“No,” Jonas said simply. “That’s not who I am, Lauren.”
No, she thought. Not Jonas.
“What happened to the house in Fana?” Lauren asked after a while. “Did you sell it?”
“No, I lease it to a couple who has wanted to buy it for the past decade. Lately, I have thought of selling.”
“You don’t want to live there eventually?”
Jonas shook his head. “I’ll take you to see it, and if you love it, I may change my mind. But I have another property in mind for us, one better suited to a family. It isn’t on the market yet, but the owner knows I’m interested. I’ll tell you about it when I know more.”
Lauren looked at his face. He was hiding something. “You are being mysterious,” she said lightly.
“I’m dying to tell you, but I don’t want you disappointed if things don’t work out.”
“I’m not a little girl, Jonas. You don’t need to shield me from life.”
“Yes, I do. I don’t ever want you hurt.”
“That’s hardly realistic,” she said gently and seeing the expression on his face, she knew what property he was talking about. “Is Mrs. Viik not ready to sell?”
When he didn’t answer, she said, “It’s my family’s old home you want for us, isn’t it?”
He turned to her. “Are you a mind reader?”
“Uh-uh. Face reader. Yours is an open book. Are you really hoping to buy the Viik estate?”
Jonas’ eyes softened, “I want to help make your dream come true. I want it to be our family’s home, a place where your mother can come and stay whenever she wants to.”
Lauren looked at him in wonder. “Jonas?”
He mentally threw caution to the wind and did what he had wanted to do from the day he met with Mrs. Viik: tell Lauren. If the house never became theirs, so be it.
“I had lunch with Mrs. Viik after I returned from Lisbon, and she showed me around. The house is old, but sound and well maintained. I believe it would make the perfect home for us. The kitchen needs remodeling, but otherwise, it is beautiful. And it has an advantage my grandparents’ villa doesn’t: access to the water.”
“You actually talked to her about buying the house?”
“I did.” He reached for her hand. “I had hoped to give it to you as a wedding present, but she isn’t ready to sell yet. I shouldn’t have mentioned it.”
She looked at him, eyes wide. “You mustn’t spoil me like that, Jonas. People don’t usually give houses as wedding presents.”
He gave her a faint, very tender smile and said quietly, “Don’t they? Maybe no one ever loved their wife-to-be as much as I love you.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
The mountains looked spectacular from the air. There was something so solid and comforting about them after the very different landscape they had been flying over the last few hours.
Almost home.
The view of the Salt Lake Valley never failed to please Lauren. Seeing it at this altitude, with the vast valley stretched out below, reminded her of the tremendous challenges faced by the early pioneers.
She spotted the temple and the Capitol building, her two favorite landmarks, and turned to Jonas with shining eyes. “There is the temple!”
Jonas had been listening to Lauren sharing her thoughts about a place she obviously loved, as they circled the valley. Now he leaned across her for a better view.
When she pointed out the temple, she felt his hand gently squeeze her shoulder and knew he was thinking: Someday!
Her parents were waiting to welcome them, her father’s face composed, her mother’s alive with excitement.
Jonas saw an attractive, well-dressed couple, the man dignified, the woman youthful and full of smiles. It was clear where Lauren got her looks. Her face was a young, feminine version of her father’s but with her mother’s vivid expression. Mrs. Hart made no effort to hide her delight at seeing her daughter and future son-in-law. They both received warm hugs of welcome. Mr. Hart greeted Jonas with a reserved smile and a firm handshake as Lauren made the introductions, but his eyes melted when Lauren flew into his arms. His expression was not lost on Jonas.
Once settled in the Harts’ comfortable SUV, Jonas looked at his surroundings with interest. Lauren had talked about the nearby canyons and all the recreational opportunities they offered. Someday, he’d like to explore the area. This weekend, however, they would concentrate on Lauren’s family.
The conversation in the car flowed easily, and if Mr. and Mrs. Hart had any reservations about their daughter’s choice of mate they hid them well.
