She reached up behind her neck and took her necklace off. It was the necklace he had given her two Christmas’s ago. It was a simple gold chain and she never took it off. When she put the ring on the necklace and then put it back on, she heard him breathe a sigh of relief. “I’ll keep it around my neck. I’ll never take it off. When you figure out what it is you’re missing, I’ll give it back, because I want that official proposal.”
A huge grin spread across his face, and he reached down and picked her up, hugging her to his chest. And since they were still standing under the mistletoe, but more because he just wanted to, he gave her another big kiss. This time everyone started clapping immediately.
*******
A little while later, everybody else was either in the game room, or outside, and Lisa found herself alone with Mrs. Sullivan for a few minutes. Her mom had run off to the pantry. She had already started preparations for lunch.
“Sweetheart, can I talk to you for a few minutes?”
Lisa looked over at the woman from where she stood at the counter, feeling a little nervous. She hadn’t actually sat down and talked to her since she and James had told her and James’ dad she was pregnant. At the time, they were both in such a state of shock, they had neither one said a whole lot, and she had no way of knowing what this was going to be about. Beyond her and James anyway.
Deciding the best way to deal with it was head on, she pushed away from the counter and walked over to the table. She pulled out a chair and sat down facing the older woman. “Yes, Momma Sullivan. What would you like to talk about?”
“Well, you and James, of course,” Mrs. Sullivan answered with a matter-of-fact tone. “As if you didn’t know.”
“Okay.” Lisa took a deep breath, “What do you want to know?”
“What’s he missing?”
Lisa shook her head. She had known that was what she was going to ask. “I can’t tell you that. I’m afraid if I do, you’ll be way to tempted to tell him. And it’s extremely important that he gets it himself.”
“Why Lisa? He would give you anything in the world, as long as it was within his power. I know he would.”
“The one thing I’m waiting for doesn’t require money or special skills, and it can only come from him.” With that kind of clue, she was surprised when Mrs. Sullivan didn’t get it either.
Mrs. Sullivan shook her head, wearing a truly confused look. “Well, I’m really puzzled, and I’m going to have to trust you know what you’re doing.”
“Well, you may be over thinking it, too. Just like he is.”
“He said you keep telling him that.”
“I think what I want may be too obvious for him. Too simple. He’s making it harder than it is. I know there’s been a couple of times, he’s almost...” She paused for a minute, and decided to go on. “Said it.”
“Well, I guess all I can do is pray for you two,” she said, patting Lisa on the hand. She had caught on to Lisa’s hint, but had decided to let it go for now. If she was right in her estimation, James really did need to get it himself. “I’ll try my best not to meddle. It’ll be difficult though. He is my only child, and I love him. Very, very much.”
“Believe it or not, I do understand. Try to trust me when I say, what I’m doing is as much for him as it is for me. And I love him very, very much, too.”
“Okay, Dear. I’ll let it go for now.”
Chapter 17 – Saturday, December 29
The snow they had all been hoping for Christmas day had finally fallen late Friday night, and on into the early hours Saturday morning. When they all woke up, they discovered a blanket of white outside, six inches deep on the ground. Some of the drifts were even around ten inches.
James, Luke and Mark had all gotten there early, and it was just now seven thirty in the morning. When Jenny pulled up in the driveway, she seriously thought about turning around and going back home.
Jenny had known he would show up. It was almost a family tradition. The first really good snowfall of the season, they would get out all the four wheelers and play in the snow. The smaller kids even got their turn with one of the adults. Mark, along with James and Luke, was always part of the fun. Jake would be there within an hour. She had known when she got out of bed and saw all the snow, he would be here. He wouldn’t want to miss all the fun. And he would be sure to find a way to get her alone long enough to kiss her till she was crazy. She knew she was getting really close to begging him like he had said. She didn’t think she could take much more.
She took a deep breath and crawled out of the car. She had been looking forward to this. She wasn’t going to let him run her off. Besides, she really did enjoy kissing him.
That was the problem. She enjoyed it a little too much. Lately, every time he kissed her, she tried to tear his clothes off him. He seemed to have a lot more self-restraint than she did. He was always the one to end it before it went too far. If she wasn’t so terrified, she would just ask him to marry her. That would certainly surprise him.
When she got to the kitchen, she found James and Mark in there trying to help her mom fix breakfast. Abby had come with Mark and was trying to help him, but he kept pushing her hands back.
“I’ve got it, Sis.”
“I don’t think you do.”
“Have you taken some culinary lessons I don’t know about?”
“Funny, Mark. That’s not what she was telling you to do. Besides, if you would hurry up and marry Jenny, she could give me cooking lessons.”
“I’d marry Jenny today if she wanted to.”
Jenny had heard their exchange, and was bright pink by the time she walked in the kitchen. When her mom heard the doors swing closed, she looked up.
“Thank God.” She had seen Jenny’s face, and was trying to move quickly beyond the awkward moment. “They’re trying their best, but they’re all helpless. Would you rescue Mark, before him and Abby end up really fighting? He’s trying to follow my instructions, but I’m afraid he’s going to get too much milk in the biscuit dough. I’m glad he can run his own business. He may need to take some of that money and pay for him and Abby both to take cooking lessons one of these days.”
