Allegro con fuoco

LXVI

Okay, so now Eddy knew Brett knew something was up. There had been something in his tone, back in the hotel room, when he had said "ready for anything", that Eddy already hadn't liked. There had been a look, when he had suggested they bring their violins. But now he was completely sure, because Brett kept looking at him at the bus, his eyes open, wide, almost wary. 
"I think this is it." Eddy said in a voice that was way more shaky than he intended, as a bus stop came up. 
"Okay. Ah, look! I see a red roof there. That's probably it?"
"Yeah."
It was all he had in him to say. Any more and Brett would ask if he was okay. So he climbed down the steps and walked briskly in the direction of the roof Brett had pointed out. 

A beautiful, traditional building with a large, red overhanging roof. Several monks, dressed in yellow robes, lounging around on the steps. An ornate entrance, and one beaming monk with a recognisable smile and a sweet, full moon face. 
"Eddy?" the monk asked as he approached them. Eddy shot him a warning look and raised his finger to his mouth. The monk smiled and nodded. "Of course. Come on in. You must be Brett?"
"Um... yes." Brett said, shooting a bemused glance to Eddy. 
Eddy took his hand for just a second as they walked through the gate, into an open tiled area with beautiful plants. 
"Small surprise." he whispered. 
"But... how?"
Eddy shrugged. Now that he was here, now that Brett had known nothing, at least not for sure, he could feel himself relaxing. He glanced down, at the ring on his finger, then back at the monk, who was casually walking ahead of them into some beautiful gardens. 
"This is gorgeous, Eddy." Brett said softly. 
"I know, right?"
By a little white pagoda the monk stopped and turned around. There were bowls of flowers, here, the petals floating in water. There was a copper flask, and a bowl with some bananas and papayas in it. 
"Come here, lovely gentlemen." he said in his wonderfully sonorous voice, which was soft, yet warm. Brett and Eddy stepped forward until they were close to the bowls. 
"I think the time has come to spoil Eddy's surprise?"
Eddy blinked as his heart flew up to his throat. Then he nodded. 
"Um. Yes. Wow. Um."
His voice seemed to have flown back to Australia on its own and taken all of his words with it, because he sure wasn't finding any. But the monk smiled again and somehow the calmness he exuded took Eddy along, and he caught his breath, and his heart slowed. 
"Okay. Yes. So. I bought the ring yesterday, from a jewellery shop in the mall close to our hotel." he started. Brett looked up to him in surprise. "I... yeah, I didn't really go running very far. I'd seen it when I'd been lost. So... the guy there realised I was buying a ring for... you know... not a girl. And he was kind. So I went and asked. And his brother... well."
The monk smiled again. 
"My name is Ben."
"Oh." Eddy said. Then he turned and took Brett's hands in his. One more deep breath, a tear already shimmering on his eyelid, he knew. A squeeze, and the words came tumbling. 
"I thought we'd do a ceremony here. You know... a blessing. Until we can get married for real."
Now Brett's eyes opened wide and his mouth fell open. 
"Eddy..." he whispered, clearly overcome, clearly just about keeping it together. 
"You like?" Eddy whispered back. 
"I love. Wow. Eddy."
Ben put his hands on each of their shoulders for a moment, then stepped back. 
"Is there anything you would like to say to each other?"
Brett cleared his throat. 
"Um. Yes. There is."