by Lois Richer
“You did?” she asked, gulping when his hands came out to clasp hers.
“Well, I thought it was pretty good at the time,” he murmured. “Now, after listening to some good advice on the subject, I guess I was just scared.”
He was rambling, babbling about some advice he’d gotten, when all Melanie wanted to hear was the reason he was scared. Say the words, Mitch, she ordered subconsciously. Just say the words.
“Aren’t you going to say anything?” His harsh voice finally penetrated her thoughts.
“Say anything about what?” she asked, blinking in confusion.
Right before her eyes, Mitch’s chest puffed out like a bantam rooster’s and his face turned several shades of angry, frustrated red.
“I just thought that when a man tells you he’s in love with you, you might possibly have something to say,” he said in a wounded tone. “Is that asking too much?”
There were several comments she wanted to make, but something in his face, some tiny spark of worry that flickered in his eyes, made her relent.
“No, not at all,” Melanie murmured at last, grinning from ear to ear. “The only thing is, I didn’t hear you talking about love. Would you mind repeating it? Please,” she added as an afterthought.
His grin reappeared, wide and white and full of that bad-boy sparkle that never failed to tug at her heartstrings. He walked slowly to where she was standing and deliberately wrapped his arms around her.
“I said, I love you, Melanie Stewart. More than any money or peanut butter could ever make up for. I love you so much, I want to marry you. That’s why I had to get it over with, this whole fiasco with the prize money. The money doesn’t mean anything. We can earn our own money. And we’ll find some way to get that stuff for Sunset.”
He was talking ninety miles an hour and only stopped because Melanie placed her index finger over his lips. He arched one eyebrow.
“What?”
“Do you know you talk too much?” she told him firmly.
“You asked me!” He looked offended. “Besides, I was only explaining.” He stopped explaining immediately when Melanie’s lips touched his, and he didn’t bother to begin again until a long time later.
“I love you, Mitch,” she whispered when she could get her mouth free. “I have for a long time. But I didn’t want to face it because I thought love like this couldn’t possibly be meant for me.”
“Why in the world would you think that?” he asked, his lips nipping at her earlobe. “Someone as lovely as you should have been snapped up long ago.”
Melanie drew in a deep breath and let out all the worry and fear that had been trapped inside for so long.
“I thought I wasn’t good enough,” she told him clearly. “I thought God wanted me to continue the way I was going, single and alone, because I wasn’t worth loving. That’s why I’ve spent so much time working, I guess, pouring myself into the home and its needs. I was trying to avoid my own desires.”
She stared at him, grimacing.
“Then you came along and that windfall of money clouded my judgment. Whenever I prayed for guidance, another problem would come up. I took it to mean that God didn’t want us to be together. That I was trying to have something that I didn’t deserve, wasn’t worthy of.”
Mitch set her gently away so he could stare deeply into her eyes.
“You can’t earn love, my dearest Melanie. Of all people, I know that the best.” He smiled grimly and turned away. “I have to tell you something, Melanie, and you can’t stop me until I’m finished. Is it a deal?”
She frowned, worried by the dull gray look in his wonderfully sensitive eyes.
“It’s all right,” he murmured, brushing a hand over her head gently. “It’s nothing for you to worry about. I just need to say it.”
“Say it, then,” she agreed finally, but her fingers curled around his for comfort.
“You know about my mother from Sara, don’t you?” he asked, and watched her nod. Mitch felt the prick of pain he always experienced whenever the subject came up, but he damped it down.
“Okay. Well, suffice it to say that I had a rather awful childhood. My mother couldn’t stand up for herself or me, and the alcohol was her escape route.” He swallowed hard and continued. “My father used to beat her up and she’d never say a word to us except that he was our father and we should obey him. We owed him that, she said.” Mitch frowned. “I didn’t owe him anything and I hated him with everything in me. Eventually he got tired of us and moved on and I was glad. My mother drank some more. She was in and out of three marriages in about as many years, and each one was worse than the last.”
