Rick held Jennie Sue’s hand all the way to the creek. She carried an old quilt, and with his free hand, he toted a basket of food that also had a pencil and several sheets of paper in it. Today she wanted to get Rick’s opinion of the first draft for the house design. The contractor had said that, barring any really bad weather, it could be finished by Christmas. The one thing she was adamant about was that it have a big porch that wrapped around three sides.
Rick set the basket off to one side, and together they spread the quilt out under the oak tree. Sun rays found their way through the leaves, and the creek bubbled along like it had nowhere to go and all day to get there.
“Peace.” Jennie Sue eased down in the middle of the quilt.
“Beauty.” Rick did the same and kissed her. “I didn’t hear a word the preacher said, because all I could think about was how lucky I was to have you beside me.”
“It goes beyond lucky. We are so blessed to have found each other. I wish I’d have known you better earlier in our lives,” she said. “I feel like we’ve wasted a lot of good years.”
He tucked a strand of blonde hair behind her ear. “No, darlin’, we haven’t. Everything happens for a reason. We weren’t ready to be together when we were young. We had to grow up and learn who we were and what we want out of life.”
“How’d you get to be so wise?” Jennie Sue asked.
“It’s only on Sundays. On Mondays I lose most of the wisdom,” he answered.
“Okay, wise man, do you think Tom and Cricket are going to hit it off?” She opened the basket and set out the food.
“Nope. I didn’t say anything because I didn’t want to spoil Lettie and Nadine’s fun, but the preacher has a girlfriend in Roby. I’m sure he was just being nice when he offered to drive Cricket to Nadine’s, or maybe he’s going to ask her to head the committee for the Christmas dinner again this year. I’m sure they’ll find out pretty quick, though it gets Cricket out of the house today.”
Jennie Sue squeezed his hand. “You’re a sly one. How’d you know about his girlfriend?”
“I drive the bookmobile, remember? And there’s some old guys up there that gossip as much as the old gals do here in Bloom,” Rick answered.
“I want her to be as happy as I am,” Jennie Sue said.
“When the time is right, she will find someone,” Rick said. “But enough about them. Today is all about us.”
He pulled a bottle of champagne from the basket and popped the cork.
“That’s some expensive stuff,” she said.
“There’s two wineglasses in there, too. I’m courting you in style.” He grinned.
“I love you, Rick, but I like beer better than this.”
“Well, today we’re doin’ it up right, darlin’. You deserve the very best.” His smile got wider.
“Why?”
“Because of this.” He got up onto one knee and took her hand in his. “Jennifer Susanne Baker, will you marry me?” He pulled a velvet box out of his pocket. “You have put sunshine back into my life and melted the chains from around my heart.”
“No, Jennifer Susanne will not marry you. But Jennie Sue will.” She threw herself into his arms so hard that they both fell backward and the box flew toward the creek.
He quickly retrieved it and snapped it open to reveal a beautiful pale-blue stone surrounded by fifty tiny diamonds. He slipped it on her finger and said, “The blue is the color of your eyes. The little diamonds around it represent the fifty years I want to spend with you.”
“And what if we’re together longer than that?” she asked.
“I’ll buy you another ring with more diamonds.” The kiss was long, lingering and sweet. When it ended, he looked deep into her eyes and knew that he was a blessed man.
Epilogue
Jennie Sue picked up the Bloom Weekly News on her way to the bookstore on the day before Thanksgiving. Cricket entered the store behind her with a shiver. The north wind blew dried leaves down Main Street, swirled them around, and sent them into the store before Cricket could slam the door.
Jennie Sue went to the thermostat and turned on the heat. “We probably should have closed today, since everyone will be home getting ready for the holiday.”
“I couldn’t stand to spend the whole day cooped up in the house with you,” Cricket said.
“Right back at you.” Jennie Sue reached into her tote bag and brought out the paper.
Cricket curled up on the end of the sofa. “Does it have your wedding picture in it this week? I sent it to them in plenty of time.”
“Guess it’s my turn to get caught by the town.” Jennie Sue sat down beside her and laid out the paper on the coffee table. They bent forward, taking turns reading the highlights and the first paragraph or two of each article.
SWEETWATER HOSPITAL GETS NEW NICU WING
An anonymous donor has given the money for the hospital to build a new wing that will care for critically ill babies, to be called the Grace NICU Wing. It will have all the newest equipment and rooms set up for the parents of children to stay at the hospital. Construction could begin as early as next spring, with hopes of a finish date before the end of the year.
“I wonder who that anonymous donor is and if her name is Grace. You know it’s going to drive the folks crazy trying to figure it out, don’t you?” Cricket said.
“While they’re talkin’ about that, they’ll be letting us rest. You still happy with the way we did things?” Jennie Sue asked.
“Wouldn’t have it any other way,” she answered.
LIBRARY GETS FUNDING
The Bloom Library will have a brand-new children’s corner from a hundred-thousand-dollar donation. Along with a multitude of new books, it will have a cozy new seating area sized for small ones.
“Amos and Rick are both so happy about this, Jennie Sue. He’s a firm believer in reading to children and teaching them to love books,” Cricket said.
“Me, too. I intend to read to my children before they are even born,” Jennie Sue said.
LENDING LIBRARIES GROWING
In the past four months, more than two hundred lending libraries have popped up beside people’s mailboxes in Bloom. The town is setting a precedent for surrounding areas, and several inquiries have been made as to how other small towns can begin a similar program.
“And Rick is happy about this and the fact that a different donation has helped him take the bookmobile to three other towns,” Jennie Sue commented as she turned the page.
“You’re sure doin’ a lot of good with your inheritance.” Cricket leaned over and bumped shoulders with her.
“Well, thank you. I do it in hopes that you won’t hate me,” Jennie Sue said.
“Not damn likely that could ever happen again,” Cricket laughed, and pointed. “Look, you and Rick made the news, and with a picture.”
“We really did. And look at that picture. It’s really good,” Jennie Sue said.
LAWSON AND BAKER WED
Richard Lawson and Jennifer Baker eloped to Las Vegas last weekend and were married in the Double Heart Chapel. They are making their home in Bloom.
“Good picture of y’all, right?” Cricket said. “I did a better job than I did with the one when you got off the bus that first day back in Bloom.”
“Yes, it is. Whatever happened to the ones you took of me back then?” Jennie Sue reached out and touched the newspaper picture, running her finger down the scar on Rick’s face.
“Oh, I still have them. I might need them for blackmail someday. I’m glad you took Lettie, Nadine, and me to Vegas with y’all so we could be there at the wedding. But . . .” She looked around the shop and lowered her voice. “I think maybe you turned a monster loose. They’re planning to go back next weekend and want me to go with them.”
“Go on and have a good time. I can hold down the store while you are gone,” Jennie Sue said.
Cricket turned the page and pointed at the next headline. “Would you look at that?”
SWEETWATER BELLES INDUCT NEW MEMBER