Joe felt the pressure of Pearl's hand in his and its warmth. He listened enraptured by her soft voice as she explained their options and their future. The promise of a life together was truly intoxicating. Pearl's repeating if Joe was serious brought him back to the moment and there was a pang of regret that he had indeed sort of shouted at her. Before details of a wedding far or near, big or small could be decided he felt the need to apologise.

"Pearl, ye mean the world to me. Of course I want to marry ye." he paused, his eyes fell downwards to look at the sand of the beach "Sorry I was harsh, I didn't mean to. Ye're seem most distressed and I couldn't stand to see ye hurtin'. All of the things people have done and said to ye, and it sort of made me mad. My tone was not what it should 'ave been." Joe stopped looking at the ground and looked at Pearl. He was not an misbehaving schoolboy anymore.

"Can ye forgive me?"