“Oh, Mitch.” Melanie squeezed his hand. “You don’t have to tell me all this.”
“No interrupting.” He grinned crookedly. “Anyway, in all that turmoil, there never seemed to be a place for me to fit in. I tried everything I could think of to earn a little bit of her love, but I never really felt like she cared.” He stared at their entwined fingers.
“Even after I went away to school, I’d come home and be the odd man out, trying to fit in where I didn’t belong. By then I was cold and cynical and I looked for a fight with everybody. I usually found it with my stepfathers.”
He breathed a little easier when Melanie wrapped her arms around his waist and snuggled her head on his shoulder.
“I made up my mind that never, not ever, would I be a soft, easy target like my mother. Nobody was going to hurt me like that. I was pretty sure I could get through life without loving anyone, but underneath the fear wouldn’t go away.” He smiled grimly.
“I coasted through college and got into law school without any commitments. Until Samantha.”
“Mitch, I know about Samantha,” she whispered. “You don’t have to say it.”
He was grateful for that. “Well, anyway, after Samantha dumped me, I was humiliated and ashamed. It was just as usual, I had let myself be conned by love, and in so doing, lost my scholarship, a year at school and my standing at the top of the class. I resolved not to ever get my heart involved again.”
He bent and kissed the top of her head.
“And then you came along. Somehow nothing was ever cold or calculated with you around. Here I was just learning about God and His care for me and there you were, insisting you get that money for Sunset.” He chuckled at her dismayed look.
“I told myself to keep it cool. I’d help you out, make sure you got that cash, listen to you talk about your seniors, but I wasn’t going to get involved.” He snorted. “Ha! I was up to my neck in involvement! I had you and Hope in my apartment and an assortment of people coming and going. I watched you with them, Melanie. And envied them.”
“Envied them? Why?”
“Because they belonged. You belonged. Even Gramps belonged. But the closer I tried to get to you, the more I realized that I didn’t belong. Again. You weren’t the type to tolerate my no-commitment rule. You talked about families until I realized that that was what I wanted, too, underneath it all.” Mitch’s voice was soft. “The thing is—” he hesitated, looking at her “—I don’t think I’m a family man, Melanie. I don’t know how to be.” He stopped speaking, his face drawn and white.
“Do you know what my father said once when he was finished punching the daylights out of my mother?” Melanie shook her head. “He said, ‘You hate me, Mitch, but one day you’ll be just like me.’” His face was pinched. “I can’t let that happen, Melanie. Not ever. I won’t.”
“Mitch, you’re nothing like that! You’re you, and you would never do that to a woman or a child.” The assurance was heartfelt, and Mitch stared at her, trying to believe.
“But I don’t know anything about raising children, how to be a proper father.” He looked utterly shocked when she started laughing. “What’s so funny?”
“I said almost exactly the same thing to Faith this afternoon,” she admitted. “And thank goodness, she made me see how silly I was being.” Melanie wrapped her arms around
his neck and pulled his head to hers.
“We’ll pray and learn about it together,” she told him seriously. “After all, we’ve got the Creator for a teacher. We’ll start with Him as the head of our family.”
Mitch was distracted. He wanted to tell her the rest of it, but he also wanted her to keep on kissing him. Still, there was something niggling at his brain.
“Faith?” he asked a moment later. “But she was over at my place. She’s the one who suggested I come to the park this afternoon.”
“No doubt about it.” Melanie grinned. “The fearsome threesome have been busy today. For once, I don’t mind their meddling. They’ve been at me to get married for so long that I’m looking forward to telling them I’m taking their advice. They can be grandmothers for our kids. I’m sure they’ll tell us exactly what it is we’re doing wrong!” She only stopped speaking because he put his hand over her mouth.
“Melanie,” Mitch complained dryly. “Dearest, darling Melanie. I hadn’t finished, you know. I haven’t even proposed yet, and you’re discussing our children!”
