is of the essence.” He looked into her eyes, once more, his gaze deeply penetrating.
“I don’t need to think about it. I’ll do it. I’ll marry you, Chase.” Her eyes met his and she smiled. If he only knew how much I wish this was a real proposal. At least I won’t have to worry about his ever being with another woman. He said he’d be faithful. And the pretending to the rest of the world certainly won’t be hard for me to do.
“Are you absolutely certain this is what you want? You do understand you’re making a lifelong commitment to me, Sunny.”
“I understand, Chase.”
“In that case, I picked up something for you in Des Moines before I left today. I hope you like it.” He took a small box from his pocket and opened it, revealing an exquisite diamond engagement ring. It was set in white-gold. The center diamond was large, with two smaller diamonds on either side of it. He removed it, took her left hand, and slipped it on her third finger. He got down on one knee and said, “Sunny Drake, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you consent to be mine for the rest of your life?”
“I will, Chase.” Am I dreaming?
He kissed her, a short kiss, but still a kiss to seal the deal. It was better than a handshake anyway.
“We need to make plans, Sunny. I want to announce our engagement as soon as possible. We’ll need to tell the children, our mothers, and the staff first, of course. Then we need to talk about the ceremony. It needs to be small and soon.”
“That’s all fine, but one thing I will insist on, if I may.”
“What’s that, Sunny?”
“I don’t want to be married at City Hall. I want to be married in a church, with a minister officiating. Even if this isn’t a traditional marriage, I want that.”
“That’s no problem. I know the perfect place. I’ll call the minister tomorrow. Will your mom be coming for the wedding?”
“Is that okay?”
“Of course, I thought perhaps the children, our mothers, Alma, George, Alice, and John and anyone else you might want to ask.”
“Dr. Rose and his wife, I’d like for him to give me away.”
“That’s fine. I’ll let you call everyone and tell them. I’ll do as much as I can to help with the arrangements, but I think you and Alice can probably handle most of it.”
“You’re giving me free reign?”
“Sunny, we’re partners from now on. It’s going to be small and quick, but other than that, you plan the wedding you want. It’s your day.”
“I’ll get right on it tomorrow. How soon are you thinking?”
“Within the month, if possible, I’ll know for sure after I speak to Reverend Key tomorrow.”
“Wow, that soon? Okay, I’ll need to get busy.”
“Sunny, you don’t know how much this means to me. I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into.”
“I do and I’m fine with it. I’m fond of you and I adore your children. The rest of it…we’ll see.”
“I’ll never rush you into loving me, Sunny. That’s something that has to happen when we both are ready. The marriage needs to come first, for obvious reasons. So, we’ll just do things a little backwards, the marriage first and maybe the courtship later. I’m hoping, in time, we’ll be able to be a normal, married couple. But, in no way, do I expect that of you right now. So please don’t fret about that.”
“I appreciate that, Chase, and I won’t fret about it. It’ll happen naturally. We can’t be married for the rest of our lives without it happening sooner or later.”
“Oh, Sunny, you’re such a breath of fresh air.” He leaned over and kissed her again, this time a little longer, a little deeper. He drew away and said in a husky voice, “I need to go to my room, or I may break my promise the first night not to rush you, Sunny.”
She got up and walked him to the door. “I’ll see you in the morning.”
“Remember, to the world, from now on out, we’re the happiest couple in the world.”
“Goodnight.” She shook her head and closed the door.
If he only knew that I really am the happiest bride-to-be in the world.
Chapter Eleven
The next morning, Sunny bounced out of bed and dressed with care. She pulled her blonde hair into a ponytail and went downstairs to talk with Alice before the children woke up.
As she walked into the kitchen, Alice