Page 78 of Christmas at Black Cherry Retreat
Chapter Thirty-Seven
His timing was lousy. Who on earth proposed to one woman after spending the last half hour pouring out every detail of his less than perfect marriage?
‘I’m gonna say what I want to despite everything I’ve just told you.’ Tom rushed on. ‘I’m not expecting an answer right away, but think about it. Please.’
‘What? You haven’t asked me anythingyet.’ Fee’s gentle remonstrance stopped him in his tracks.
‘Oh. Right. Yeah.’ This wasn’t going well. He’d better get it over with before he screwed up any worse. ‘Marry me. No man’s ever goin’ to love you more than I do.’ Tom’s proclamation came to an abrupt halt.
‘Yes.’
‘Yes what?’
‘Um. Yes, please.’ Fee’s mouth curved in a wide smile.
‘Just like that?’he croaked.
‘Just like that.’
He’d expected a ton of questions and a plea for more time but she’d yanked the rug out from under his feet again.
‘Say something, Tom, or I’ll start to think you regret asking me.’ The laughter in her eyes told him she was joking. ‘Please don’t start fretting about rings or weddings either. There’s time enough for all that and anyway I don’treally do jewellery,’ she murmured.
Tom smoothed his hand over her hair, playing with the shaggy ends that’d grown out in the last few weeks. ‘You love the silver bracelet.’
‘That’s different.’
‘Why?’
‘It’s simple.’
‘Who says an engagement ring has to be fussy? Hang a metal washer on a string around your neck for all I care. As long as the world knows you’remine it’s all good to me.’
‘So now you’re trying to be cheap,’ Fee teased.
Tom pulled a white handkerchief from his pocket and waved it in the air. ‘I officially surrender. Tell me what you want and we’ll do it. End of story.’
‘One thing I must say and please don’t take this as a criticism of Gina but we’re two very different women. I’m too independent toneeda man tohave a good, productive life. I am certain it’ll be a better and more complete one with you because of the love we have for each other.’
He only wished he could express his feelings half as well as she did. ‘Do you want to tell everyone today?’
‘I don’t think so. I don’t want to seem disrespectful.’
Tom couldn’t help smiling. ‘We’ll do whatever you want but I’m pretty damnsure Mee Maw is up in heaven takin’ credit for this big time.’
The triumphant grin plastered all over her face made everything worthwhile. He silently thanked his beloved grandmother for making him see sense.
Fee should have known Tom’s mother would guess their secret. Sarah took one look at them as they walked into the house and beamed. She clapped her hands together and shoutedfor everyone to come out to the hall.
Sarah wormed the whole story out of Tom while they all listened.
‘Some people might say you’re rushin’ into things but this good man snatched me from under Bubba Watkins’ nose and had me down the aisle before I hardly knew his name.’ Sarah pointed at Hank who turned the colour of a boiled beetroot. ‘We’ve rubbed along together for nearly forty-sixyears so I guess it worked.’
Fee’s therapist would tear his hair out. She’d done the precise opposite of everything he’d advised and never been happier.
Hank held up his hand to silence all the congratulations going around. ‘Don’t mean to break things up but we’ve got work to do.’
This was why she’d wanted to keep the news to themselves for now. She didn’t blame Tom’s fatherfor being cross.
