“Granny, you were rude,” Lizzy said.
“For that smartass remark and since you are bound, damned, and determined to marry that worthless son-of-a-bitch, wannabe preacher, you can say grace before we eat this good food.”
Lizzy dropped her chin and said softly, “Father, thank you for this food. Forgive Granny for her dirty language and the rest of us for our sins. Amen.”
“That wasn’t a prayer. God didn’t even hear that short two sentences,” Irene fussed.
“It’s enough, Mama. Eat your dinner,” Katy said.
Irene picked up her fork. “Okay, but if I die tonight and God won’t let me in the pearly gates because I ate unblessed food, then I’m going to tell him it’s y’all’s fault.”
Blake chuckled. “I think I’m fallin’ in love with her.”
Irene’s head popped up. “Who’s fallin’ in love with who?”
“No one, Granny. I hear Nadine made cherry pies and she’s got ice cream and chocolate syrup,” Allie said.
“I said that I was falling in love with you,” Blake said.
“Bullshit! I’m old. You’re not in love with me. You are in love with Allie.”
Blake nodded. “You are right. I have fallen in love with Allie. I’m downright crazy in love with this woman and I don’t care who all knows it.”
Irene clapped her hands.
Allie blushed.
“Hey, if you can declare that I’m your boyfriend right here in the middle of this café, I can tell the whole world I’m in love with you in the same place.” Blake leaned to his left, tipped her chin up with his fist, and kissed her right there in public.
“Well, would you look at that, Katy? I think he means it?” Irene giggled.
“I was going to wait for a private moment, but this seems like a perfect place and time.” He pushed back his chair and dropped down on one knee. “Allie Logan, I love you. Plain and simple and I can’t imagine life without you. Will you marry me?”
He flipped open a red velvet ring box to reveal a brown diamond solitaire ring surrounded by more than a dozen sparkling clear diamonds. “I chose this because it’s the color of your eyes.”
“Yes!” she said without hesitation.
He slipped the ring onto her finger, picked her up out of the chair, and swung her around the floor several times before his lips settled on hers. Most of the folks in the café clapped. The ones who didn’t were already talking on their phones.
Later that afternoon, Allie held the ring up to catch the sunlight pouring into the bedroom. “I can’t believe you proposed right there in public.”
Blake wrapped his hand around hers and brought the ring to her face. “That brown diamond is the same color as your eyes. Darlin’, it was either propose or explode. I knew I wouldn’t be able to swallow that good food until I asked you to marry me.”
“We need to talk,” she said.
“Oh, no!” He fell back on the pillows. “I hate it when you say that.”
“Well, we do.”
“Please don’t tell me you aren’t going to marry me,” he groaned.
“Oh, honey, I’m going to marry you, but I’m fixin’ to give you a way out if you don’t want to be burdened with what I’m about to say.” She swallowed twice and started three times but the words wouldn’t come out. “Hell’s bells, Blake, this is tough.”
Blake propped up on an elbow. “Just spit it out.”
“I was married for two years and sexually active for two years before that. We were young and stupid the first two years. After we married we wanted children, but it never happened and Riley said it was my fault,” she said slowly.
“And what has that got to do with us?”
She shrugged. “I’m three days late and we haven’t even talked about kids because I told you I couldn’t have any. But I’ve never been late and now I’m thinkin’ maybe Riley lied to me about going to the doctor to get tested.” She stopped to catch her breath.
Blake pulled her into his arms and kissed the top of her head. “I want kids, but I want you more. If you are pregnant, then I hope it’s twins so we’ll get a jump on a house full. If you aren’t and you really can’t have them, then someday in the future we might discuss adoption if you want them.”
She pushed back and let the tears loose to stream down her cheeks. “I love you with my whole heart and what you just said makes me say yes to your proposal all over again. Let’s get married this week.”
“Sounds great to me, but don’t take the test until afterward. I don’t ever want you to feel like I married you because I had to. I’m marrying you because I love you, Allie.” He kissed away her tears.
“You are trying to make a ranch here. A wife wasn’t in your four-year plan and I know a baby wasn’t.”
“We’ll take them when we get them and if we never get them, then we have each other. Did you have your mind set on a big wedding?”
“Hell, no!” she said loudly. “Let’s go get a license at the courthouse before Friday, get married on Sunday morning after church, and the potluck can be our reception. I want to be a wife, not a fiancée.”
He laid a hand on her flat stomach. “I love you, Allie.”
“I love you, too, Blake,” she said.