A Convenient Proposal - By Lynnette Kent Page 0,63

and outlying farms and fields with horses and cows—a child’s world on the walls.

And in the center of this perfect room sat a happy, dark-haired mother holding a little boy with blond curls and blue eyes.

Arden stared at the picture, losing awareness of anything happening around her as she drowned in what-might-have-been.

“Honey, are you okay?” Rosalie set a hand over the fists Arden had clenched in her lap.

Looking up, Arden found the three sisters staring at her, too.

“What’s wrong?” Kathy crouched in front of her. “Are you sick?”

In the next moment, the phone rang, and Arden was saved by the bell.

ONCE HIS DAD ARRIVED at the hospital, Griff wasn’t surprised to see his mother show up.

But he was somewhat startled when, one after the other, his sisters, their husbands and Arden entered the emergency room cubicle.

“You all didn’t have to come down here,” he protested. “I told Dad he shouldn’t have called. I was out for only a few seconds.”

“More like ten minutes,” Jake growled. “The folks at the club called the ambulance.”

Lauren, Dana and Kathy took up one side of the bed, with their men and his parents on the other. Arden stood at the end, looking pale and frightened.

He ached to get his arms around her and chase the shadows from her eyes.

First, he had to answer all the questions, including what happened? Who did this? Why? What did you say? What did he say? Why didn’t somebody else stop him? Why did you try?

And he had to deal with his dad’s anger. “I’m going to tan that boy’s backside when I get hold of him.”

“You’re going to stay away from Al if Mom has to tie you in a chair,” Griff told him. “Leave him alone, all of you. Zelda, too. We need to stay out of their way until the wedding.”

His mother nodded in approval, but the girls took more convincing.

Kathy propped her hands on her hips. “She dumped you, and I think a little suffering is good for her.”

“She’s suffered,” Griff said. “At least as much as I have. And Al’s had the worst of it.”

“They could have let you know sooner,” Dana said. “They embarrassed all of us, waiting till the last minute.”

“Not to mention how hard you worked on the house, only to sell it.” Lauren shook her head. “I painted and wallpapered. I put a lot of work into those walls.”

“I know you did.” Griff grabbed her hand. “But it’s over and done, and we need to forget. Let’s think about the future.” He looked at Arden as he said that, but she avoided his eyes.

“So, can you leave now?” Kathy asked. “You don’t have to spend the night, do you?”

“Waiting on test results,” his dad said. “Then they’ll let us know.”

The doctor did a double take when he came in a few minutes later. “Did I miss the reunion announcement?”

“Just the standard family conference,” Griff announced. “So, can I leave?”

“The CT scan looks good. Do you have someone who can keep an eye on you overnight?”

Nine people in the room nodded.

The doctor surveyed the group of them, then turned back to Griff. “I guess you’re covered. I’ll sign your release papers.”

“Thanks,” he said, offering a handshake as his sisters hugged each other and everyone else. “I told you I was fine.”

“Better safe than sorry.” The doctor waved as he left. “Enjoy the reunion.”

The argument over where he would spend the night might have lasted until dawn if his mother hadn’t spoken up.

“Griff has a very capable woman to look after him tonight. He doesn’t need his sisters—”

“Though he loves them,” Griff interjected.

“—or his parents. Arden will make sure he’s alive and kicking tomorrow morning.”

Jake was still protesting as Rosalie pushed him out of the room. “You’re the one who sent him to the woods at age fifteen to live off the land for two days. Don’t try to coddle him now.”

She came back to the bed and bent over to kiss Griff’s cheek. “I’m glad to see you’ve learned so much in these last six months,” she said quietly. “I’m proud of you.”

And she stopped by Arden as she left. Griff couldn’t hear what she whispered, but saw Arden nod.

Then, finally, they were alone. “Come here,” he said, sitting up on the side of the bed and holding out his arms.

After hesitating a moment, she walked over to wrap her arms around his waist.

Griff sighed. A truce, of sorts.

“I’m glad you’re okay.” She rubbed her forehead against his shoulder. “I can’t