lend you the money,' said Helen.

`Are you sure?' Tom asked. He smiled at her and took her hand. Thank you, darling. I' m sorry I' m so forgetful.'

That' s OK,' she smiled. Tom would lose his head if it wasn' t screwed on! You were in a rush. You work too hard. Thank you for my rose. It' s beautiful. I' ve never been bought a single red rose before.'

He pulled a face. That' s because all your other boyfriends could afford more than one.'

Helen laughed. It was true, she guessed. But somehow a single rose from Tom meant so much more than a whole bouquet from anyone else.

She knew he didn' t have a lot of money, struggling to pay off his student loan and build up his business. This meal was probably more than he could afford.

Suddenly he was off his chair and on one knee on the floor. Helen gasped. She couldn' t believe it. He was going to pop the question. Here, in this restaurant, in front of everyone on Valentine' s Day. How romantic!

She looked around her. Everyone was staring. She smiled and turned back to Tom, but he wasn' t looking at her, he was scrabbling around on the floor.

What are you doing?' she asked.

I' ve lost my contact lens,' he said. It just flew out of my eye. Can you help me find it please, love?'

Helen let out a sigh, pushed back her chair and knelt down too.

Ow!' she cried.

What?' he asked.

You must' ve knocked my rose on the floor. I' ve just knelt on it. I' ve got a thorn in my knee.'

Oh no!' Tom cried. Let me have a look¼'

No,' said Helen, delicately putting the rose back on the table. You won' t be able to see anyway. Let' s find your lens before we break it.'

Can I help you?' asked a waiter, rushing up.

No, thanks, please just stand back,' said Helen, peering up at him. My boyfriend' s lost his contact lens, you might accidentally step on it¼'

They carried on scrabbling around on the floor. Candlelight might be romantic, but it wasn' t exactly useful for finding a

I've lost my contact lens, it just flew out of my eye. Can you help me find it please, love?

tiny lens.

Here it is!' said Tom, finally holding the lens aloft triumphantly. `Are you all right, darling?'

Helen looked at her knee and winced. Dark red blood stained her tights.

I' m so sorry,' he said.

Does it hurt?'

No, it' s okay.'

But maybe we ought to go to the hospital? Have you had a tetanus jab lately?'

Yes, I' m fine,' said Helen. `Are you sure?'

Yes, honestly, darling,' she said, smiling at him reassuringly. Casualty on a Friday night is the last place I want to be. Let' s just enjoy our meal.'

But your rose is squashed!' No, the flower isn' t. Put your lens in and you' ll see.'

Tom did as she advised and then smiled at her.

That' s better!' he said. Now, where were we?'

Can' t remember,' said Helen. The thought that he might be about to propose to her had driven everything else from her head.

As she ate her starter, Helen told herself what a fool she' d been. She' d only been going out with Tom for 10 months. She' d always promised herself she' d never rush into marriage. Did she even want to marry him?

He was fun, yes, and kind and thoughtful, but he was also a walking disaster-area. Their flat was a minefield of Tom' s attempts at DIY. Only the other day, the shelf he had put up in the kitchen had fallen down, missing her head by inches. And last week she' d been stuck in the bathroom because she couldn' t pull back the bolt he' d fitted.

Besides, she told herself, someone like her didn' t really stand a chance with someone gorgeous and kind like Tom. He' d soon find someone better

They had a wonderful meal. Tom was entertaining and fascinating, as always. Life with him was never dull. She wondered what he could possibly see in her.

Have a pudding!' he urged her, handing her the dessert menu when she' d finished her main course.

The list of puds looked wonderfully tempting, but Helen shook her head. She knew Tom couldn' t really afford one.

Go on,' he said, I want this evening to be really memorable.'

It is!' Helen laughed. My knee is probably scarred for life.'

He pulled a face and she took his hand.

It' s been lovely,' she said. It really has. I' ve been with you, and that' s all that matters to me.'

Good.'

He pulled his hand away and frowned. And then, suddenly, he was back down on his knees.

Oh no, not again!' Helen said, and joined him down there, scrabbling around.

Ow!' she cried, as she and Tom banged heads hard. Get up,' he hissed.

What?'

Get up, everyone' s looking at us!'

Can I help you?' asked the waiter, rushing over again.

No, thanks,' said Helen. My boyfriend' s just lost his contact lens again.'

No I haven' t,' said Tom. What?' Helen frowned. Helen, get back on your chair,' he said. Please, quickly!'

Oh.'

Flustered, Helen sat back down, and Tom took her hand and after that a very deep breath.

Helen Samuels,' he said, earnestly, gazing into her eyes. I love you. I have from the day we first met, and I always will. Could you, would you make me the happiest man in the world¼ and marry me?'

Helen stared at him. All sound in the restaurant had ceased. Everyone was watching the waiters, the other diners, someone had even hurriedly fetched the chef from the kitchen.

They all held their breath. But Helen was aware of none of this. As Tom gazed up appealingly at her, with his gorgeous blue eyes, just below the red bump where they' d recently banged heads, suddenly she knew there was nothing in the whole wide world that she wanted more.

Yes!' she cried. Yes, please, Tom. I' d love to marry you.'

Everyone started clapping and cheering. And then the waiter came rushing up again, but this time with a bottle of champagne!

Casualty on a Friday night is the last place I want to be. Let s just enjoy our meal