“You’ve said all I want to hear right now, Mitchel Stewart.” Bright and teasing green eyes glittered at him. “You love me and I love you and we both love God. That’s all we need to start out with.” She kissed his chin. “And you did propose, Mitch. Remember? Several times.” She grinned teasingly. “I’m just a little delayed in my answer.” She reached up and wrapped her arms around his neck.
“Yes, please. I will marry you. Because I love you and trust you and want you for my husband.”
There was a large gap in the conversation while Melanie convinced him that she was serious about becoming his wife. Mitch’s head was reeling when she finally stepped away. He glanced down bemusedly when her pointed nail tapped him on the chest.
“What?” he asked, noticing the brightness of her eyes and the glow on her face.
“Could I have my beautiful ring back please, dearest fiancé?” she pleaded softly. Her eyes grew wide and anxious when he continued to stare at her. “Mitch?”
“Only if you promise one thing,” he told her seriously.
“What’s that?” she demanded, sensing he needed to hear her say the words.
“That you promise to love me for as long as I love you and never, ever doubt that love again.” He watched her steadily.
“Yes! I remember you once telling me that if and when you got—tied up was your phrase, I believe—you would only consider it under conditions of a very secure lifetime commitment.” Melanie chuckled. Her face teased him as she watched him in the deepening gloom.
“And I have no problem with those stipulations, counselor. Where do you want me to sign?” she asked archly.
But Mitch was ready for her shenanigans, and he scooped her up in his arms to settle onto one of the log seats by the fire.
“Right here,” he ordered, tipping his head down and pointing to his mouth. “In triplicate.”
“No problem. I love you, Mitch.”
“I love you, Melanie. Now hurry up and kiss me before your fire goes out and I don’t get my dinner.”
Melanie stopped to glance at the cooler on the picnic table.
“What’s in it?” she demanded warily.
Mitch shook his head. “First things first,” he told her.
Between kisses Melanie heard him whisper delightfully teasing words like hot dogs and potato salad and marshmallows. It all sounded divine to her. But nothing was as wonderful as the feel of Mitch’s arms holding her tight.
Chapter Fifteen
“I’ve always dreamed of an autumn wedding,” Melanie said, staring at her mother’s garden. “Thank you, Lord, for another prayer answered.”
The sun shone down warmly as a tiny breeze danced, releasing the last few red and gold leaves. Bright and blue, the sky promised a fine start to her new life together with Mitch.
“Melanie? Come down here.” It was her husband-to-be. His face was wreathed in a grin as big as all get out. “I’ve got something to show you.”
“No way. You’re not even supposed to be here this morning. It’s bad luck.” Her mouth tilted as he roared with laughter.
“As if any silly old superstition could keep us apart. Now come on. I’ve got things to do today, you know. For one thing, I’m supposed to be at a wedding at two.”
“Yes, I remember.” She got lost thinking about it until he whistled. “I’ll be right there,” she called, and scurried down the stairs to find the fearsome threesome arguing.
“He shouldn’t be here,” Hope was saying. “He’ll spoil everything. I’m going to have Harry speak to that boy.”
“Oh, piffle,” Faith argued. “You saw Harry on your wedding day before the ceremony, Hope, and it hasn’t hurt you two any. Leave the children alone.” A dreamy look wafted across her face as she noticed Melanie standing on the bottom step, her hair in big fat rollers and covered head to toe in a thick gray terry robe. “Such a beautiful bride.” She sighed.
“It must be something important,” Charity said, peering out between her lace curtains. “Otherwise why would he have come so early?”
“Relax, all of you,” Melanie ordered calmly. “This is my wedding day, and nothing is going to spoil it.” She kissed each one lightly and hurried to the door. “Back in five,” she called.
Mitch was waiting by the chrysanthemums, and he scooped her up into his arms, kissing her soundly before he set her down.
“I come bearing news.” He grinned. From his breast pocket he pulled a small piece of paper.
“What’s that?”
