No Engagement Ring
Page 21
“No that's okay. I am sure we will get plenty of chances to dance,” she dismissed.
“All the time. Marriage, itself, is like a dance.”
“How's that?” Hannah asked struggling to comprehend.
Jonathan explained the analogy briefly, promising to expand later. Intrigued, she agreed, knowing that Jonathan would make good on his promise. This was not the time or place for such a fascinating subject which required lots of concentration.
Music continued to play but not many wanted to dance. They were more interested in catching up with each other. Jonathan went back to his friends. Hannah got to spend time with her family seeing that she only had them for a short while.
“I hope you won't drive back tonight, dad,” Hannah said worriedly.
“Good news there. Your dad has decided we should go back tomorrow,” Elizabeth said joyfully.
Hannah hugged her father. “That is wonderful. I would worry so if you were driving back so late.”
“We thought we should see Deb off at the airport before we leave. We won't be seeing her again for a while,” Aaron explained away his sudden change of heart.
“That would be great, dad because Jonathan and I will be going to the airport too. I get to see you longer.” She gave her father another long, loving hug.
Aaron patted his daughter on the shoulder. “No need for so much emotional display,” he teased but his eyes were moist.
“No more than your congregation,” Hannah said and they all laughed.
Jonathan glancing over at their table, smiled. “She really is beautiful,” Whitney stated sincerely.
“Don't I know it! And so witty.” Jonathan smiled happily. “She is warm and caring, very selfless and very helpful too. And she doesn't fight me on anything,” he said the last with mock boastfulness.
“Then how does she get her way?” Graham asked perplexed.
“With honey!” Jonathan grimaced. “She is so sweet when she wants something. How is a man supposed to not melt?”
His friends laughed. “You are blessed, man,” Graham said seriously.
“I don't deny that. And it almost didn't happen.”
“What do you mean?” Whitney asked curiously.
Jonathan proceeded to tell them how she came looking for the post and how she would run from him every time she saw him. “I tell you I have never prayed so much about anything as I did for her to stop running from me.” He grinned now as he recalled how they both tried to deny the attraction between them.
“Hey bro, I need to get my kids to bed,” Jonathan's brother, Paul, interrupted. “I will give you a call tomorrow.”
Since both his brother and sister were not leaving until the end of the week, he was not too bothered that they were leaving the party early. They would catch up in the week when he could properly thank them for making the effort to attend his wedding. His brother gave him a hug before leaving. With young children it was not easy to stay out late. And it was already nine o'clock. Ruth was also leaving and hugged him goodbye.
They also said goodbye to Hannah, Paul kissing her on the cheek and Ruth hugging her tightly. His siblings had taken instantaneously to his wife for which he was grateful. Proudly, he watched her. She had been a delight to everyone. Even pastor Michael had been delighted with her. Shy though she was with those she didn't know, she had proved very brave in mingling with them.
As much as he wanted to steal her away and be alone with her, she was having so much fun with her family that he didn't have the heart to. She hadn't seen them in quite a while and he didn't want to be selfish. He waited long enough, he could wait another hour or two.
“I think it is time you took your wife home,” Graham said perceptively. “Here's your car keys.”
“That obvious huh?” Jonathan grinned.
“Afraid so,” Graham chuckled. “I don't think her family would mind at all. Besides we need to push off. Got the evening to ourselves. Want to make the most of it.” Graham winked. Whitney nudged him in the ribs, turning red.
“You're right! I should get her home.” Jonathan ignored the insinuation and got up. The others rose to their feet also.
After saying goodbye to Hannah with a promise to meet up again, they left. “Honey, you ready to leave?” he asked gently.
“Sure,” she said absently.
“We could stay a bit longer if you want to spend more time with your family,” he offered.
“No, that's okay. They're only leaving tomorrow, so I will see them at the airport. Let me just say goodnight to them.”
Her family did not let her linger as they said speedy goodnights. “Almost as if they wanted to get rid of me,” she complained to Jonathan later. He just smiled. She had no idea why they were sending her off so quickly.
At the door, they met the owner who was coming to check if they needed anything else. “No, we're actually done for the evening,” Jonathan said kindly.
“Oh, you don't have to rush off,” the owner said convincingly.
“Most of the guests have left already,” Jonathan explained gently.
“Okay,” the owner smiled. “Hope everything was to your satisfaction,” he said nervously.
It was Hannah who answered. “It most certainly was, thank you. And very appreciated. You have done a stunning job.”
Jonathan raised his eyebrow. He had never seen a man turn that red at a compliment before. He knew that was due to Hannah's sincerity. She had a way of speaking the truth that made a person's inside turn to jelly.
“Thank you, Mrs Chandler,” the owner said shyly.
“You are welcome,” Hannah said oblivious of how the man was reacting to her statements. The owner bowed and left them. “Such a nice man,” she commented as they walked away.
Hannah removed her veil and tossed it onto the back seat where Jonathan’s discarded jacket and bowtie lay, before getting into the car. Her bouquet she had given to Abigail. The drive was short. “This has been a wonderful day,” she sighed. “Like a fairytale.”
“It certainly was wonderful,” Jonathan agreed. “Are you tired?”
“Not at all,” she replied. “You?”
“No. I feel more invigorated than this morning. Must be something to do with getting married,” he teased.
She laughed. “You got married?” she joked. “So did I.”
“You are so amusing,” Jonathan said laughing.
“It must be that you bring that out in me. No one ever tells me that I'm funny or amusing. They think I'm boring!” Hannah said truthfully.
“I certainly don't, and neither do my friends. I also heard your family laughing at your witty remark which means that if others think you are boring, then they didn't bother to get to know you,” he said as they reached their destination. He didn't bother to park the car in the garage.
“Thank you,” she said appreciatively, before getting out of the car.
Unlocking the front door, he pushed it wide open, then carried Hannah over the threshold, with ease. “Oh, I didn't think they did that any more,” she giggled as he set her down on the floor in the centre of the lounge.
“Not that I know,” Jonathan said amused as he locked up. “Welcome to your new home, Mrs Chandler,” he said breathlessly, putting his arms around her tiny waist. “I hope you will be very happy here.”
“I don't doubt that I will, thank you.” Her arms went around his neck. “I still can't believe we are married,” she whispered. “I feel like I am going to wake up and find it was a dream.”
“There is one thing that will make it real,” he said mysteriously.
“What's that?” she asked puzzled.
“A kiss. I kept my promise and now that we are finally alone, I can do what I've been wanting to do all these months.”
Mesmerised, by the look in his eyes, and the tantalising sensations his thumb was causing against her mouth, she whispered, “Yes, you did keep your promise!”
As he lowered his head, she closed her eyes. Jonathan kis
sed her deeply and hungrily, knowing that he was with the woman created especially for him. Everything he dreamt the kiss would be, it was and more.
Hannah succumbed to the engulfing, wonderful, warm, secure sensations that his kiss evoked and knew without a doubt, that she was in the plan of God where marriage was concerned.
THE END
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Julie Sewcharan
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About the author:
Julie Sewcharan lives in a fast growing town in South Africa and loves to read. She has enjoyed writing stories for pleasure as a young girl. Her husband is a romantic and loves to spoil her. One of her sons is an adult and the other a teen. Being the only woman in the family is not easy but she loves all three of her men to bits.