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‘And what’s that?’ asked Ruth

‘That one of the locals agrees to be my wife’

Ruth took hiht man to spend the rest of her life with

~

Max and Ruth were ister office three months later, with only the twins as witnesses, and even they had been reluctant to attend ‘He’ll never take the place of our father,’ Ben had told his reement

‘Don’t worry,’ said Max, as they drove to the airport ‘Only time will sort out that problem’

As they flew out of Heathrow to begin their honeymoon, Ruth mentioned that she had been a little disappointed that none of Max’s friends had attended the ceremony

‘We don’t need to attract unpleasant coht be wise to let a little tio by before I launch you on London society’ He smiled and took her hand Ruth accepted his assurance, and put aside any anxieties she ht have had

The plane touched down at Venice airport three hours later, and they hisked away on asee her new husband was to spend hours in the fashion shops helping her select numerous outfits He even chose a dress for her that she considered far too expensive For a whole week of lazing about on gondolas, he never once left her side for a moment

On the Friday, Max hired a car and drove his bride south to Florence, where they strolled back and forth over the bridges together, visiting the Uffizi, the Pitti Palace and the Accades they ate tooin theto their hotel just as the sun was rising They reluctantly flew on to Rome for the third week, where the hotel bedroom, the Coliseum, the opera house and the Vatican occupied most of their spare moments The three weeks passed so quickly that Ruth couldn’t recall the individual days

She wrote to the boys every evening before going to bed, describing what a wonderful holiday she was having, always e how kind Max was She so ht take more than time

When she and Max returned to St Helier, he continued to be considerate and attentive The only disappoint premises for the new branch of his co, but seeolf club than he did in town ‘Networking,’ he would explain, ‘because that’s ill matter once the branch is open’

‘When do you think that will be?’ Ruth asked

‘Not too er now,’ he assured her ‘You have to re in ht location It’s much better to wait for a prime site than to settle for second best’

But as the weeks passed, Ruth beca any nearer to finding that priging, which ain for at least another month