When she turned, Dale stood behind her with the same strange look that had puzzled her. “Is something wrong?”
“Everything’s right. Perfect, in fact.” He drew her into his arms. “Isn’t life wonderful when you let God be in charge?”
Bev tried to comment, but he interrupted her response.
“Somehow God in His wisdom brought two confused, hurting people together and created two complete people. You’ve made me the person I am, and I love you with all my heart.”
Her mind swam with confusion. Could this be what it seemed?
“I realize that life is too lonely without you at my side. I’ve grown to love your kids. They make life even better.” He clasped her hand, knelt beside her and kissed her fingers. “Bev, will you marry me?”
The words wrapped around her heart and caught in her throat. She struggled to answer without sobbing for joy. “You’re everything I want, Dale. I would be proud and honored to be your wife.”
He rose and pressed her against his chest as his lips found hers. The warmth traveled through her body while her pulse thundered. They’d lived so long on the edge the reality seemed impossible.
He deepened the kiss, and she tightened her arms around his neck. Her fingers caressed the nape of his neck, then found their way to his thick dark hair. She felt Dale’s mouth move on hers, making her breathless. She’d so often questioned God’s purpose, and today she heard His answer.
Dale shuddered and drew back. He looked at her through heavy-lidded eyes. “Love is the answer, Bev, and I promise with all my heart, I will never walk away. I will be by your side until God takes one of us home, and then one day we’ll be together again. I promise.”
“Grandpa wants to know where’s the pie?”
Michael’s voice burst into the room, and they jumped at the sound.
“Yuck,” he said. “More kissing.”
Before anything more was said, Michael vanished into the living room, his “yucks” echoing behind him. Bev heard her mother laugh and expected the whole family to come through the doorway, but no one did.
A broad grin lit Dale’s face. “I suppose we have to live with these interruptions.”
“I suppose,” she said, still in his arms.
He paused a moment and studied her. “Do you think two kids are enough?”
His question snapped her to attention. “Enough for what?”
He chuckled. “Enough for a family. Would you consider one or two more?”
Bev searched his eyes for the joke. “You’re kidding?”
“No, I’m not. I want to have another child or two. You’d make me the happiest man in the world.”
Bev’s arms entwined around his neck. “I’d have three more if you wanted them.”
His look softened. “You’d do that for me?” he murmured.
“For us,” she said.
He drew her closer as she rode on waves of happiness. His lips captured hers again, and she luxuriated in their warmth and tenderness. Dale Levin, a husband and father. God worked miracles, and today He’d truly worked one on them.
Dale brushed his nose against hers. “I suppose we should tell our folks.”
She nodded, hating to move. “And the kids,” she said.
“They already know.”
Her heart stopped. “What?”
“I talked to them a few days ago on your birthday and got their permission. We’ve arranged everything to their liking.”
“I can’t believe it. They never said a word.”
“Because it was our secret.” He kissed the top of her head and urged her toward the living room.
“Finally,” Al said, as they came through the doorway, but his expression changed as he eyed their empty hands. “Where’s the dessert?”
“Bev and I have something to tell you.”
Mildred gasped and brought her fist to her mouth.
“What’s wrong, Mom?” Bev’s pulse skittered at her mother’s reaction.
“I hope this is what I’ve prayed for,” Mildred said.
Tears bubbled in Bev’s eyes, seeing her mother’s joy.
Dale cleared his throat and wrapped his arm around Bev’s shoulder. “I’ve asked Bev to be my wife, and she said yes.”
“And we’re going to be his kids,” Michael said, his pitch rising with his excitement.
“We’re going to get a new house,” Kristin said.
Mildred’s smile faded. “In Grand Rapids?”
“No, Grandma, right here in Loving.”
“I’m so happy. Now that we’ve all been together in Loving, I’m spoiled.”
“We’ve all been there,” Dale said, giving Bev a knowing look with their private joke.
“You couldn’t make us happier,” Al said, reaching over and squeezing Mildred’s hand.
Dale flexed his palm. “Before you all jump up with congratulations, I have something else to do.” He bent down and pulled a plastic orb from beneath the chair. “I found another Easter egg, but this one’s for Bev.”
Bev looked at the bright-pink oval, and her heart stood still. She slid into the nearest chair and pulled the two sides of the egg apart with trembling hands. Inside, she found what she expected. A jeweler’s ring box.
Kristin darted to her mother’s side and hung over the chair arm.
Bev lifted the lid and gazed at the twinkling diamond set in yellow gold. The stone’s fire took her breath away. “It’s lovely, Dale.”
“Not as lovely as you are.”
He reached down, slid the ring from her hand, and slipped it onto her finger. Dale helped her rise, then kissed her tenderly before cuddling the children to them.
“Soon we’ll be one happy family.” He grinned. He reached over and gave Kristin’s ponytail a playful yank. “What do you say, sweetie?”
She grabbed her hair and grinned. “I guess I have to get used to that. Right?”
“Want me to stop?” Dale asked.
Kristin shook her head. “Nope. I want you to love me just the way you do.”
“I promise to love you all always.”
Bev watched three adults wipe at their eyes just as she was doing. She looked at her children, seeing their joy and feeling complete for the first time.
“Thank you, Lord,” she whispered, “for all Your loving promises.”
ISBN: 978-1-4592-0489-8
LOVING PROMISES
Copyright © 2005 by Gail Gaymer Martin
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Loving Promises Page 18