"I did," John agrees simply and he thinks she might begin to suspect there's something else going on sooner rather than later, if only because they've already spoken of getting married and acknowledged that they would like to do so.

But he doesn't say anything about it yet. He has a feeling they won't get through the rest of the meal if he proposes now, so instead he talks about work and asks Karen about her day. As the courses of the meal progress, they have mostly regular conversation, although they both know it might not be considered normal by others. They talk for a long time about a man John has been following, someone suspected of supplying drugs to young women in exchange for certain services.

By the time they're finished dessert, John is ready. He takes one last mouthful of his food, then reaches into his pocket and removes the ring box, holding it on his lap for the time being.

"Just you and me," he says, looking up at Karen with a smile. "Just how we wanted it."