“How about at the end of September or early October?”
She walked toward him, stopping with the bar still between them. “Yes. The colors will be turning by then. A perfect backdrop for a wedding. It will be beautiful.”
“You’re beautiful.” He leaned across the kitchen bar and kissed her. “It may sound corny, Skye, but you’ve made me the happiest guy on earth.”
The way Skye felt, she couldn’t believe the entire congregation couldn’t see the truth for themselves. It was a wonder everyone didn’t come over at the end of the service and start shaking Grant’s hand and congratulating them both.
But if anyone guessed she and Grant were engaged, no one let on, and the couple made it to her parents’ home with their secret still intact. The next half an hour was pure agony while her mom and dad asked Grant questions and he answered them. But Skye could only hold back the announcement for so long.
When a lull in the conversation occurred, she reached over and took hold of Grant’s hand. “Mom. Dad. Grant and I have something to tell you.” She tightened her grip. “We’re getting married.”
“What?” her dad exclaimed.
Her mom shushed him. “Let her talk, Rand.”
“We know it seems fast,” Skye said. “We’ve only known each other a few weeks. But we’re sure, Dad. We love each other. And we aren’t rushing straight to the altar. We thought this fall would be a good time for the wedding.”
Grant cleared his throat. “Sir, I love your daughter.” He looked at her father with a steady gaze. “I’m as sure of that as I’ve ever been sure of anything. I promise I’ll take care of her, be a good husband to her, cherish her always. You’ve got my word on it.” He put an arm around Skye’s shoulders and hugged her close.
Her dad was quiet for a long while, then said, “Neither one of you are kids. You’re old enough to make decisions for yourselves. I don’t know you well, Grant, but I respect the men who are your friends. That says a lot about you. And Skye, you know your own mind. I never had to worry about you the way I worried about your brother and sister. You were always more focused and self-disciplined than they were. So if this is what you want, then God bless you. I hope you’ll both be as happy as your mom and I have been all these years.”
Tears slipped down Skye’s cheeks as she got up to hug her father. When she turned toward her mom, she saw that she was sniffling. Happy tears, judging by the smile on her lips.
After they’d exchanged a hug, too, her mom said, “I’d best get that roast out of the oven before it turns to charcoal.”
“I’ll help.” Skye took two steps toward the kitchen, stopped, and turned to look once again at Grant. After several heartbeats, she mouthed the words, I love you. Then she left the room, her heart tripping with joy.
The meal was over, but they lingered at the dining room table over cups of coffee. Grant felt accepted by Skye’s parents. No small thing. It was easy to envision a future full of friendly dinners like this one.
Midge rose from her chair and began to clear the table. Skye got up to help her. Soon, running water and the clatter of plates and clink of glasses could be heard from the kitchen.
“I’ll get the rest of these dishes,” Grant said to Rand.
When he arrived at the doorway, he paused to look at the two women, mother and daughter, as they worked. It reminded him of home and his mom and sisters.
“I can hardly wait to meet Grant’s family,” Skye was saying. “Especially his mother. She raised ten kids, Mom. Ten. She must be full of advice, and I plan to ask her all kinds of questions when we get to meet. You know how I’ve always dreamed of having a big family like the one Grant grew up in. Oh, Mom. I can hardly wait until we have babies of our own. We’ll have a big old house with a rope swing in the tree in the backyard and ponies for the kids to ride when they’re little.”
Grant went cold all over. He knew Skye and her mother continued to talk, but their voices were more like a buzz in his ears now.
He and Skye had crammed a lot of information, questions, and answers into the short time they’d known each other. Whenever together, they’d talked. About everything. How was it possible she’d never said anything about wanting a big family like his? Never a clue that she was eager to add to the overpopulation of the world. But then, he couldn’t lay the blame at her feet. He should have made his own sentiments clear when he proposed. Or better yet, before he proposed. Why hadn’t he thought to tell her how he felt about it?
A sick knot formed in his gut.
Midge Foster caught sight of him in the doorway. “Oh, thank you, Grant. That was nice of you to bring those to us.”
Feeling stiff, he moved forward and set the dishes on the counter next to the sink.
As he turned, Skye touched the back of one of his hands with her fingertips. “I’ll help Mom clean up, and then we can go.”