Page 49 of A Joyful Ring
Gloria raised an eyebrow. “How do you propose to change his mind?”
“Well, you said Papa thinks Gunder should have an adequate place to live before he proposes.Correct?”
“Correct.”
“And Papa won’t marry you until he thinks I’m taken care of. Correct?”
“Also correct,” Gloria said on an exasperated sigh. “He just doesn’t seem to realize you are a full-grown woman perfectly capable of living her own life.”
“If Papa married you, he’d move here and wouldn’t have any need of our home in Lovely.”
“And if he didn’t have need of the home in Lovely, why couldn’t you and Gunder live there?” Gloria said, not really asking a question as much as making a statement. “It may not be a mansion, but it’s a warm, solid place to begin your life together with room to grow. Correct?”
Risa grinned. “That is correct.” She crossed over to Gloria and clasped the woman’s hands in hers. “The answer has been there right in front of my nose the whole time. Do you think Papa would let us buy the place in Lovely from him? Of course, we wouldn’t be able to pay him all at once, but we could make monthly payments.”
“Your father will be here in a few hours. Let’s plan out exactly what we are going to say and rehearse how we’ll overcome his objections, because if I know anything about Lars Hoffman, it’s that he is just stubborn enough to refuse happiness if it isn’t his idea.”
Hours later, Risa raced down the stairs, nearly tripping in her haste, and skidded into the kitchen where Gloria was smoothing a layer of frosting on the cake they’d hurried to bake.
“Papa’s here.”
“Are you ready?” Gloria asked, abandoning the bowl of frosting and quickly washing her hands.
Risa swiped her finger through the frosting, then grinned when Gloria rolled her eyes at her antics.
“The question is, areyouready?” Risa asked, grabbing Gloria’s apron strings and untying the bow when the woman started out of the kitchen.
Gloria whipped off the apron and hung it on the hook near the sink. Risa followed her to the sitting room, where Gloria lit the candles placed on the end tables on either side of the couch. She and Risa hurried to take seats in the side chairs just as the door opened and Lars rushed inside along with a flurry of snowflakes.
“Hello,” Gloria called, and Lars poked his head into the room. His nose and cheeks were red from the nippy air, but he looked to be in good spirits by the smile on his face as he removed his hat and unwound the scarf from around his neck.
“What a lucky fella I am to walk in here to find two beautiful ladies waiting for me,” Lars said, hurrying to remove his coat and leave his things on the rack near the door. “How are you both faring today?”
“Very well, Lars,” Gloria said, rising gracefully from her chair. “How was the trip in from Lovely?”
“Good. No trouble at all, other than trying to stay warm. I think the road gets longer the colder the temperature drops.”
“Why don’t you wash up and then join us for a cup of tea?” Gloria suggested.
“I’ll do that,” Lars said, stepping into the room long enough to kiss Gloria’s cheek, then give Risa a hug. “Are you staying out of trouble, Girlie?”
“Of course, Papa. I’ve had the most wonderful time here with Gloria.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” He backed toward the doorway. “I’ll hurry.”
Gloria gave him a smile so becoming, he almost tripped over his own feet on his way out of the room.
Risa did all she could to keep from laughing. They listened as Lars rushed upstairs, then both giggled as they returned to the kitchen. While Gloria made the tea Lars so enjoyed, Risa finished frosting the cake, then rinsed the bowl and put a dome over the cake plate to keep it fresh for tomorrow when they planned to serve it.
Roasted chickens with potatoes and carrots were in the oven, and Risa had baked three apple pies earlier as well as made dinner rolls they could warm right before they were ready to be served.
The only thing she and Gloria needed to focus on until the boarders arrived at the house for the evening was convincing Lars of their plans.
When they heard him coming down the back stairs, Risa filled three cups with the spicy, rich tea her father so enjoyed, while Gloria artfully set an assortment of cookies on a plate. They loaded a silver tea tray with plates, napkins, the teacups, and the teapot.
“Here, let me carry that,” Lars said as he stepped into the kitchen, fresh from a bath. He’d even taken time to shave, Risa noted.
She’d always thought her father was a handsome man, but now that he’d found love with Gloria, it was as though he looked younger than he had in years. Of course, his hair was still turning gray, but he smiled often and seemed much happier than she could ever remember.
