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He opened the box, revealing a sparkly fairy ring.

Liv laughed, and for a moment Callum doubted his choice and wondered if she’d understand the gesture.

‘This might be the craziest thing ever.’

‘I know. But I feel like letting you walk away would be even crazier. What do you say? Will you at least think about it?’

Liv took the box gently, her hand shaking as she held it out to Sarah. She couldn’t believe she’d gone from being about to leave, to being offered a dream come true. But as much as she loved Callum, she had to be sure it was what Sarah wanted too. She was just as important in this decision as he was. So she held out a hand to Sarah, and pulled her a few steps away from her dad. ‘Is this one of yours?’

‘Yup.’ Sarah grinned proudly. ‘It’s my bestest and most favourite. It’s magic too. It fits everyone. Even Daddy’s fat fingers.’

Liv pressed her lips together, trying not to smile. She wanted to be completely serious for this conversation — it wasn’t just her life that was about to change forever. ‘Do you know what this means?’

Sarah nodded, equally serious.

‘Tell me?’ Liv asked gently, needing to be sure.

‘If you say yes, it means you and Daddy get married, and I get to be a bridesmaid in a pretty dress. And we all live happily ever after. And you will be my mummy.’

Liv sniffed, and had to blink back tears. She was already desperately in love with this little girl, and hearing the name “Mummy” from her filled her heart with joy and hope. ‘And is that what you want, Sarah? For me to be your mummy?’

Sarah nodded reverently. ‘Yes!’

‘Do you know that before I came here, I got hurt. And it means I probably can’t have my own babies, so if I become your mummy, then you won’t ever have a little brother or sister.’ She met Callum’s eyes over Sarah’s head, and he gave her a reassuring smile, telling her without words what she needed to hear: that she was everything he wanted, and having her complete his and Sarah’s family was already more than enough for him.

‘Daddy told me you might not be able to have babies. But I think it’s OK. My friend Chrissy has a new baby brother and she says all he does is cry and poop and be sick on people and isn’t any fun. So I thought who would want a baby?’ She paused for a deep breath. ‘And it’s like a fairy story. Daddy loves you, and I love you too. And I think you really like me. I thought maybe I could be your little girl as well as Daddy’s and then you wouldn’t need a baby and smell of sick all the time, and maybe we could get a dog instead ’coz dogs are cool. What do you think?’

‘I think that sounds amazing. But you’re wrong. I don’t just “really like” you, Sarah. I already love you too.’ Liv wiped her eyes and leaned closer, and rested her forehead against Sarah’s. ‘So you think I should say yes to your daddy?’

‘Yes. But . . .’

‘But what, sweetie?’

‘But you should make him ask proper.’ Sarah glared at her dad, and Liv struggled not to laugh — partly in relief, and partly at the look of disgust that Callum was being given by his daughter. Her daughter she realised, with tears of joy threatening to spill down her cheeks.

‘Properly?’ He raised an eyebrow at his daughter. ‘We’ve got candles, and flowers and a ring.’

‘You’re supposed to be on one knee. And say “Liv, will you marry me?”, like they do on the TV.’ She stuck one hand on her hip, her other still tightly holding onto Liv’s.

Liv looked down at the little girl, her heart filled with love for the beautiful, precocious, bright little fairy who was about to become her daughter. She only hoped she’d be up to the challenge. She gave Callum a bright smile, and chucked the boxed ring back at him, and tried not to laugh as he fumbled the catch.

He looked at her quizzically.

Liv shrugged. ‘You heard your daughter. You have to do it properly.’

Callum couldn’t keep the smile from his face as he dropped to one knee, and took Liv’s spare hand in his. ‘Liv . . . Olivia . . . Will you please, please, marry me?’

‘Hmmm . . .’ Liv tapped a finger against her lips, apparently deep in thought. ‘What do you think, Sarah?’

‘Say yes!’ Sarah tugged at her hand. ‘Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes.’

Liv laughed, the joy bubbling out of her. ‘As crazy as this is, I think you’re right. It would be crazier for me to say no.’

‘So, does that mean . . . ?’

‘Yes. It means, yes!’ She laughed as he scooped her up and held her tightly against him, and placed a soft kiss against her lips while Sarah giggled and wrapped her arms around both of their legs.

Epilogue