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Luck definitely wasn't on Lila's side tonight.
La Cité-Limoilou police station was a hectic hive of activity, full of drunks sliding off their seats, sullen dogs sporting black eyes and bloody noses, and mixed expressions of shock, anger and fear. Having approached the counter and been promptly told to take a seat, the maltese had found a quiet corner where she obediently waited. And waited. And waited.
Occasionally the officers at the desk would call out names, but there was no indication of how long it would take for Lila to be seen. She figured that on a night where they were dealing with thefts, assaults and all sorts of dodgy goings on, a tourist losing her bag during a bachelorette party wasn't exactly high on their list of priorities.
Lila had tried to convey the seriousness of the situation, but the officer she spoke to didn't have the best grasp of English, failing to interpret her Australian accent. In desperation Lila had even attempted to mime 'engagement ring', but this was misinterpreted as an obscene gesture and she was abruptly ushered back to her seat. At this rate she doubted that she'd be seen this side of Bluey's wedding.
Time seemed to drag. Keen to avoid eye contact with some of the more unsavoury characters, Lila kept her eyes fixed to the ground. Though she had Socks' phone for entertainment, she was keeping it in flight mode to conserve the battery. And to avoid a certain red heeler.
Lila hated what she was doing to Bingo. Though Lila's girlfriend had respected her wishes to not be followed to the police station, the heeler had sent a stream of pleading messages, asking Lila to come back and join the other hens.
Just tell me what's going on.
Did I do something wrong?
I love you. Please come back.
The messages had left her feeling broken and raw, fearing the consequences of her actions. Would the events of this evening fracture Bingo's trust in her? Would they be able to come back from this? And without a ring, would Bingo ever believe how much Lila truly loved her?
Lila typically prided herself on being cautious and astute. But there was something about Bingo that made her want to throw caution to the wind and make wild gestures of love. Like the time she flew halfway across the world to woo her. Or like deciding to propose after only 5 months of dating. Lila's mum had gotten wind of it all when she started getting targeted with ads for engagement rings, warning her daughter that it was too soon to make such a rash decision. But Lila's mind was made up: she wanted to marry Bingo Heeler.
The minutes had ticked over into hours when Lila contemplated giving up. What were the chances that some honest soul would hand in a 0.75 carat engagement ring anyway? She would have to chalk it up to bad luck and move on. Maybe if she started saving now she could buy a new one in a year's time, or get a lab-grown ring instead? Sure, it probably wouldn't be as lovely as the ring she had lost, but it didn't matter. Not as long as Bingo had Lila's ring on her finger.
Lila got out Socks's phone to call Bingo when she heard a commotion in the entryway to the station. A male dog was yelling aggressively in French, escorted by two uniformed officers. Though Lila couldn't quite see the criminal, he seemed familiar to her somehow. Ears pricked up around Lila, as other dogs in the waiting area looked on curiously at the dramatic scene.
A minute later another couple of officers brought in a second dog. This one was injured, clutching the side of his torso and whimpering. Lila definitely recognised this one. He was the sheltie who had been talking with Bluey back at the bar. One of the dogs that had taken off with Coco and Muffin. Lila felt an icy panic run up her spine. If those two had been apprehended, then did that mean something bad had happened to her two friends?
She stood up to try and get a closer look, but the two dogs had been taken through some heavy locked doors deep into the bowels of the station. But then she heard a familiar voice coming from the entranceway.
"We're fine-I just need to call my sister!" The voice was tired and slurred, yet unmistakable. The door swung open, and Muffin and Coco walked in arm-in-arm, along with a third officer. Lila's tail wagged in relief as she saw they were unscathed.
"We can't let you go yet", Lila heard the officer explain. "We need to ask you some questions. Please take a seat in there." The officer pointed to the crowded space where Lila had been waiting.
"Muffin! Coco!" Lila yelled, running up to the two missing hens. While Coco didn't seem to register Lila's presence, Muffin cried out for Lila, pulling her into a fierce hug.
"Lila, what are you doing here?" Muffin seemed a lot worse for wear than she had hours ago, but she still seemed to have her faculties. In contrast, Coco's expression was vacant. Though she readily acquiesced to Lila's embrace, it was evident that the lights were on, but no one was home.
"I'm here to…" Lila trailed off as she spotted the familiar bag tucked under Muffin's arm.
"By the way Lila, I have your bag!" Muffin interrupted, handing the strappy black number to the shell-shocked maltese. Lila popped the bag open. As her thumb grazed against the ring box, her eyes filled with tears.
"Oh don't cry Lila", Muffin soothed, wiping a tear from the white dog's cheek. "I'll buy you a new set of hex keys."
"Hey Bingo!"
"Lila! Why haven't you been answering my messages! I've been so worried. Please just come back, we can–"
" –Bingo, you and the girls need to come to the station. Now. Muffin and Coco are here."
"What?"
It took less than 10 minutes for the station doors to swing open again. The hens entered in force, Bluey leading the charge. Lila, who had heard the full sordid tale from Muffin, felt immense relief at all seven of them finally being safely reunited. The last to enter was Bingo, Lila's stomach doing a backflip when she saw her. As Bluey, Chloe and Socks rushed towards Coco and Muffin, Lila stepped back, meeting the gaze of her best friend. Her lover. Her everything.
