Chapter 17
A/N: What is the surprise for her
This chapter kinda got out of control. It is a nice long chapter. I got diagnosed with covid so I have some time to hopefully do some writing. Not sure if everyone is still following and enjoying this. I am truly enjoying writing it so I hope yall are too. Please review.
Benjamin was sitting in his office thinking about his future. He was truly happy with how the business was going. He had gotten four more ranch owners in the area to agree to let him handle their finances. He was proving himself and was thinking about taking the next step with Suzanne. She will be graduating in a few months. He truly wanted to marry her and then settle down in Charlottesville. He was not sure how this was going to work with her wanting a career in architecture, but that would work itself out eventually.
Suzanne walked into his office and stood in his doorway just looking at him. He was the most handsome man she had ever met and her mouth watered with how sexy he was.
He looked up and saw the far away look in her eyes and laughed. She had a way of making his heart race just looking at her. His laugh brought her out of her thoughts.
"What are you laughing at?" she asked.
"You, you were so far away in your thoughts. What were you thinking about?" he said with his eyebrow cocked up.
"Hmmmm, how the most sexy man in the world is right in front of me," she said as she walked over and sat down in his lap.
"Well, I just happen to have the sexiest woman on earth sitting in my lap, so I guess we are both lucky," he said, drawing her lips to his.
They kissed for a while, until he pulled back and asked, "What brings my gorgeous, sexy girlfriend to my office?"
"I thought my wonderfully sexy boyfriend would like to have lunch with me since I am done with my classes for the day," she said leaning down to kiss his neck.
"Who in their right mind would turn down that invitation from an out of this world beautiful blond," he said, running his hands up and down her arms.
After lunch he returned to his office. He called Joe and told him he needed to come out to the farm and talk to him.
Joe greeted him at the door and they walked into his study.
Benjamin was nervous and was wiping his hands on his pants legs. Joe observed his actions and said, "Ben what has you so stirred up?"
"Joe, Suzanne and I have been together for a while and she graduates soon. I was wondering if I have your permission to ask her to marry me?" he asked, hoping for his blessing.
Joe leaned back and stared at Ben hard. He wanted to make him squirm before he gave him his blessing. Joe had taken to shortening his name and now Ben would be his son-in-law. Suzanne had a good one in him. He wanted to make him sweat a little so he took his time answering him.
"Well, it is about time," he laughed.
Benjamin leaned over and put his head between his knees and let out the breath he was holding. He was light headed and thought he was about to pass out. He was thinking that Joe was going to tell him "No". He looked up and Joe was laughing and walking around the desk with his hand extended.
"I would be proud for you to finally join our family. Let's go tell her Mom and Eric," he said, putting his arm around him as they walked out of the study to the dining room.
Ellen was crying and hugging Benjamin and Eric was telling her to let him breathe. Ellen finally released him and Eric pulled him into a soon to be brotherly hug. The family was ecstatic about the news and could hardly wait for him to ask Suzanne. Ellen was already planning the wedding in her head.
"I am not sure how I am going to ask her yet, so let's keep this between us for now. She is working to finish her final design project and then has to defend her dissertation. I don't want to distract her so I want to wait until she has that wrapped up before I ask her," he told them.
They all agree. Ellen knew it would be hard for her to keep the secret, but with Suzanne being so busy she had not had much contact with her recently.
Benjamin returned to town, smiling all the way and thinking of how he was going to propose. He would need to make a trip home to tell his parents and get the ring his grandmother had left him.
Early April had arrived and Benjamin was on his way to New York. Suzanne was at the end of her classes and was scheduled to defend her dissertation in about a week. He wanted to have his plans in place for the day she got the news she had been successful in her defense.
Emma met him at the door when she heard him walk in. She and William were about to sit down to dinner and they walked into the dining room.
"So what brings you home Son, this was an unexpected trip?" William asked.
"Well, I have decided to ask Suzanne to marry me and I came to tell you both and get the ring grandmother left me for my future wife," he said with a huge smile on his face.
Emma jumped up and with tears in her eyes lunged at him. She was hugging him and crying at the same time. "I am so happy for you and Suzanne, you are making this Momma so proud."
William walked over to him and shook his hand and pulled him into a hug. "You are getting a wonderful girl and it will be our joy to add her to our family."
Benjamin was overcome with joy at his parents' acceptance of his decision. The next day he took the ring to a local jeweler and had it cleaned and polished. Ring in his pocket he returned to Virginia two days later. He just had to wait another week and his plan would be put in place.
Suzanne was a total nervous wreck, it was the night before her defense of her dissertation and she was pacing her apartment. She could not get her mind to settle down and was afraid that she would be unsuccessful. Giving up she grabbed her keys and purse and headed out the door.
Benjamin was sitting on his couch going over some spreadsheets when there was a knock on his door. He laid them aside and walked to the door. He opened it and was surprised to see Suzanne on the other side. He could tell by the distraught look on her face that something was wrong. He pulled her to his chest as her tears started. He was unsure what the issue was but suspected he could guess.
