Disclaimer- jtbwriter says she dreamed she owned them, does that count?
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"Have they arrived yet?" Jordan kept sneaking peeks out the window, then Woody pulled her back out of sight.
"For a woman who planned this whole surprise engagement party, you sure want to be caught out!" He teased the medical examiner.
For an answer, Jordan simply met his lips with hers and whispered, "Only by you, Farm Boy."
Wanting to continue the kiss, Woody let it drop when Lily yelled out "Nigel and Wren just pulled up, let's see if he's done it!"
At once there was a stampede to the bay window of the Athaeneum, where the Medical Examiner's office was about to celebrate the engagement of Nigel and Wren, or as Jordan had dubbed it, the 'about time you proposed' party. The only person not privy to the information that it was an engagement party was Wren who had no clue Nigel was about to propose.
Jordan had bet Nigel he didn't have the guts to propose in public and he'd accepted. The stakes he'd named were Jordan finally learning how to do a computer search with something approaching finesse against a dinner for two at Jordan and Woody's favorite restaurant. So the entire morgue family was waiting at the windows to see if Nigel would pull it off.
As their friends huddled against the beveled glass panes, Wren turned away from Nigel to unbuckle her seatbelt, then heard the driver's side door close. She raised her eyes to see him with his hand on her door. As he opened it, he put a hand up to stop her from exiting, then got down on one knee.
Wren's eyes grew wide. "Nigel? Oh…my…." She stammered, for once totally speechless.
His face turned up to hers, the pale-faced Englishman finally managed, "Wren, my love. I.. know we come from different places, different worlds. But we have so much to share…and I never want to be without you, ever. You are my heart, please…luv, my bird, will you…" his voice choked.
With tears running down her cheeks, the Southern belle interrupted him. "Yes, darlin', oh yes!" she put her hand on his own moist face; then completed her answer with a kiss.
Finally catching a breath, Nigel's laugh erupted as he placed a round cut diamond on her finger and pulled her to him; kissing her again.
"I love you, Nigel." Wren gasped as he released her lips, then helped her out of the car. As they turned toward the historic old building, applause and whistles were heard from bystanders and blushing, the newly engaged couple bowed, and then ran up the steps to the entrance.
"Oh my gosh, that was so beautiful, just, oh…" Jordan wrapped her arms around first Wren, then her best friend. "I want you to be so happy, " she whispered in his ear, then he swung her around. "I am, luv, I am!"
"All right, Woody, pay up." Max smirked after they saluted the happy couple; then took a crisp twenty from his soon-to-be son-in-law. "Got to start savin' up for the wedding."
Woody grinned back. "Then I lost in a good cause, Max. Besides, I have Garret in for $30 that he would do the bended knee bit before Jordan and I say 'I do'!"
"Why you little, come here, son, talk about smart!" Max slung an arm around him, then walked him to the bar and yelled for a beer.
"Just a minute, you didn't wait for me?" Sarah stood in the doorway of the hall, mouth agape at Nigel holding Wren, spotting the flashing diamond on her hand.
"Sorry, Sass, wasn't my idea!" Wren dropped a kiss on Nigel's lips, and then scooted out of his embrace to hug her best friend.
"Welllll, all right, I forgive y'all this time, but you, sir…" Sarah pulled the tall Brit down to her level, "You be good to her or I'll forget I'm a lady!"
"Yes, ma'am!" Nigel chuckled, giving her a hug. As he released her, he saw a suspicious twinkle on her hand.
"Methinks the lady doth have news of her own?" he queried, raising an eyebrow.
"Sarah….when did he.." Wren opened her mouth wide, and then Sarah put a finger to her lips. "Shhhh, when he chased me to Memphis. I promised to wear his ring when I was whole, when I had 'Sass' back. He's given me the space and time, now if he'll still have me…" a crack in her voice betrayed her emotion.
"Why don't you ask me." A voice sounded behind her, and slowly Sarah turned to see Garret, looking good enough to eat in jeans and a leather jacket.
"I….Garret…" Too nervous for words, Sarah held up her left hand, showing him the beautiful ring.
"Then I'll ask." Garret came forward and embraced her.
"Sarah, will you marry me?"
Wren held her breath, as Sarah then whispered, "Yes, Garret, I love you, oh yes!"
An eye-popping squeal sounded from Wren when Garret kissed Sarah and lifted her off the floor.
Quickly grasping the situation, Nigel and Woody hoisted their beers and shouted "about time!" On the other side of the room, Bug reluctantly handed $30 to a smiling Max, who had "I told you so" written all over his face.
As hugs and kisses were exchanged, Wren's eyes met Jordan's, then Sarah's and all three women looked to where Lily stood at the bar next to Bug.
"About time, indeed." Sarah grinned and winked at her two co-conspirators.
"Are you planning more matchmaking?" Garret asked her.
"Only a little nudge in the right
direction." Sarah smiled up at him.
FIN
