“Oh.” Allee sipped the last of her tea and set the glass aside. “I’m sorry to see it go, but in another way I’m glad. It looks kind of lonely, sitting there all bare and vacant.”
~*~
Unable to arrange a late Friday flight from Washington, DC, Paul boarded the plane early Saturday morning. Because of his uncertain schedule, he was meeting Allee this evening at Tina’s costume party. For once, he did not work or read on the plane, nor did he want to talk to the person in the seat next to him. All he could think about was Allee. There was no doubt in his mind that he wanted to marry her, have a family, and spend the rest of his life with her. But could he fulfill her wish for a knight in shining armor? All he could do was ask, and pray for her to say yes. He’d made up his mind. This was the day—no more waiting—and with Tina’s cooperation he’d devised a plan.
While driving home to the base bachelor officer quarters from the airport, Paul passed the Victorian house he was prepared to buy, contingent on Allee’s approval. Tina assured him her friend had wanted that house since the first time she saw it. Just the way he felt about Allee. His goal was to do everything within his power to make her happy. But first, he had to convince her to marry him, and today was the day he intended to ask her.
Paul drove to the specialty shop where he’d reserved his costume. Thirty minutes later, he climbed into his auto, tossed his package into the back seat and drove away whistling. Once in his quarters, he called Allee to let her know he was home.
“I can’t wait to see you tonight,” he said. “I missed you so much, darling.”
“I missed you, too. I’m glad you’re back in Montgomery.”
Paul heard Tina’s voice in the background. “Uh oh, it sounds as though I’m interfering with your official duties.”
Allee laughed. “I’m helping Tina get ready for her party. She’s after me to finish up the cheese ball. I’ll see you soon.”
After he unpacked and showered, Paul assembled the pieces of his crusader costume. He’d save the plastic helmet and breastplate and put those on later. Digging in his chest of drawers, he removed the ring he’d bought a month ago from its box and slipped it into his pocket. All set. “Courage, chevalier vaillant,” he said to his reflection in the mirror.
Paul parked as close as he could to the apartment complex clubhouse and texted Tina, “Now?”
Receiving an affirmative answer, he snapped on the plastic breastplate, threw the cape around his shoulders, and grabbed his helmet.
A little boy walking by pulled at his mother’s hand. “Look, Mommy, it’s a knight.”
“Yes, I see him.” The boy’s mother seemed singularly unimpressed.
Paul couldn’t resist acknowledging the child. “Ho there, lad. Have you seen my horse?”
The boy giggled and ducked behind his mother’s legs.
Before swinging open the door to the clubhouse ballroom, Paul put on the helmet and snapped up the visor, so he could see where he was going. He had no idea how Tina had things arranged, but she’d assured him everything would ready for his grand entrance. As soon as he stepped inside, he saw Allee on a raised dais at the opposite end of the room, sitting in an ornate chair. She was dressed as a princess, wearing a sparkly red gown and a conical hat that trailed a long chiffon scarf. What on earth did Tina tell Allee to get this scene set up?
A trumpet blared a few heraldic notes, and someone with a microphone announced, “And now, the knight errant, Sir Paul Chevalier.”
The logical course seemed to be to follow the strip of carpet that led to where Allee sat. Paul dropped to one knee in front of her, took out the ring, and offered it to her. “Allee, will you do me the honor of being my beloved wife?”
“Yes.” Allee’s voice was barely audible. “Oh, yes.”
“Arise, Sir Paul.” That had to be Tina’s voice. “I pronounce you and Princess Allee are now betrothed.”
Everyone burst into applause as Paul removed his helmet, swept Allee in his arms and kissed her passionately.
“My knight.” Allee said through her tears. “At last you’ve come for me.”
“I have,” he breathed. “You are the woman of my dreams, and I’m never letting you go again.”
~*~
This time, Allee initiated the kissing, laughing and crying at the same time.
She and Paul stood together, while their friends gathered around to congratulate them.
“Well, it looks as if I just locked up agent of the year," Tina said as the party began to break up later.
“How so?” Allee asked, still enjoying the warmth of Paul’s arm on her shoulder.
Tina grinned. “Yes. I think I just sealed the deal for a fat commission. She lifted her eyebrows and cut her gaze toward Paul. “Are you ready to make an offer on the house?”
“If it’s what Allee wants.” Paul pulled her closer to him. “That Victorian place on Grand Avenue? Is that where we want to live?”
“Oh, Paul, I love that place. How did you know?”
“Three guesses, but I’d bet you only need one.” He smoothed a stray lock of hair from her face and rubbed her cheek with the pack of his hand.
“Tina!” Paul and Allee said simultaneously.
Standing nearby, Tina put on an innocent face. “If it wasn’t for me, the two of you would never have met. So it only makes sense for me to profit from you getting the home you’ve always wanted anyway. After all, a girl has to make a living.”
Allee laughed and snuggled closer to Paul. “This is the happiest day of my life,” she whispered.
He smiled and kissed her again. “Me, too, my darling. Me, too.”
A Devotional Moment
Place me like a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm; for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. It burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. Many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot sweep it away. ~ Song of Songs, Solomon 8:6-7
The love between a man and a woman comes about in many ways. In some cultures, marriages are arranged, and relative strangers are wed and often learn to love each other. In other cultures, marriage is strictly based on two people randomly meeting and falling in love. One of the most beautiful songs written about love between a man and woman is in the Song of Songs. The poet, Solomon, captures the essence of young love, showing the passions of the heart when the young woman is on a man’s mind. Solomon’s flowery descriptions show how love can grip the heart and how a man and woman are meant become one, as God decrees. Through various translations of the Bible, the poet’s sweet language transcends time with the passion that God intended for marriage.
In Parisian Surprise, the protagonist has no expectations of love when she seeks adventure. But an unexpected meeting leads to redefining the purpose of her trip, and from there she receives a surprising twist that will affect her future for a lifetime.
Have you ever wanted to be in a relationship so badly that you settled for someone you knew wasn’t “the one”? Or have you been so hurt in a relationship that you swore off future relationships so concretely that you refused to take another chance? Consider that in both cases, you squelch the will of God. Being open to His plan for your life—especially when it comes to relationships—is the only guaranteed way to attain success. Perhaps God has the perfect person for you—or perhaps His goal is for you to remain single. Both are equally perfect if you are living in His will. One is not greater than the other, so instead of pushing in a certain direction, why not rest in the perfection of God and be open to either possibility.
LORD, GUIDE MY STEPS IN LOVE AND MARRIAGE IF YOU HAVE PLANNED THIS FOR MY FUTURE. HELP ME TO CONTENT WHILE WAITING FOR THE PERFECT PERSON YOU HAVE PLANNED FOR ME, OR IF YOU INTEND FOR ME TO REMAIN SINGLE, HELP ME TO BE CONTENT IN THAT CHOICE, ALSO. IN JESUS’ NAME I PRAY, AMEN.
Thank you…
for purchasing this Pure Amore imprint title. For other inspirational stories, please visit our on-line bookstore at www.pelicanbookgroup.com.
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May God’s glory shine through
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AMDG
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