They stared at each other for what felt like an agonising amount of time, but in reality could only have been a couple of seconds. Lila swallowed, bracing herself for anger and upset. Instead, Bingo rushed towards her, pulling her in for a breathtaking squeeze.
"I missed you", Bingo whispered. "I know it's only been a few hours, but I really, really missed you."
"Me too", Lila admitted. "I'm sorry I left you, but I can explain. Come with me."
She grabbed Bingo's hand, tugging her out of the waiting area, through the double doors and onto the grassy verge outside the police station. The temperature had dropped since Lila had first entered the building, the crisp autumn evening causing her to shiver. Or maybe that was the nerves kicking in.
Bingo, who had followed compliantly, stood staring puzzled at Lila. "What's going on?"
Lila felt momentary panic, her heartbeat accelerating. She didn't exactly have a plan, and the words she'd carefully crafted on the flight over had dissipated into thin air. So she pulled out the box, and wished for the best.
"So, I found my bag." she explained, voice wobbling. "Muffin had it the whole time."
Bingo smiled widely in relief. "That's amazing, babe. I'm so glad you got it back. But you know I would've bought you a replacement, right?" The bag had been a gift from Bingo. But of course that wasn't why Lila had been so devastated when it went missing.
"I know", Lila smiled. "But it wasn't the bag I was upset about." She paused, staring into her partner's eyes. "There was something inside the bag. Something that belongs to you."
"Oh?" Bingo raised her eyebrows.
Lila fumbled with the box, her hands shaking. She soon realised that her whole body was shaking, her fight or flight response activated. It was now or never. She held up the ring box to chest height, too jittery to even open it.
Bingo gasped. "Is t-that…", she stuttered.
Lila let out a squeak, nodding vigorously. She could already feel herself welling up. She sank to her knees into the ground, surrendering to the intense emotion of the moment. She felt wobbly and lightheaded, unable to even look up at Bingo as she prized the box open. The illumination of a nearby floodlight bounced off the round cut diamond, making it sparkle.
"Bingo…" she began, voice shaky, "will you–"
"YES!!" Bingo bellowed, like an excitable child hopped up on too much sherbet.
"I haven't asked you yet!" Lila chuckled, tears streaming down her face. Bingo's empathic response sent waves of relief washing over her.
"Oh, okay, sorry!" Bingo danced from foot to foot, eyeing the ring in disbelief. "You may continue."
Lila took a breath to recalibrate. "Bingo, will you marry me?"
This time it was the red heeler's turn to be speechless, nodding as her emotions got the better of her. By this point both girls had tears streaming down their faces. "Yes", she eventually choked out.
Lila's hands shook as she took Bingo's left hand, pushing the ring onto her index finger. It was a little tight, requiring a bit of force to get it on. "It's a little snug", Lila frowned.
Bingo pulled Lila to her feet. "It's perfect", she smiled, diving in for a passionate kiss that made Lila's heart pound. They broke apart, and for a moment they stood still, bodies flush, breathing shared air. "Does this mean we're… engaged?" Bingo eventually asked.
"I guess we are. Though it feels so overwhelming. I had a speech and everything, but I've forgotten it." Lila babbled.
"I have a speech", Bingo whispered.
"You do?" Lila asked curiously.
"Well, not exactly." Bingo admitted. "But I come from a family of improvisors." She took Lila's right hand in her left.
"Lila Snowdrop Maltese…", she began.
"Wait, did you just middle name me?" Lila giggled, feeling almost delirious with happiness.
"Shh, let me finish.." Bingo said softly. Her free hand looped around Lila's waist.
"Lila", she began again, "I want to marry you. I want to raise puppies with you. Then when we're older I want to retire to a cabin in the mountains with you. We can get pet ducks, grow vegetables, build a butterfly house and live out our cottagecore lesbian fantasies."
"That's… oddly specific," Lila interjected, a small smile betraying her deadpan tone.
"I've been thinking about this a while!" Bingo exclaimed. She stared intently at Lila, expression suddenly earnest. "I want to build a life with you. I want to grow old with you. I want… you."
The declaration made Lila so weak at the knees that she was convinced she would've fallen, had Bingo not been holding on so tightly. There was nothing else to do or say, except kiss.
"Ahem"
The sound of someone loudly clearing their throat alarmed the pair. They sprang apart to see Socks staring back at them, expression unreadable.
"We just came out to get some air." Bingo explained to her cousin. Lila noticed that her fiancée was concealing her left hand.
"By… kissing?" Socks asked, eyeing the couple suspiciously. "Well, I just came out to let you know that Muffin is talking to the police now. Then, they said we can go."
"That's great, Socks", Bingo sagged in relief. "Lila and I will meet you inside. We just need a second."
Socks nodded, heading back into the building.
"Do you reckon there's a chance she didn't hear all that?" Lila asked.
"Nope", Bingo giggled. "But luckily Socks is good at keeping secrets."
They collided once more, sharing another tender moment as a group of tipsy dogs walked past hollering and cheering at the happy couple.
Sure, this wasn't the perfect proposal she'd had in mind. But as Lila swayed with Bingo under the floodlight, she felt like the luckiest girl in the world.