He led her over to the couch and sat down with her in his lap. He held her until she stopped crying and looked up at him. "Benjamin, I am going to fail tomorrow. I have not done enough to successfully defend my papers. What am I going to do?"
He wiped her tears and laid her head on his shoulder. She was always like this when it came to big events in her life. He didn't know where her insecurity came from, but knew it was his job to pull her back from the ledge. He picked her up in his arms and carried her to his bedroom. He sat her down on the edge of the bed and removed her shirt. He walked over to his dresser and pulled out one of his t-shirts and a pair of pajama pants. He walked back over to her and after undressing her put them on her. He then pulled back the covers and slid her under them. He changed into his own pajamas and joined her under the covers.
He pulled her across his chest and she snuggled her head into the crook of his neck. She fit there so perfectly. "Ok, we are going to get a good night's sleep and tomorrow you are going to wake up refreshed and kick ass at your defense."
She kissed his shoulder and relaxed into his arms. She finally was able to unwind and fall asleep.
The next day after three hours of defending her dissertation, she walked out of Lambert Hall with the title of Doctor behind her name. Benjamin was waiting at the bottom of the stairs and looked up when he heard the door. She took his breath away, she was smiling from ear to ear. She jumped into his arms and he swung her around. He finally set her feet on the ground. Her smile had her whole face glowing. He was so proud of her.
"Okay Dr. James, where do you want to go celebrate?" he asked.
"How about we get some take out and go to your apartment," she said with a grin on her face.
The next day Benjamin woke up with her practically laying on top of him, her golden blond hair spread over his chest. He pulled her hair back and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. He knew he had four days to put his plan in place.
They were in his car heading to Blacktop Mountain. It was the first place they had a picnic together and that is where he wanted to propose to her in their spot at the overlook.
They hiked up the mountain and set out the picnic meal. Benjamin had been nervous and fidgety all day and she was wondering what was up with him.
He took her hand and kissed it gently. "Suzanne, I am so proud of you. These last four years have been the happiest of my life. I can not express to you how much your love for me has changed my life," he said as he raised up on one knee. "Would you do me the honor of becoming my wife and living out our dreams together?"
Suzanne had tears streaming down her face as the realization of what he had just asked her hit her. She looked down and saw the ring in his hand and her hands went up to her lips. A teary "Yes" escaped her mouth and she threw her arms around his neck.
He held her tight and said, "Do you want the ring?"
She laughed and tilted her head back. She raised her left hand and he slipped the ring on her finger and leaned down and kissed it.
"This ring belonged to my grandmother, she gave it to me just before she died. She made me promise to give it to my future wife. I have had it in a safe at home since then. Now it is finally where it belongs. I love you so much," he said as he kissed her.
The kiss was a sensual one and neither wanted it to end. They pulled back from each other, knowing the hour was getting late and they needed to tell their families the news of their engagement.
The farm would be the first stop. They walked in the front door calling for her Mom. Ellen walked out of the kitchen and saw the glowing smiles on both their faces. She suspected what was about to happen and waited with bated breath.
Elizabeth raised her left hand showing the ring to her Mom. Ellen released the breath she was holding and practically ran to the couple pulling them both into her hug.
Tears of joy in her eyes she pushed them back, "Oh this is just the best news, I am so happy for both of you. Welcome to the family Benjamin," she said as she pulled him into a crushing hug.
Joe and Eric came in a few minutes later and more hugs and congratulations were exchanged. Benjamin led her away and told her they needed to call his parents.
Emma answered the phone and was immediately met with the joyous voice of her son. "Mom, she said yes, Suzanne and I are engaged."
Tearfully Emma told him how happy she was and so glad to be uniting their families. Benjamin suspected that the Moms had secretly talked to each other and were already planning the wedding.
Emma told him to let her talk to Ellen, "We are finally going to see our kids married. Time to put our plans into action," she laughed.
Benjamin overheard part of the conversation and laughed at the realization his suspicions were correct. He pulled Suzanne into his arms. He promised himself right then and there that her needs and happiness would be the most important thing to him.
They left the farm and headed back to town. Entering his apartment, they looked around. In just a few hours time so much in their lives had changed. They looked at each other and the reality of the day's event hit them both.
"Benjamin, we are engaged. I have never been happier than I am right now. I am truly the luckiest woman in the whole world. The man of my dreams is going to be my husband," she said.
He smiled at her and said, "I am the lucky one. The most beautiful, wonderful woman in the world just agreed to be my wife."
The next few days were hectic with her graduation and all the celebrating their engagement.
Benjamin was sitting at his desk opening mail, when his whole world collapsed.
He was holding the letter in disbelief and shock. A small part of him knew this could happen, but prayed it didn't. He needed to tell Suzanne, but how. He tucked the letter in his pocket and walked out of his office.
She was at her apartment packing it up. She and Benjamin would be moving into the bigger place they found a few days ago. The soft knock on the door drug her attention away from the box she was filling. Opening the door she saw him and then the look of heartbreak on his face.