Page 99 of Forever Fickle

“Hey Mrs. Marks,” Jace grinned, waving hello.

“Oh Jace! I didn’t see you there. Are you and Karen having a nice time with your family, dear?”

“We are…” he smiled, looking at Karen, and she nodded. “We have something to share with you all. I wish we could be there in person, but my time is really limited, and I’ll need to take a rain check until the next time I’m in Texas again.”

“Of course… what’s going on? Chase, turn down the television, please? No one wants to hear you mouthing at the football game. Goodness!”

Her mother sounded annoyed at her brother, which meant he’d been his loveable self all morning long. Karen could cheerfully throttle him sometimes, while other moments he was absolutely wonderful.

“Mr. and Mrs. Marks,” Jace began. “I would have liked to do this the proper way – but I’ll need, instead, to ask for your forgiveness.”

“For what?”

“Mama…” Karen began tearfully, smiling at Jace.

“OHHHHMYGOODNESS! CHASE, TURN DOWN THE TELEVISION NOW!” her mother roared in awareness, grabbing several tissues, and yanking her father into the screen before Karen’s eyes.

“Hi Daddy…” she smiled, wiping her eyes. “I… ah…wehave something to tell you both and I hope you are as happy as I am…”

Her mother was dabbing at her eyes, causing Karen to start crying as Jace rubbed her shoulder tenderly, kissing her on the temple.

“Mr. Marks, I’ll need to ask your forgiveness sir, because I asked Karen to marry me, and she’s agreed. I wanted to ask your permission first, but I love this woman so much that it kinda slipped out.”

“You’ve asked Karen to marry you, son?”

“I did.”

“And she said ‘yes’?”

“I did,” Karen smiled, looking up at Jace. “We are wanting to get married sometime next year, there, in Texas. His family is going to come down and…”

“You aren’t moving away, are you?”

“No, Daddy…” she admitted, looking at Jace for confirmation. He nodded and smiled. “Jace is going to move to Yonder once his time in the Air Force is up. I’m staying there.”

“I’m gonna walk my girl down the aisle,” her father said gruffly, looking at Jace. “You, young man, are about the only man I would trust in this world with my daughter. You better keep her happy, am I clear?”

“Crystal clear, sir,” Jace grinned. “I want her happiness first and foremost above everything else. She’s my everything.”

They talked for another ten minutes or so before the call ended and Karen let out a shaky breath, smiling up at Jace.

“That went better than I thought,” she admitted. “My parents adore you.”

“They just want you happy,” he said tenderly, leaning forward to kiss her. “Now, you want to have a little fun?”

“Very much so…”

“Let’s FaceTime the guys…” he grinned. “I think they are at Firefly’s house according to the last email I saw.”

“They are,” Karen agreed, chuckling at the delight on his face. “You look like you are up to something.”

“Me?” he replied innocently as she called Firefly’s cell phone.

“Heyyyyy Karen… oh hey! What’s up, Hot Cakes? Omgosh! Aren’t you two the cutest? How’s my favorite ‘him-bo’ doing?” the arrogant man laughed – only to see the screen blur as the phone was snatched by someone else.

Karen saw Thumper appear with Harley right over his shoulder.

“Hey you two! How are you doing? Karen, thanks again for all your help with Flyboys,” Harley smiled. “Hunter is at home with Glory, and we are heading over there with leftovers. She’s on bedrest and who knew my brother was a guard dog when it came to her health?”

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