Times Are a Changing Chpt 2
Tuesday evening, the brothers are getting ready to go to town with the final destination being Lottie's.. Jason and Jeremy are wearing their dress shirts and blazers, they both plan on dining with their spouse or soon to be spouse followed by a drink or two at Lottie's. Jeremy and Jason are wondering, however, what exactly are Josh's plans. He is wearing his best pale grey suit with blue vest. Jeremy pushed Josh away from the mirror so he could tie his tie, this action would normally have aroused a reaction from Josh where the brothers would be elbowing each other for the mirror but there was no response from Josh. Jeremy took this opportunity to inquire why he was getting gussied up. Jeremy wondered if someone died and they didn't tell him or Jason. Jason and Jeremy sat on the edge of one of the cots. Jason laughingly said to Jeremy " Doesn't he look real pretty, brother?" Jeremy wondered out loud " I wonder if they had a big fight and he is trying to apologize." Josh requested "Please give me a moment or two, this is serious."
Jason stared at his brother and became aware of the anxiety consuming him, he said "Okay, Josh, with what can we help you? I have to get going soon or I will have to wear a suit to tomorrow's dinner." Josh stuttered "I am going to ask Lottie tonight for her approval of me asking Maggie's hand in marriage. Oh, I finally actually said that out loud. I want to marry Maggie." Jeremy and Jason sat there with their mouths agape for a few seconds and then finally rose to hug Josh. Jeremy patting his brother's back "Congratulations, she will make a great member of the family. Wow, Lottie will be a certified member of the family. She will be your mother-in-law." Jason continued to sense concern radiating from Josh, he ever so delicately asked "Are you worried about her response, Josh?" Josh rolled his eyes and replied "Wouldn't you be, Jason? I have the reputation of the Don Juan of Seattle. She could have been killed by crazy Matilda. I am changing careers. What am I offering her?" Jason puckered his lips, stood up and placed his hands on Josh's shoulders "First off , Josh, you are Bolt with a wonderful ancestry and even better brothers and a sister. You still own a quarter of our mountain so you are not going to be destitute. You have a guaranteed career when you finish your training and education. You have a wonderful home being built on one of the best pieces of property in Seattle but most of all she is lucky because you are intelligent, loyal, generous man. You will be a tremendous father and husband. Plus she will have me as a brother-in-law." Jason backed up and bellowed " For our new sister-in-law" he put his hand out, followed by Jeremy's hand on top of his and completed by Josh's hand. A look of concern crossed Jason's face "You better tell Jemma. If she finds out from any townspeople, she will be fit to be tied that she was not included in this little discussion." Josh smiled " I told her first for that exact reason."
As the brothers headed for town, Jason remembered his grandmother's ring on his mother's side. "Josh, would she want Grandma Maclean's sapphire with diamonds ring for the engagement? If so come with me to Kathleen's cabin and I will give it to you. Jeremy has father's wedding present diamond earrings to mother, Jemma has a gold necklace with the family emblem. You can always get her another ring if she doesn't like it but you will have something when you ask." Josh smiled "Thank you, brother. Your offer takes care of one of my problems." As Josh and Jason turned to his cabin and waved goodbye to Jeremy, Jeremy yelled back "Uncle Duncan is the only single Bolt now."
Jeremy was looking forward to a quiet evening with his family, it had been a busy week so far with training new employees and maintaining schedules for their customers. He was quite surprised when he opened his front door to find not only Candy, Molly and Chris but that they had dinner quests, Biddie, Rodger, Lizbeth, and Marsha. Candy ran to the arms of her husband and planted a romantic kiss on him. Jeremy smiled and welcomed the company but he was dead tired. Rodger approached Jeremy and inquired how Jason was holding up as his wedding approached. Jeremy replied "If ever a man was ready to get married, it is Jason." Jeremy poured himself a drink and refreshed Rodger's, he tilted his head back to indicate let's talk outside. As they stepped out Rodger apologized "I guess that you didn't know that you were having a dinner party." Jeremy sighed "It is not a problem, I do think Candy and Biddie have been attached at the hip for so long, there may be an adjustment period for them or us. Our families are now bonded at the hip forever so some realistic expectations need to be set. I enjoy company but not just every day but then I am up at the camp a lot so who am I to complain. We just need to work on it a bit." Rodger shook his head "well maybe I will be helping a bit. I am going to start having Biddie for dinner more but I feel bad because she insists on cooking." Jeremy quickly chimed in "Biddie has to be doing something all the time which is how she has managed to get herself in trouble a few times. She loves to cook, all you have to do is complement her and she will be happy." Rodger in an earnest voice "I want to make her happy. I see a future with her." Jeremy smiled at Rodger and thought thank God.
Aaron was wondering what surprise his wife had prepared for dinner. She was an excellent cook and her desserts could be marketed. As he opened his front door, he thought that it was odd that he didn't smell anything. He frantically called for Jemma as he was certain some evil must have befallen his wife and daughter as she ALWAYS had dinner ready on the table when he got home. Jemma came down the stairs holding April smiling "I am right here, darling. Your girls thought this is a perfect night to go to Lottie's for dinner. Don't you agree?" Aaron was relieved to find everything alright but it didn't erase an uneasy feeling that something was not right. He kissed his wife's head and took his daughter into his arms then questioned "What is up? I feel it in my bones. You normally don't decided to go to Lottie's on a whim for dinner. Let me quess, Kathleen came to her senses and dumped Jason and we all need to console him." Jemma was not amused and pinched her husband's arm. She scolded her husband "I know that you don't mean that. You and Jason have become best friends and partners. Oh, have you thought about San Fran?" Aaron growled "Not really, it just doesn't feel natural to me and you are not getting me off topic about why suddenly you want to go out to dinner. I know there is a reason and it probably involves your brothers." Jemma finally broke down "You are correct , there is reason but I promised that I would tell no one but you will know by the end of the evening. PLEASE let's go to dinner and I promise one way or the other by the end of the evening you will understand." Aaron had annoyed written all over his face when he said " It is wrong that one of your brothers would request that you keep a secret from you husband but I will do this for you. Don't be surprise if I say something to your brother though afterwards." Jemma ever so coyly approached her husband and kissed him which resulted in an immediate smile from Aaron. As they exited their home Aaron was saying "This doesn't mean that you have me under your spell." Jemma just laughed "Yea, yea yea."
Clancy watched from his ship as the Stempel family happily crossed the square to Lottie's. He had been inspecting the Shamus for the last 15 minutes. He loved the old ship but was it time to move on? He missed his friends when he was at sea but he also missed the sea when he was on land too long. Maybe he will get a chance to seek Jason's counsel while on the way to San Fran.