“We’ll get him home,” she whispered. “I’ve boxed up your ‘evidence wall’ and put up some old family photos for them. I’m sure your mum and dad don’t want to lie in bed looking at ex-cons and crime scene photos.”

Jack forced a smile. “You’ve done exactly the right thing,” he said. “And I’m sorry for leaving it all to you.”

“I know this case is important to you. I know it’s revealed some unexpected things from your past but, Jack, all of that can wait. Ridley has the case in hand, and as for your revelation about Harry Rawlins, well . . . he’s not going anywhere, is he?” Maggie’s face lost some of its empathy. “I can’t see how he’s a man to be proud of, Jack. Charlie’s a man to be proud of. The next few days will be so important for you as a family, so don’t let anything distract you.”

“Days?”

Jack suddenly looked like a little boy coming to terms with the loss of his very first loved one—it didn’t matter how much you explained about the cycle of life, the hurt would be overwhelming and it would be Maggie’s job to rock him to sleep when the end had come and gone.

Maggie leaned her head on his shoulder.

“Life goes on.” Her words were oddly upbeat.

“What do you mean?” asked Jack.

“Nothing,” she said.

But he could see how her eyes sparkled.

“This is completely the wrong moment,” Maggie went on, floundering.

Jack let out a laugh.

“You’re pregnant!” he shouted, so loud the whole cabin could hear. “It’s exactly the right moment,” he said, showering Maggie with rapid-fire kisses. “Marry me!”

Jack blurted the words out, and they were as much of a shock to him as they were to her. Marriage had been mentioned in the past, but they always said they’d wait to be more settled, more financially comfortable, more secure. It was nonsense. They’d been doing things in order and now, 35,000 feet above the North Atlantic Ocean, everything was suddenly out of order. Charlie was dying, Maggie was pregnant and Jack was proposing. The world was turning, however painful that might be, and they had no option but to turn with it. The entire cabin had heard the question, and although Maggie whispered the answer only to Jack, the instant round of applause showed they thought she must have given the right answer.

Maggie’s words swam around in Jack’s head: the pregnancy; boxing up his “evidence wall”; accepting his proposal; Harry not being a dad to be proud of; Charlie only having days left.

Thinking of Charlie made Jack feel comfortable and safe; thinking of Harry made him feel edgy and excited. Men wanted to be like Harry and women wanted to be with Harry. It must be amazing for someone to have such an impact on those around him. But would Harry fly for nine hours to collect his dad and then care for him until the day he died? Would he feel this much weight in his heart at the thought of losing the man who’d taught him to ride a bike, chat up girls, make a bow and arrow, and appreciate the beauty of the English countryside? Had Harry ever really loved anyone? Jack was proud to belong to Charlie Warr. And he hoped that his child would be proud to belong to him.