Mrs. Hart reminded him of Lauren. She was warm and kind and not shy about asking questions. She quite naturally embraced him as part of the family and without words let him know that because Lauren loved him, they did, too.
The Hart home nestled against the foothills in the south-east part of the city. Mostly unobstructed views stretched almost as far as the eye could see, including the Great Salt Lake in the far distance.
“We bought this lot so Lilly could have a view,” Mr. Hart explained. “There were few homes in the area at the time, but as you can see, the valley has grown so much that ours is only one house among many now. Thankfully, we still have a view.”
Jonas looked at the handsome, well-constructed home and the large, beautifully landscaped gardens and smiled to himself. It was far from the ordinary house Lauren had described. He couldn’t think of a nicer setting for a summer wedding.
Inside, it was well-appointed, yet comfortable. Lilly knew how to create a warm, welcoming ambiance, Jonas thought. He was shown to a large guest suite on the main floor while Lauren headed upstairs to her old room.
“We have dinner waiting,” Mrs. Hart informed him as she turned to leave. “We thought you might be hungry after the long flight.”
“How very thoughtful. Thank you. I’ll be right there.”
Lilly hesitated a moment then turned back to face him. “Jonas, I want you to know how grateful we are that you took the time to come all this way so we could meet you. I have never seen Lauren so happy.”
“I’m glad we were able to arrange the visit. I realize I’m not exactly what you had hoped for in a son-in-law, but no one will ever love her more than I do.”
Touched, Mrs. Hart reached up and patted his cheek gently. “I believe you. Take care with her, Jonas. She is very precious to us.”
“And to me,” he said quietly. “I’ll do my very best.”
Alone, he took a minute to compose himself. Now he knew why kindness was second nature to Lauren. He headed to the bathroom to wash his hands, but Lauren appeared before he made it to the sink.
“Hi,” she smiled and put her arms around him for a hug.
“Hi!” His arms automatically came around her before he reluctantly released her.
“You surviving?”
Jonas looked around his comfortable quarters. “Were you in doubt? I expected a leftover teenage room from one of your brothers.”
Lauren smiled. “It is nice, isn’t it? We used to have a three-car garage, but when my grandmother came to live with us, we converted part of it into this little apartment for her. The house didn’t have a main floor bedroom, and she struggled with stairs, so this became the solution.”
“Did she live with you long?”
“The last couple of years of her life. Her memory was failing, and it wasn’t safe for her to live alone anymore, although it was hard to convince her of that. But once she moved in, she settled quite happily.”
“How old were you when she lived with you?”
“Junior High. Twelve, thirteen or so.”
“And she never taught you Norwegian?”
“No, she spoke excellent English with just a hint of an accent.”
His mouth curved. From the way she spoke of her grandmot
her, it was clear she had loved her as much as he had loved his. “Your mother said dinner is waiting. Let me wash my hands before we join your parents.”
Dinner was on the patio.
“It’s such a lovely evening,” Lilly explained when they emerged from the house. “We thought you might enjoy eating out here.”
The food was simple but delicious, tender, slow-cooked pork in a rich and spicy barbecue sauce poured over rice. Both a salad and a fresh fruit tray complemented it. When Jonas expressed his appreciation to Lauren’s mother, she smiled with pleasure.
“It’s one of Lauren’s favorite meals, and I hoped you’d like it, too.”
Jonas took a sip of his drink and smiled. The last time he tasted this drink was the night he and Lauren dined with William and Annie.
Watching him closely, Mr. Hart cleared his throat. “I don’t know if you are used to a glass of wine with dinner, Jonas, but I assume Lauren explained that we don’t drink alcohol.”
“I don’t drink alcohol myself, as a matter of fact,” replied Jonas easily. “I doubt Lauren would be comfortable with someone who did.”