“Yeah, sure.” She walked over, taking a deep breath. She could do this. They worked together all the time.
“Well, I wouldn’t be very good at running the store if I didn’t have a really good personal assistant. She keeps all my stuff straight.” He hadn’t even looked up from what he was doing. He looked like he was in pain, trying to figure out what he was supposed to do next.
Jenny took the bowl and spoon from him, and said with true honestly, “Mark, you are very good at what you do, and all your employees love you.”
“Does that include you?” he asked, looking up at her.
She just looked at him, unsure how to answer him. She decided to let it go, and turned to her mom instead. “So, Mom, how did you end up with the three that are so inept in the kitchen for help?”
“Everybody else is either still in bed or outside.”
“Where’s Luke? His truck’s outside.”
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him yet.”
“Well, somebody might ought to go and check in Mindi’s room. Considering how little time they’ve had alone since they started planning this wedding, he might have finally snapped.”
Just then Luke walked in the back door. He had obviously heard her, judging by the grin on his gorgeous face. “Thanks for the concern, Jenny, but I’ve only got three more days. I’m going to make it.”
“Speaking of Mindi, Luke, will you go wake her up?” Jamie sounded really absent minded. Otherwise, he was certain, she wouldn’t have asked him that. “Right now, we just let Lisa sleep till she wakes up. We all agreed she needs her rest.”
Luke missed it when James started to grab for him just before he answered her. “No, Jamie, I will not. Unless she’s started sleeping fully clothed.”
Jamie turned around and looked at her future son-in-law. She slapp
ed her hand over her mouth and groaned, “Sorry.”
“I’m lost. Why can’t you wake her up? You’re going to be married in three days. What’s the big deal?”
Luke had to swallow before he could speak. He was remembering that day back in July. “Forget making it another three days. I wouldn’t make it another five minutes. She sleeps naked.” He shook his head trying to clear it. “I found out by accident one day. Jamie wasn’t thinking to clearly that day either.”
Mark couldn’t help it. He had to laugh. He looked up at Jenny. “Is that a family trait?” Jenny turned pink and turned back to her biscuit dough, hoping her silence didn’t speak too loudly. Unlike Mindi, she did own sleep wear, but most of the time she didn’t use it. Mindi had actually got the idea to try and sleep naked from her to start with.
When she heard Mark try to stifle a groan, she realized she was out of luck, and decided to try and change the subject. She was keeping her head down and was concentrating so hard on trying to change the subject, she really wasn’t thinking about what she was saying. “So, Abby, are you as bad in the kitchen as your handsome brother?”
She didn’t realize everybody was staring at her. No one had missed the comment she had made about Mark being handsome, and were waiting to see just how far this was going to go.
Abby was speechless for a minute, but finally managed to answer her. “I don’t know if I’m as bad as he is, but I’m not good.”
“Here. This dough is ready. Luke can you finish up and get them in the oven? I’ll go get Mindi,” she volunteered, moving away from the counter.
“Thank you,” Luke said, stepping up to the counter. “I’ve come this far without slipping up. And not without help, I might add,” he said looking at James. The big guy just grinned, not saying a word.
When Jenny turned around, Abby asked her, “Why do you ask how bad my cooking is?”
“Oh, I was just thinking, if you really want me to, I’ll give you lessons.” She had been intending to stop there, but her mouth seemed to be stuck in fifth gear. “You don’t have to wait till Mark and I get married.”
When she realized what she had said, her mouth dropped open and she turned bright red. She immediately turned and sped out the door, running for the stairs. She missed all the surprised faces she left in her wake, and when Mark started to get up and come after her.
“Mark, no. She didn’t mean to say that. It just came out.” Jamie had moved over in front of the door to block his way.
“Yeah, but she meant it, or it wouldn’t have slipped out like that.” Jamie could hear the desperation in his voice.
“I’m not saying she didn’t mean it. But you’re going to have to let her come to the same conclusion that you and I have. On her own.”
“Jamie, I’ve been trying, desperately, for the last three and half years, just to get her to date me. I’ve never been closer than I am right now.”
“Mark, if you push too hard, you’re going to take a few steps backwards,” Jamie said, feeling like her warning was falling on deaf ears. “This is my daughter. I know what I’m saying.”
“Dang it, Jamie. I know your right, but when God literally drops an angel in your lap, it’s hard to be patient.” At the moment, he was feeling more desperate than he ever had.
“Drops an angel in your lap? Do you want to explain that?” Jamie asked, giving him a puzzled look.
“Not particularly,” Mark answered, shaking his head.
*******
When Jenny got to Mindi’s door, she didn’t even bother to knock. She needed to talk to her sister. She stepped into the room, and shut the door loudly.
She heard a groan, and watched as Mindi’s head popped out from under the covers. She walked over and grabbed Mind’s robe from the hook on the wall. “Here, Sleepy Head. Put this on. We have about six inches of snow outside, and your man is already downstairs, along with Lisa’s.” Mindi sat up, throwing her robe on. Jenny paused for a second, her stomach starting to churn, “And mine.”