“A check, my dear. Made out to Mr. and Mrs. Mitchel Stewart and dated for tomorrow. In the amount of fifty thousand dollars.” Mitch waited for her cry of surprise, clearly worried when it didn’t come. Instead, she was frowning fiercely. “What’s the matter?”
“Not again,” she told him firmly, shaking her head. “I’m not going through all that again. I thought you told them to keep it.”
“I did!”
“Well, then, send it back. I’m finished with Papa John and his peanut butter money.” She watched his face with a tinge of worry. He was up to something. She knew that look. It always spelled trouble. “Mitch? What are you thinking about?”
“How much fifty thousand dollars can buy.”
Melanie’s heart sank. Then she slapped him on the shoulder.
“That’s not funny.”
“No,” he murmured. “I mean it. Buzzers, bed linens, those mechanical carts. Think of it, Mel. We could get a good start on outfitting Sunset.” He stared at her with a question in his glittering blue eyes. “What do you think? Shall we make it out to Sunset and let your board of directors deal with it?”
It took her thirty seconds to decide, and then Melanie flung her arms around his neck and hung on for dear life, hugging him tightly.
“I love you, Mitchel Stewart,” she whispered, tears running down her cheeks. From his response, the three onlookers assumed that he loved her, too.
“Now, children,” Charity murmured, patting Melanie’s shoulder. “You’ll have lots of time for this later. Right now we need to get on with your wedding preparations.”
Somehow the three of them managed to get Mitch on his way and Melanie upstairs. Shawna and Sara arrived moments later to help Melanie dress in Charity’s beautiful silk wedding gown and while they did, the fearsome threesome stood around babbling.
“Melanie, dear,” Hope murmured, flicking a nonexistent piece of lint off her dress. “I…that is, er, the three of us want to say something.”
“Are we going to tell her about the prize now?” Faith demanded.
“I already know.” Melanie grinned. “And everything’s wonderful.”
“You know about Nettie sending in the contest entry?” Charity frowned. “That she arranged it all from the beginning? That Faith and Hope and I only helped a little at the end?”
“So that’s how our names got in there,” Melanie exclaimed. “I knew something was od
d about the whole thing. I might have known. How did she know Mitch?”
“That’s the strange part, dear. She didn’t. Hadn’t ever met the boy.” Charity rubbed her earlobe thoughtfully. “It really was the oddest thing that your phone call went to him.”
“With God all things are possible.” Faith smiled serenely. “Hadn’t we better get you ready for that wedding?”
“My dearest daughter.” Charity sighed and hugged her gently. “You look so beautiful, and I’m so very happy to give you to Mitch. He loves you, dear. Never doubt it.”
“I won’t,” Melanie whispered.
“Turn around now, dear,” Hope ordered, fastening the last of the tiny buttons down the back. “This rich ivory suits your skin so well. And the fit is fantastic. Faith’s done a wonderful job altering it.”
“Piffle,” Faith blustered proudly. “You can’t go wrong when you’ve got such quality material to work with. Charity bought the best way back then.”
The dress left Melanie’s shoulders and neck covered only by a film of sheer silk while the strapless bodice lovingly molded Melanie’s full curves, dipping out to a billowy tulle skirt below her hips. A short veil fell to shoulder length, held in place by a row of delicate, fragrant lily of the valley.
In her arms she carried a cascade of glowing yellow roses, a gift from Mitch. He’d insisted on choosing the bridal bouquet himself and surprising her.
“I picked out the invitations and the cake,” he’d asserted proudly. “I can do this, too.” Melanie had finally acquiesced, praying desperately that his taste didn’t run to the black roses she’d seen him studying.
There was a tiny card attached to the green ribbons, and Melanie laughed when she read the words. “Marry Me Today!” it ordered. In small letters on the bottom Mitch had printed, “I Love You.”
In the deepest recesses of her mind, Melanie knew she would never doubt his love again, but she tucked the card into her dresser drawer to remind her in the future. Then she slipped on the silky blue garter Sara held out.