Page 9 of Destiny Reclaimed
Jack supposed having been to war and back gave him the rite of passage from boyhood to manhood, allowing him to drop the Mr. and Mrs.
Walter motioned to the living room entrance off the hall. "Come. Sit down."
Jack pulled the hat from his head, unbuttoned his service uniform coat, and sat on the couch. His nerves rattled at the sight of the large family photo hanging on the wall. Marvin looked to be about sixteen, Gwennie and Gary about twelve. The family of five was now four.
"Would you like some coffee?" Mary Lou asked knocking him out of his unwanted dire thoughts.
He nodded.
She scampered off and returned a moment later with three cups of coffee, sugar, and cream on a tray.
Walter snagged a cup off the platter. No cream or sugar for him. Jack did the same.
The couple stared at him as he took a sip, then they exchanged nervous glances. Preparing to tell him about Marvin he presumed.
Jack set the cup down. His pulse beat wildly, and he took a second to gather his thoughts. "My parents told me about Marvin this morning. I'm so sorry."
Mary Lou's eyes watered.
Walter nodded, then cleared his throat. "You were a good friend to him. He thought a lot of you, as we do."
Wow, not words typically spoken by this burly man, but death changes a person. Makes one realize what they have—had.
"I am thankful for the friendship he and I shared and will treasure it forever."
The grieving mother offered a compassionate smile.
Knowing how this couple felt about him encouraged him to proceed with what he'd come to do. He swiped perspiring hands over his pant legs, then straightened in his seat. Shifting his gaze from Mary Lou, he fixed it on Walter. "Sir, I'd like your permission to ask Gwennie to marry me."
Mary Lou's gasp echoed in the room, but he kept focused on Walter who stared at him emotionless. What was the man thinking? Was he too stunned to even show a facial expression?
Jack wanted to kick himself. He should have waited. Was this too much for them to deal with losing their son and all? "I'm sorry, sir. I should have..."
"No. It's fine," the man interrupted as he reached over and took his wife's hand. "We'd love for you to be part of our family." He paused and exchanged a warm smile with his wife. "Gwendoline has been counting the days. And, Marvin would have loved it." He'd barely squeaked out the words before his voice cracked, and he averted his watery gaze.
Jack swallowed hard. Marvin had been like a brother to him, and now, when he could make it real, it couldn't happen.
A car engine roared from down the street. Jack's heart skipped a beat when it silenced in front of the house.
Mary Lou's smile stretched from ear to ear. "Gwendoline is home." The woman stood and rubbed her hands together. "She'll be so excited."
Needing to see her, and see her now, Jack rose from his seat and made a move toward the entryway hall.
Mary Lou's hand wrapped around his arm. He focused on her as she lifted her forefinger to her lips. The woman's light brown eyes beamed. "Wait here. We'll give you the room."
The front door squeaked open. Jack stood statue-still as Walter and Mary Lou exited the living room into the hallway.
He listened as he waited.
"How was Mrs. Harman today," Mary Lou asked.
"Good."
Jack's heart slammed in his chest at the sound of his love's sweet voice when she replied to her mother. The adrenaline rush in his veins shook his extremities.
"I picked up some groceries for her and then read to her for a while. Is that the Cornelis’ vehicle out front?"
"It is," Walter replied.