It was not part of Jonathan Hart’s makeup to judge a man before meeting him. Yet with Jonas, he had done precisely that. He had jumped to conclusions without knowing facts and had secretly doubted Lauren’s commitment to her faith. Jonas appeared to have no such ambivalence. He seemed to know exactly who Lauren was. Jonathan felt deep remorse. “Yes, of course,” he began, “I just assumed . . .”
Sensing the conflicting emotions in his host, Jonas replied, “Perfectly natural assumption,” and wisely decided now was a good time to tell them a little about himself. So, in the easy conversational style he had of talking, he told them about his grandparents, the teachings of his grandmother and the examples Jake and his family had been to him. As they listened, Lauren’s parents looked, if not stunned, at least greatly relieved. Jonathan asked a few questions, and Jonas’ answers seemed to reassure them.
After that, the conversation became quite lively until Lauren casually mentioned they wanted to be married in three weeks. Jonas just managed to stifle his laughter when he saw the horrified looks on the faces of both Mr. and Mrs. Hart.
Suddenly Mrs. Hart laughed. “What did I tell you, Jonathan? Didn’t I say I’d be surprised if she waited more than a month?” She turned to Lauren. “I already called Janice. She has agreed to handle all the details.”
Lauren, looking dazed, turned to Jonas. “I did mention I come from a family of miracle workers.”
“Janice is my sister-in-law,” Mrs. Hart explained. “She was a widow for many years and supported her family by becoming a very sought-after wedding planner. Last year, she married Jonathan’s widowed brother and has scaled her work back considerably. We are very fortunate she has agreed to help.”
“Oh, Mom!” said Lauren, overjoyed. With Janice at the helm, she knew their wedding would be everything she and Jonas wanted. “We want a relatively small wedding with mostly family and a few close friends, but we want it to be very beautiful. And we would like to have it here in the garden.” She turned to her father. “What do you say, Dad?”
“We’ll handle all expenses,” inserted Jonas. “We don’t want this to be a burden on you or anyone else.”
“Well, Dad?” Lauren prompted. “Will you allow us to trample all over your precious lawn while everyone admires your gardening skills? May we have the wedding here? You don’t have to lift a finger,” she rushed on. “Everything will be taken care of, the food catered, and the flower girls will be adorable.”
Before her father had a chance to reply, she added, “And there will be a small band. Jonas insisted. He wants to dance with me at our wedding.”
Lauren couldn’t help noticing the emotion on her father’s face and the softening of his features. “Sounds like you have it all worked out. Of course, you may have your wedding here, sweetheart. Didn’t I design the garden for just such an event?”
“Well, you were probably thinking reception rather than wedding when you designed it,” she said accurately, “But we are grateful, Dad. This was our first choice. And you should see my dress.” Lauren’s eyes sparkled as she spoke. “It will be so perfect for here.”
Jonas smiled indulgently at Lauren’s excitement, but Mrs. Hart said in surprise, “You have your dress already?” She had always dreamed of the two of them shopping for Lauren’s wedding dress together. Her disappointment was acute but, forcing a bright smile, she hoped no one noticed.
“Jonas and I chose it together. I wanted a dress we both loved, and we found it. It’s beautiful and summery and perfect for a garden wedding.” They spent the next few minutes regaling her parents with stories of their shopping experience. That’s when Mrs. Hart accepted that Jonas had become her daughter’s whole world. The possibility she may have disappointed her mother never occurred to her. Wisely, her mother refrained from even hinting at her disappointment. Lauren would have been devastated to learn she was hurt.
“And I found dresses for the flower girls,” Lauren enthused. “They were so enchanting, I couldn’t pass them up. We are having four of them, flower girls, that is. Jonas’ friends in New Jersey have two girls that we want to include, and I called Melanie about Kate and Ashley. They are very excited to be asked.”
“Sounds like you have everything under control, darling, but what about your job?”
“I resigned a week ago. Peter isn’t very happy.”
“He would like Lauren to continue working for him,” Jonas added.
Lauren turned to him in surprise. “He would? He didn’t tell me.”
