To Love, Honor and Cherish

by Timothy Paterson

  Chapter 26

  When Joe and his family had been served, Joe toasted Mary in honor of her college degree in Business Administration. There was a lot of conversation throughout the meal.

  Before desert was served, and while Mary was talking to her mother, Joe got down on one knee and took Mary’s hand in his.

  The entire room became silent. Joe looked into Mary’s eyes and said; “Mary, from the very first time I saw you, I knew that you were a special lady. Over the past eight years, I have fallen deeply in love with you. You make me happier than I ever thought possible. I would be deeply honored if you would spend the rest of your life with me. Will you marry me?”

  As he proposed, Joe opened a ring box, which contained the most beautiful diamond ring that Mary had ever seen.

  Mary, who had been waiting eight years for this moment, had tears in her eyes as she looked at Joe and said; “Yes, oh yes, Joe.” Joe slipped the engagement ring on Mary’s finger and they both kissed and then hugged.

  Then, Matt spoke up, “It’s about time, Joe” and everybody laughed. The entire room applauded the happy couple.

  Joe told Mary that the engagement ring was the same one that his father had proposed to his mother with and that he knew of no happier marriage than theirs. On the other side of the room, the couple who were celebrating their fiftieth anniversary were holding hands and staring into each other’s eyes as if they were remembering their special day.

  Matt stood up, raised a glass, and gave a toast to Mary and Joe; “Joe, you have been like a father and a brother and most importantly, a friend to all of us these past eight years, and I am very proud to welcome you into the family.”

  Then, Matt gave Joe a big hug. Then, the rest of the family all hugged Mary and Joe.

  After everyone had congratulated them, Joe excused himself, to check on the other party. As he approached the elderly couple, they congratulated Joe. Joe asked if everything was satisfactory and again apologized for the delay of their reservations.

  When Joe was finished speaking, the other man offered his thanks for a wonderful night. “The dinner was terrific. Thank you for the champagne son. My name is Thomas Williams and this is my wife Lucille”. Joe just stood there as if he looking right through them.

  After a moment, he spoke. “I know who you are, sir. You see, my name is Joseph Thomas Williams. My father was Thomas John Williams III; your son, whom you disowned thirty years ago.

  You probably did not know this, but my parents died in an automobile accident ten years ago. Until the day he died, my father prayed that someday you would accept his marriage to my mother. My mother and father were the only family that I had, until I met the Rogers family and they are now my only family. Now, if you will excuse me, I must get back to my fiancé.”

  Joe turned and walked away from them. Mr. and Mrs. Williams just sat there and stared at Joe as he walked away. They were so shocked that they could not say anything. They were feeling very ashamed; because of the way, they had treated Joe’s parents.

  Joe had known that his grandparents had moved to California about a year earlier, when his grandfather had retired. They were living quite comfortably, as they were worth about twenty-five million dollars. Joe did not intend to contact them, and seeing them at his restaurant had taken him by surprise.

  As they were finishing their dessert, Mary noticed that people from the other party kept looking towards Joe. When she mentioned it to Joe, he told Mary that he would explain everything later, when they were alone.

  Betty sensed that Joe and Mary wanted some privacy, so she took the rest of the family home. Joe and Mary got into his car and they drove to a quiet diner, to have coffee and talk.

  Joe told Mary that the two elderly people were his grandparents and he then proceeded to explain what had happened thirty years ago.

  Then, Joe told Mary that there was another secret that he had been keeping from her for the past nine years. He told her that he was the owner of ‘Francisco’s’: the restaurant where they had just eaten. He also told her that he was the CEO and major stockholder of SaraCom. He informed Mary that he was worth more than four hundred million dollars. He did not want people to know because most people treat him different when they know he is rich.

  Mary told Joe that she had known all about him for years. She had overheard Joe and her mom talking about SaraCom and when she later asked her mom about it, her mother told her the whole story.

  “I understand why you kept it a secret, Joe. I will sign a prenuptial agreement if you wish. I do not want your money, Joe. I just want you.”

  Joe took Mary’s hands in his and told her “From this moment forward, all that I have, SaraCom, Francisco’s and all of the stocks, bonds and cash is ours. Now, you can help me use the money to help the less fortunate. Mary, you can’t imagine how good it feels to help so many people.”

  After Joe kissed Mary, he said; “If we lost everything tomorrow, I would still be the richest person in the world, because I would have you, and no amount of wealth could make me as happy as you do.”

  Joe asked Mary when she wanted to get married. Mary replied; “How about June 20th, next year. Then each year on that day, we can celebrate our anniversary as well as our birthdays” Joe thought it was an excellent idea, so the date was set. They sealed it with a kiss.