Sunny's Love

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 was preparing breakfast. “Good morning, you’re up early, Sunny.”

“I wanted to talk to you before I get the kids up.” She reached into the cupboard for a coffee cup, poured fresh coffee into the cup and reached for the creamer. As she did, Alice gasped.

“What’s wrong, Alice?” She poured the creamer into her cup and stirred.

“Is that a diamond ring on your finger?”

“Yes, it is. That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. Chase and I are getting married. Very soon, in about a month to be exact and I need your help with the planning. It’ll be small so don’t worry.”

“You and Chase…I knew there were sparks there…but Sunny, it’s so quick. You two didn’t…you aren’t…?”

Sunny laughed. “No, we haven’t, and no, I’m not pregnant. We fell in love at first sight, so to speak, and decided not to wait. We live in the same house. Do you know how hard that’s been?”

“I’m so happy for you.” Alice hugged her, just as Chase walked into the kitchen.

“Apparently the secret is out. Good morning, sweetheart.” He kissed Sunny on the forehead and helped himself to coffee.

“You’re a sly one, Chase Dupont,” Alice scolded him good-naturedly.

“What can I say, Alice, darling? This sweet, young thing came into my life and turned it upside down.”

He certainly is playing his part well.

Turning to her, he said, “Honey, after you finish your coffee, we need to get the children up and tell them the good news. After that, I believe you have phone calls to make.”

“Yes, Alice, you can call Alma if you want to. I know you’re dying to be the one to tell her.” Sunny laughed as she took another sip of coffee.

They went upstairs together a few minutes later. Sunny went into Ali’s room and gently woke her as Chase did the same with Brice.

They met in Chase’s bedroom. With the four of them sitting on Chase’s king-sized bed, Chase began, “Sunny and I have something to tell you. I hope you’re both going to approve.”

“What is it, Daddy?” Ali asked as she looked from her dad to Sunny.

“Well, last night I asked Sunny to marry me and she said yes. Is that all right with the two of you?”

Ali looked at them both and looked at Brice. For once, the little chatterbox was speechless.

Brice spoke first, “That means you’ll be my mommy forever and ever.”

“Yes, Brice, she will. Your other mommy will always be in your heart and she watches over you from Heaven everyday, like we’ve talked about. But Sunny will be your new mommy here.”

“Sunny, can I call you Mommy now?” Ali asked.

“After the wedding, sweetheart, if you want to. If you’d rather call me Sunny, that’s okay too.”

“Okay, do I get to be the flower girl?”

“Yes, if you want to and Brice can be the ring bearer.”

“What’s that?” Brice asked.

“Well, my little man, that is the person who carries the wedding rings. It’s a very important job. Do you think you can handle it?”

“Heck yes. I’m not a baby.”

They all laughed after that and hugged as one big happy family. It was almost too good to be true and Sunny almost pinched herself to make sure it was.

After Chase dressed the children and took them down for breakfast, Sunny called her mother.

“Mom, are you sitting down? I have some exciting news to share with you?”

“Sunny, what in the world is going on? You sound happy.”

“Chase asked me to marry him. And before you say anything, I know it’s sudden. I’m not pregnant. I love him and we don’t want to wait.”

“Okay, when?”

“In about a month, I’ll have to get back to you with the details. We’re getting married in a church here in Palm Beach. It will be very small, but of course, we want you to be here. And, Mom, I hope you don’t mind, but I’m going to ask Dr. Rose to walk me down the aisle.”

“I don’t mind, honey. I think he’ll be honored to do that.”

“You’re okay with this?”

“Sunny, if you’re okay with this, that’s all that matters. You’re taking on a lot, marrying a man with two small children. If you truly love him and he makes you happy, then I’m happy.”

“Thanks, Mom. I’ll call you when I know more.”

“Goodbye, Sunny Jo, and if there is anything I can do to help, let me know.”

“I will, bye, Mom.”

Feeling slightly sentimental after the phone call, she went downstairs to join her new family for breakfast.

“Call your mom?” Chase asked as she sat down and helped herself to fruit and toast.

“Yes, she’s fine with it.”

“Good. When I know the date, I’ll send her a plane ticket.”

“Have you called your mother?”

“No, not yet, I’ll call her after breakfast. She’ll probably be on the next plane down here to oversee the whole thing. I thought I’d warn you.”

“Don’t be scaring the poor girl, Chase. Sunny, Marty is wonderful and if she offers to help, you should take her up on it.” Alice added, “Alma sends her love, by the way.”

“You didn’t waste any time calling her, I see.” Sunny grinned affectionately at the housekeeper.

“No, ma’am, I didn’t.”

Chase threw his head back and laughed heartily. “Did you and Alma really think you were being inconspicuous with your matchmaking, Alice?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Sunny and I were onto you two, from the start.”

“You were?”

“Yes, we were, but that’s okay. Sunny and I thought it was cute, didn’t we, sweetheart?” He looked at Sunny lovingly. She could almost believe he really did love her.

“Yes, we did, we talked about it the night Chase took me to his restaurant for dinner, Alice.”

“Well, it worked, didn’t it?” Alma looked at the two of them.

“Yes, I guess it did. Now I need to call my mother and go see Reverend Key so we can get this show on the road.” Chase walked over to Sunny and planted a kiss on the top of her head. “I’ll catch up with you later, baby. We have things to talk about.”

“Okay. Finish your breakfast, kids and I’ll take you outside for a while while Daddy is busy.” Sweetheart …we may be laying it on a little thick.

She cleaned the children’s faces before she took them outside as promised. She let them play on the swing set as she kept a watchful eye on them.

She was joined by Chase after a little while and he handed her a glass of lemonade.

“Thank you,” she said as he sat down in the chair beside her.

“That went well, don’t you think?” he asked as he took a long drink of his lemonade.

“Yes, but we may be laying it on a little thick with all the terms of endearment, don’t you think?”

“No, baby, I don’t think that at all. You’d better get used to it. I intend to spoil you rotten.”

“But, Chase, you don’t have to do that.”

“Yes, I do. Just because this isn’t a traditional marriage doesn’t mean we can’t be affectionate with each other. You said yourself, you’re fond of me. And if you don’t know by now, the feeling is mutual, you must be blind, Sunny. Just because I’m affectionate, however, I meant what I said last night. I won’t rush you.”

“What did Marty say when you called her?”

“Just as I thought, she wants to fly down and meet you. She suggested your mother fly down at the same time. The week before the wedding, so they can both help with the arrangements. I guess that means we need to go see Reverend Key. How soon can you be ready?”

“I can be ready as soon as I ask Alice to watch the kids. You want me to go with you?”

“Yes, I think that would be best, don’t you?”

“All right, I’ll go talk to Alice. Are you finished with your lemonade? I’ll take your glass in. You watch the kids.”

“See, we sound like an old, married couple already. You’re giving me orders.”

“I’m sorry, Chase, I didn’t mean…”

“Baby, I’m playing with you. It’s okay. Stop apologizing.”

“I guess I’ll have to get used to this new arrangement.”

“Yes, you will, Sunny. Now scoot, we need to get going. I want you to sign some paperwork my attorney drew up, later. The paperwork adding your name to the company and the Board of Directors I told you about.”

“I’ll hurry.” She went into the house, cleared it with Alice about the children, and went upstairs to get her purse. She sat on the bed to get her bearings. I really have to get used to this new way of acting around Chase. I can’t give it away that we are anything but a couple in love. I love hearing him call me his baby…too bad it’s not for real.

Taking a deep breath, she walked back downstairs and informed her new fiancé she was ready to leave.