“He told Jake.”
“I suppose it’s a possibility if he modifies my job description. I do much of my work on the computer.”
“Would you be willing to travel occasionally?”
She turned large eyes on Jonas. “No! I want to stay home with you and have babies!”
There was discreet coughing from Mr. Hart while Mrs. Hart smiled in delight.
Jonas’ eyes softened dramatically. “I guess that settles it. If you get bored, you can put your genius to work at Juul Enterprises. It can only enhance our bottom line.”
Her parents forgotten, Lauren laughed softly and loosely wrapped her arms around his neck. “You can’t afford me. I’m extremely well paid.”
A low chuckle filled the air. “Is that so?”
Mr. Hart cleared his throat again, a little more pronounced this time.
Two faces looked up. A slight blush spread along Jonas’ cheek. “Sorry,” they said in unison.
Jonas would have apologized further, but Mrs. Hart waved it aside. “You don’t need to apologize for loving Lauren, Jonas. It comforts me to know that though she will be far away from us she will be loved.”
“Mrs. Hart . . .” Jonas began but was interrupted by Lilly.
“I think you’d better call me Lilly, Jonas. I have no intention of being called Mrs. Hart by the father of my future grandchildren. And you’d better call Jonathan by his first name too, or Johnny, whichever you prefer. He answers to both.”
Lauren’s father nodded agreement and cleared his throat for the third time. He wasn’t as comfortable talking about love and future grandchildren as his wife seemed to be. “About the wedding,” he reminded them smoothly. “Have you thought about the ceremony itself and who will perform it, Lauren? And what about you, Jonas? Would you have any objections to an LDS bishop performing the ceremony?”
“Not at all,” replied Jonas and with a touch of humor added, “My mother is Lutheran, so I naturally assumed I was, too. After all, she did send me to Lutheran Sunday school when I was young. However, I recently discovered I was actually blessed in the Church of Jesus Christ. But strangely, I was never baptized in either faith, so I guess you could say I’m technically more LDS than Lutheran.”
Seeing the stunned looks on the
ir faces, Jonas thought he’d better explain. “The Sunday Lauren and I attended church in Bergen, an elderly lady approached me and told me she knew my grandmother.” He proceeded to tell them about Mrs. Gustavsen and all he had learned from her. He also shared with them the emotional visit with his mother, including finding out he had begged her to bring him to church after the death of his father.
Jonathan and Lilly were silent for a long time, trying to digest all he had told them. Jonas saw Lilly wipe her eyes. He couldn’t know she was picturing a little boy who had just lost his father, pleading with his mother to take him to church.
He couldn’t know, but somehow, he did.
Lauren scooted her chair closer to Jonas’ and reached for his hand. It wasn’t often she saw her parents this moved. In a low voice she said, “Before Jonas’ visit to his mother and before he knew about his father being a member of the Church, I mentioned how disappointed you would be about my not marrying in the temple. Not wanting to hurt you, Jonas suggested we rethink our relationship. I refused to listen to him.”
Jonathan’s eyes rested thoughtfully on the two of them. He knew he would never forget the look on Jonas’ face when Lauren said she wanted to stay home with him and have babies. He had never seen a softer look on a man’s face, or an expression so full of love. “You were willing to let her go? For our sake?”
His eyes burning with emotion, Jonas squeezed Lauren’s hand. “I didn’t want to deprive her of something that was so important to her and to you. Something I couldn’t give her.”
“And what did Lauren have to say about that?”
Jonas’ smile was barely discernible. “She became very stubborn and refused to listen to anything I said. Then she informed me I wasn’t allowed to break her heart and that she had no intention of living her life without me.”
“You came around to her way of thinking.”
“I didn’t take much persuading.”
Jonathan looked thoughtfully at him. “I’ll be honest. I wasn’t happy to hear Lauren was planning to marry outside our faith.”
“I can appreciate that.”
Because of Lauren: A Love Story Page 27