Daniel's Desire - By Sherryl Woods Page 0,75
marry me,” Daniel explained, his gaze seeking out Molly’s.
Caitlyn seemed to accept that. She, too, gazed at Molly expectantly.
“Well?” Daniel prodded.
Molly wasn’t quite ready to take pity on him yet. She turned to the crowd. “Did you hear a question? I didn’t hear one.”
“Neither did I,” Maggie said.
“None I recognized,” Deanna agreed.
“Come on, son,” Connor urged. “My drink’s getting warm, while you fiddle around.”
Daniel rolled his eyes. “Like there isn’t enough pressure,” he muttered, then sucked in a breath and regarded her with a serious expression. “Molly Creighton, it looks as if the time and place have been chosen for me to say this, but it’s been in my heart for a long time now. I love you.”
Molly felt her heart fill with joy.
“You complete me,” he continued. “We’ve had our share of struggles, but we’ve grown stronger because of them. I doubt there’s anything we can’t weather as long as we’re together and have faith in what we feel at this moment. Please don’t be put off by this roomful of Devaneys. Something tells me they’ll bring a lot of happiness into our lives.” He glanced over his shoulder. “One of these days, anyway.”
“If it would help you out, we could offer testimonials,” Maggie called out.
Daniel waved her off, fighting a grin. “Thanks, Maggie. I’ll handle this. Like Patrick said, I have some groveling left to do.”
Molly fought a smile. “When, exactly?”
“Now, dammit. Stop rushing me.”
She held up her hands. “Sorry.”
He drew in a deep breath and lifted his gaze to meet hers. “What I’ve been trying to say so that you won’t doubt it is that I love you. I always have, even if I acted like a fool a while back and lost my way. I’m praying with all my heart that you’ll look past that and that you’ll love me enough to marry me, to share this family with me, to have a family of our own. I know it’s been a long time coming, but will you marry me, Molly?”
Molly swallowed hard and blinked back the sudden sting of salty tears. “Yes,” she whispered, barely able to get the word past the lump in her throat.
“Can I see the ring now?” Caitlyn demanded impatiently.
Molly laughed. Being part of this huge family that was still struggling to find its way was going to present challenges, but as long as Daniel was by her side, every moment would be worth it.
She winked at Caitlyn, then said, “By all means, Daniel, show us the ring.”
It was a simple emerald-cut diamond in a platinum band with baguettes on either side. It was gorgeous, far too beautiful to put on her work-roughened hands. She hesitated before holding out her left hand. Daniel slipped the ring on, then kissed her knuckles as if to put her self-consciousness to rest.
“I have another present,” he said. “But it’s for Retta and you.”
“Oh?”
“I bought a dishwasher, so neither of you will spend half your lives up to your elbows in hot, sudsy water again.”
Molly laughed. “Who said the man wasn’t a romantic?”
Connor slapped him on the back. “Now, where was I?” he asked, lifting his glass again. “To Molly and Daniel, may there be years of happiness ahead of them.”
Molly found her own half-filled glass on the bar and lifted it. “To the Devaneys,” she said, fighting tears. “I hope that you’ll continue the long journey back to each other. No matter the tears you’ve shed or the aches in your hearts, in the end you’re family. I hope you come to find pride and joy in that.”
Daniel’s mother smiled at her. “Amen,” she said softly, then looked at each of her sons in turn.
“Amen,” Ryan said.
One by one the others chimed in, then looked to Connor.
“To the Devaneys,” he said, his voice choked. “Together again.”
Epilogue
The baby in Molly’s arms squalled loudly enough to shake the rafters of the old church. Next to her Daniel grinned.
“If that’s the way Patrick and I were, it’s a wonder Mom and Dad didn’t leave us behind in Boston,” he said, gazing down at baby Connor, then letting his gaze drift to Molly’s rounded stomach. “Do you suppose our firstborn is going to be as noisy?”
“Oh, I imagine we can count on that,” Molly told him, just as Alice came rushing into the church to claim her son.
“Sorry,” she apologized. “Kathleen was fussing up a storm, too.”
“Where is our goddaughter?” Molly asked, even as she handed over her godson.
“With Patrick. He has a soothing effect on her,” Alice