That got Mindi’s attention. “Did something happen? Did he finally manage to make you beg?” Mindi really was concerned, but she was about to laugh.
Jenny just gave her a dirty look. “No, even though it’s been a close thing a couple of times. I usually end up just trying to tear his clothes off him.” Jenny walked over and sat down on the edge of the bed. “That is no comparison to what I just done downstairs before I came up here.”
“Really? What did you do?”
“Well, it’s actually what I said.” Jenny looked so fragile, she looked like she could shatter into a million pieces.
“Okay. What did you say?”
“Abby’s down there, too. Before she knew I was there, she told Mark if he would hurry up and marry me, I could give her cooking lessons. And I was just meaning to offer her lessons, but ended up telling her she didn’t have to wait till Mark and I were married.”
Mindi had gotten out of bed and had been digging around in her dresser for clean clothes. She now stood with a pair of jeans dangling from her hand, staring at her sister with her mouth hanging open.
When Mindi finally managed to speak, it was to say, “Wow. That’s intense. I was just going to suggest you ask him out, but maybe you should just skip everything else and ask him to marry you.”
“Very funny, Mindi. You know I can’t do that. Not that I haven’t thought about it, but I’d pass out before I got the words out.” Jenny looked like she was shaking.
“Wow. You really are terrified.”
“He’s going to get worse. I know he is.” Jenny sat biting her bottom lip, trying to calm her nerves, but the more she thought about it, the more she shook.
“Why don’t you turn the tables on him? You should kiss him,” Mindi said with a twinkle in her eyes. “At least that way you wouldn’t choke on the words.”
Jenny just gave her a dirty look.
“It worked for Lisa and I.”
“You’d call Lisa and James’ situation a success?”
“Oh, come on. You know they’re going to get it worked out. Just as soon as the big guy blows a gasket, and starts ranting.”
“Is that a prediction?”
“Darn tooting,” Mindi said with a big grin on her face.
*******
When the two made it back downstairs, Jenny took a detour. “I’ve got to hide out for a few minutes,” she said, stepping into the game room.
Mindi wondered the rest of the way to the kitchen, her head in the clouds. She was thinking about the wedding she had coming up in three days. The same way she had every day for the last few months.
She was so distracted, when she entered the kitchen, she barely even noticed that Alex looked like he was having way too much fun teaching Abby how to fry bacon. They were both doing quite a lot of laughing. She was pretty sure, frying bacon wasn’t that funny. It caused her to wonder, vaguely, if both of the Harris siblings would end up married into the family one day.
It really wasn’t her fault she was caught off guard when she stepped in the kitchen and Mark asked her where Jenny was. If she hadn’t been so preoccupied, she might have thought to answer differently.
As it was, she just said, “Game room,” and headed for Luke, not thinking another thing about it, as she wrapped her arms around his waist and kissed him good morning. She never even noticed when Mark slipped out of the room. Or when her mom gave him a concerned look as he walked out the door.
*******
She knew the moment he stepped through the door it was him. He knew he didn’t have to say anything for her to know. He still remembered what she had said over three years ago about the chills down her spine. She had a form of radar that only detected his presence.
He leaned against the door, effectively stopping her from running, and keeping everyone else out. It took all the self-control in his being not to walk across the room and kiss her silly.
She spoke without turning around. “What Mark? I was hoping for a few minutes by myself,
before I had to face my slip up.”
“I’m getting too desperate. I can’t afford to give you the time to figure out a way around what you said.”
“There is no way around what I said. It doesn’t change the fact, I’m not ready.”
“Jenny, you’re ready. You’re just scared. You’re going to have to stop running and face that fear. That’s the only way to get past it.”
“I would have thought you would have given up by now.”
“Never. I can’t.” He pushed away from the door, and started slowly across the room.
“Mark, I...” When she turned to look at him, she found him only inches from her. He didn’t give her time to recollect her thoughts. He reached up, and ran his fingers through her hair. He pulled, titling her head back. When their lips touched, her mind went blank, and she forgot everything except the man kissing her. This kiss was way more intense than any of the others had been. Her knees almost buckled, and she leaned toward him, wrapping her arms around his waist.
Mark had to fight to resist the temptation to pick her up. He could tell by the way she was trembling he could do whatever he wanted, and she wouldn’t fight him. He was wishing he had locked the door, and glad he hadn’t at the same time. He knew if they went too far right now, she would end up regretting it later.
He wasn’t sure what was wrong with his head right then, but he couldn’t seem to stop himself. He titled his head, his mouth traveling up her jaw to her ear. He could feel her trembling in his arms, and wondered if he was losing his mind. “Angel, just face your fears, and marry me. I promise, I’m never going to leave you.”
He knew he had gone too far in an instant. She stiffened and pushed him away. She just stared at him, unable to speak. She was wanting to say yes, but her fears wouldn’t let her. After a couple of minutes, she gave into the fear and ran from the room.
“Dang it.” She had seriously thought about saying yes. He had seen it in her eyes. She had struggled with it, but the fear had won out.
Oh, Baby! (The Townsends Book 2) Page 15