Chapter 9
Ruthie gasped slightly before nodding her head and replied "yes I will marry you"
Martin stood up and slipped the diamond on her ring finger before bending over to kiss her on the lips.
When they pulled apart Martin said "I don't want to wait. I would like to get married as soon as possible. Is that okay with you?"
"Sure. I don't want to wait either. I'm sure my Mom and Lucy will be more than willing to help"
"Great. We should probably tell Aaron first"
"Yes especially since he has been so great about keeping our secret"
"He's going to be so ecstatic"
"You think so?" Ruthie worriedly asked as she frowned and bit the bottom of her lip.
It was one thing to be the 'cool' girlfriend, but it was something totally different to be the step mom, who would eventually ground you and have rules, etc.
"He loves you to death, trust me it is going to be fine"
"I hope so" Ruthie replied in a low tone before smiling brightly and saying "I have a lot of things to do before New Year's Eve"
"What do you mean?"
"Well don't you think that will be the best day?"
"Do you think we would be able to set everything up by then?"
"Yes, I believe so"
"So we tell Aaron tonight and tomorrow we tell your family?"
"Yes" Ruthie replied as she went into the kitchen humming to herself.
In the Camden living room
"Why are you so happy?" Eric asked his wife Annie, who was cheerfully shining the silverware for the meal tomorrow.
"I just have a feeling that tomorrow is going to be great"
"Well it should be. If Martin and Ruthie can stop from fighting with one another"
"I'm sure they have worked out all their differences by now" Annie replied as Eric snorted lightly.
"You think? All we need is for Martin to bring another woman over and it will be over"
"Haven't you noticed that he seems happier now, more content?"
"Yes but that's because he is dating someone"
"He admitted it to you?" Annie asked in astonishment as Eric had the grace to blush and admitted "Sort of"
"Oh" Annie replied as she thought about it.
"Plus" Eric continued "It is obviously serious since she is over there every night and Aaron seems to love her"
"So where does this leave Ruthie?" Annie murmured out loud to herself.
"Well you said yourself that she has been distant and she was in New York two weeks ago. Perhaps she and Caleb have made up" Eric frowned nervously as he watched his wife. He was never good at keeping secrets, especially important ones like the one he was hiding from his wife.
"Maybe but I was so hoping that Martin would see the light"
"What light?"
"The light that he and Ruthie are made for one another. It is right there, why are men so stubborn?" As Eric opened his mouth to respond Annie glared at him and said "Don't even think of answering that question" and walked out.
Brewer Household
Later that night as Aaron, Ruthie and Martin were eating dinner, Martin cleared his throat and said "Aaron we have some news for you"
"Is it good news?" Aaron asked as he looked over at his dad.
"We think so" Ruthie replied smiling slightly as Aaron looked at them both and said "We're having a baby?"
"No" Ruthie and Martin both exclaimed loudly and Martin choked slightly on his glass of ice water.
"Oh" Aaron replied unhappily and picked his fork up again and then asked "What is it?"
"Ruthie and I are getting married"
"Really? So Ruthie is going to live with us forever?"
"Yes" Martin replied smiling as Aaron stood up and hugged Ruthie before launching himself into his dad's arms and whispering "Thanks dad"
Early the next morning, which was Christmas Eve, Martin and Aaron took their presents and walked into the Camden's kitchen where Annie was making a batch of pancakes and Eric was making the coffee.
Lucy and Kevin were gathering the gifts around the tree and Savannah, Sam and David were in the living room playing a game.
"Good Morning" Martin said as he kissed Lucy and Annie on the cheek. "Merry Christmas" Aaron piped up as he gave everyone a hug and ran into the living room.
"So Martin, where is she?" Annie asked excitedly looking behind Martin, who in turn smiled at her confusedly before asking "Where is who?"
"Don't be coy! Where is the girl you have been secretly dating? We know you have been seeing someone so where is she? I mean we will get to meet her today right?"
"Well actually" Martin began as Ruthie opened the back door and walked in. Her curly, shiny locks were windblown as she took her jacket off, revealing a white cashmere sweater and fitted jeans.
Lucy watched with interest as Martin's jaw dropped and her baby sister flash him a wicked grin before stepping forward to kiss their mom on the cheek.
"Merry Christmas Luce" Ruthie finally said as she gave her older sister a hug and moved to brush a lock of hair with her left hand.
"OH MY GOSH!! When did this happen?" Annie exclaimed as she grabbed Ruthie's hand and dangled it in front of Lucy.
Right away they started jumping up and down excitedly as Ruthie pulled her hand away and replied "What are you guys talking about?"
"Is it Caleb? Did you two finally patch things up?" Annie asked as Martin growled in dissatisfaction and Kevin turned to look at him. Why would Martin be so upset about the question? Unless Ruthie and he...
Ruthie moved away from Annie and Lucy and grabbed Martin's hand. They smiled at one another before facing their astonished and bewildered family.
"I am engaged" Ruthie began softly as she squeezed Martin's hand gently and Martin cleared his throat and finished "We are engaged"
"A double wedding! How great is this!" Annie exclaimed happily as Eric, Lucy and Kevin looked at Annie in disbelief. Were they both engaged to other people?
Ruthie and Martin looked at each other, puzzlement etched on their faces before Martin replied "No we are engaged to one another"
"What! Congratulations!!!" Annie screamed as she walked over to give them each a hug and a kiss on the cheek.
Eric smiled as well as he stepped forward to offer his congratulations. "So when is the big day?"
"We were actually thinking of New Year's Eve" Ruthie replied beaming as she looked at her father expectantly.
"That's in eight days"
"I know but we want a small wedding and it shouldn't be too hard if we all help right?"
"I suppose you are right" Eric replied smiling at his youngest daughter. "So now that everyone knows, can we eat breakfast? I'm starving" Ruthie admitted as everyone laughed and they piled into the dining room.
Once everyone had settled down and started eating breakfast Eric excused himself and went to his office. He couldn't believe it, she was getting married and to the one man that was the best possible choice for her.
"Are you okay?" Annie asked her husband as he turned to look at her and smiled.
"I am. I just can't believe Ruthie is engaged"
"Well we still have David and Sam" Annie reminded him as Eric smiled and replied "Yes, but that's different. They are boys and it's a different feeling for a father when his son is getting married"
"Well aren't you happy that she's marrying Martin?"
"Yes I am. I was happy when he came and asked for permission"
"He asked you for permission? So you knew they were dating?" Annie asked her voice getting louder by the second.
Outside at the dining table everyone heard Annie's shrill voice as she demanded to know how long Eric knew.
"Uh oh" Martin said as Lucy, Kevin and Ruthie looked at him.
"What's wrong?" Kevin asked as Martin looked over at Ruthie before replying "I asked Eric's permission to marry Ruth and made him promise not to tell anyone that we were dating"
"What!" Ruthie exclaimed as Lucy asked "How long were you two dating?"
"Since the day after Thanksgiving" Ruthie sheepishly admitted as Lucy yelled "And you didn't tell Me?"
"Okay, let's try to calm down and enjoy Christmas Eve" Kevin, always the voice of reason, suggested as Lucy smiled at Ruthie and said "Sorry I overreacted"
"That's okay, I'm sorry I didn't tell you sooner"
"Well you can make it up to me by making me your Matron of honor" Lucy replied as Kevin said "Luce" and Ruthie laughed loudly before saying "You got it"
Finis
