The dinner table was quiet, almost too quiet.
Rosie sat next to Arthur, her hands fidgeting with the corner of her napkin. She hadn't been able to shake the odd tension that had followed them since the gallery snacks earlier. Charles had said he wanted to talk to them over dinner, and now the air felt thick with something they couldn't name.
Jane, calm and collected as always, passed the salad bowl with a gentle smile. Charles cleared his throat and looked up from his plate. His eyes met Arthur's first, then Rosie's.
"I have something to share," Charles said. His voice was even, but Rosie could hear the edge to it—like a calm before a storm or maybe something entirely different.
Arthur straightened slightly in his seat. Rosie glanced at him, sensing the same nerves. Was this about the gallery moment? The way Arthur had bolted?
Jane placed her hand over Charles's, steadying him as if giving silent encouragement. Then Charles said it.
"Jane and I are getting engaged."
The silence shattered.
Arthur blinked. "Wait… what?"
Jane smiled softly. "It's true. We've talked about it for a while, and we've decided to make it official."
Rosie's jaw dropped slightly. "You two… never mentioned it."
"We wanted it to be a surprise," Jane said, reaching for her glass. "And it felt right to announce it with everyone here."
Arthur leaned back in his chair, arms crossing over his chest, clearly trying to process the news. Rosie, wide-eyed, looked from Jane to Charles. "I'm really happy for you both… I just—wow."
Jane chuckled gently. "I know, it's a lot. But it's something we've been working toward."
Charles, more serious than celebratory, added, "We'll be starting preparations soon. It's going to be simple. But we want you both involved."
Rosie nodded, still a bit stunned. "Of course… anything you need."
Arthur exhaled slowly. "Yeah. Congrats, really."
But even as he said the words, his mind was clearly elsewhere. Rosie could feel it.
Once dinner ended and the plates were cleared, Arthur and Rosie stepped out into the backyard, needing air.
Arthur lit a cigarette and stared out into the dark garden, the smoke curling upward as his mind raced. Rosie stood beside him, arms folded over her chest.
"You okay?" she asked gently.
Arthur didn't answer right away. Then, "I thought they were going to call us out."
"For what?"
He gave her a look. "You know for what."
Rosie rolled her eyes, smirking. "You thought that 'we need to talk over dinner' meant they knew we were fucking?"
Arthur chuckled despite himself. "Exactly that."
Rosie nudged him. "Paranoid much?"
"No. Just realistic. I'm still not over that damn cook," Arthur muttered.
Rosie leaned against him. "At least he took the bribe."
Arthur scoffed. "Ten grand, Rosie. That's a ridiculous price for a lie."
"Yeah," she said, looking up at him, "but it bought us time."
They stood in silence for a while, letting the crickets do the talking.
"You think they're really happy?" Rosie asked suddenly.
"Charles and Jane?"
"Yeah."
Arthur flicked ash to the side. "I think they're trying to be."
Rosie let that sit for a moment. "It's kind of romantic, right? Two people who've been through everything… still choosing each other."
Arthur turned to her slowly, his eyes softer now. "Yeah. It is."
She stepped in closer, resting her head on his shoulder. "You'd do that one day?"
"What? Get engaged?"
"Yeah."
He paused. "I guess. If it ever felt like this."
Rosie pulled back slightly, teasing, "Like what?"
He smiled. "Like I couldn't breathe without you."
She blushed and punched his arm lightly. "You and your dramatic lines."
"But it's true," he said, more serious now. "I don't know what the hell this is between us. But it's not casual."
Rosie looked at him. Really looked. "No. It's not."
They didn't say anything else for a while.
Later that night, the house felt different—busier with Jane on the phone organizing cake tastings, Charles emailing old friends, and Rosie helping Jane shortlist venues. Arthur lingered nearby, watching Rosie laugh with Jane over floral options.
Charles eventually pulled Arthur aside into the study.
"You okay with all this?" Charles asked.
Arthur shrugged. "It's your life, man. If it makes you happy…"
Charles narrowed his eyes. "But?"
Arthur hesitated. "It's just… sudden."
Charles leaned forward. "Arthur, you of all people should know life doesn't wait. When you find someone who makes it better, you hold onto them."
Arthur nodded slowly.
"And for what it's worth," Charles added, "Jane really wanted you and Rosie to be part of this. She's grown fond of her."
Arthur smirked slightly. "That makes two of us."
Charles chuckled, but his eyes were sharp. "Keep it clean, son. This house has too much history."
Arthur didn't reply, just gave a knowing look and walked back to the hallway.
Meanwhile, in the living room, Jane showed Rosie a velvet box with the engagement rings.
"What do you think?" she asked excitedly.
Rosie opened it slowly. A simple but elegant platinum band with a sapphire in the center.
"It's beautiful," Rosie said sincerely.
Jane smiled. "Thank you, sweetheart."
Then she added, "And you know… one day, I hope you find someone who makes you feel like this. Like home."
Rosie met her eyes and quietly said, "Maybe I already did."
Jane blinked, but said nothing more. Just smiled and hugged her.
As the night wore on and the engagement buzz filled the house, Arthur and Rosie slipped away again, back to their rhythm—sharing glances, brushing against each other in the hallways, quiet smiles as they passed.
But the secret they were carrying now felt heavier, more fragile.
And with the engagement now under way, the stakes had silently risen.