(Chapter Thirty-Five)
The New Couple
There was a knock at the door.
"Jack, would you get that, please?"
"Of course, my love."
"Thank you," she replied, smiling lovingly at him.
"Hello Charles, Sofia," she heard her husband greeting their guests.
"Dinner's ready," Elizabeth announced as they took their seats at the table. Jack said grace and Elizabeth dished up the food.
"So – " she got right to the point after the "Amen" was said. "Why are you back in Hope Valley?" The question was directed to Sofia.
"Well," she started hesitantly, glancing over at Charles.
"Well, what?" Elizabeth questioned her again; but when Charles chuckled, Elizabeth turned her gaze in his direction.
"I'm sorry. It's just a bit of a funny story."
"But we will gladly share it with you," Sofia was quick to add.
Both Jack and Elizabeth wondered which one would tell the story. They figured they both would.
"When we arrived in San Francisco," Charles began speaking. "I hopped off the train and helped Sofia down. She missed a step and fell against me."
She looked deeply into his eyes. "I'm sorry, Charles."
"That's quite alright."
Charles had arranged for a car to be waiting for them.
"Hello, Driver. 2934, Maple Street, please."
The driver nodded, and Charles knew that the man understood the order.
Charles and Sofia were sitting in the back seat together. They both felt nothing but friendship between them for many years. But now, Charles felt sick to his stomach. He didn't know why, but for some unexplained reason, he didn't want to leave.
"Sofia," he whispered for her ears only.
"Yes?" she whispered back.
"I don't know why, but I feel a bit queasy."
"Oh, would you like something for the pain?"
"No, no . . . I'm fine. I – " he couldn't continue his speech just yet. This was a private conversation. One that he did not want to discuss in the back seat of a car.
"Are you sure? I have something right here," she asked again, opening her handbag.
"No, no . . . I'm quite alright. I – I'm fine," he finished lamely.
"Alright," she replied hesitantly.
A few days had past and Charles had not yet started his journey back to Hope Valley. He still felt queasy and he needed to find out why he was feeling the way he was. So he went to see a doctor.
"Nothing seems to be wrong. You feeling this way, where do you have the most pain?"
"Well, sir, it's not exactly pain. It's a weird queasiness. Right here," he replied, pointing to his chest.
"Well, the good news is that there is nothing wrong with you."
"And the bad news?"
"Well, there's not exactly bad news. I'm guessing this is a matter of the heart."
"My heart? Something's wrong with my heart?"
"No, son. I think you're in love."
"What?"
"Now, I don't know who the lucky lady is, but I wish you all the best. And – your stomach problems will be over when you tell her how you feel. So, I wouldn't put it off for too long."
"Thank you, sir," Chares replied, not exactly sure what to say.
"Anytime, son. Enjoy your day."
"You too," Charles faked a smile on his way out of the office. What was he supposed to do now? Was the doctor right? Was it a matter of the heart? Did he love Sofia, or was he just getting sick? Did the doctor really know what he was talking about? He must go talk to Sofia he decided.
Charles knocked on the door at Maple Manor, and a maid greeted him.
"Hello, I'm looking for Miss Sofia Connelly."
"Right this way, sir."
He followed the maid to the drawing room.
"Please wait here, sir."
Charles seated himself on a pale red sofa. He awkwardly squirmed and readjusted himself, anxious to talk to Sofia about his feelings, but afraid to do so.
The maid returned a moment later, alone.
"Follow me, sir."
He followed the woman through the beautifully decorated mansion to a door that led outside.
"You may go in," the woman prompted him.
"Thank you," Charles excused her.
As Charles turned the door knob, Sofia's head jerked his way and she smiled at him.
He slowly walked over to her.
"Hello," he said, sitting down beside her on the porch swing.
She smiled at him again. He wondered if she really liked him or just liked smiling.
"Sofia," he decided that he needed to get tight to the point.
"Yes?"
"I need to talk to you about something."
She held her breath. What was he about to say?
"I don't want to go back to Hope Valley – without you."
"What?" she asked, absolutely shocked by his words. I thought he just wanted to be friends.
"I know what you must be thinking, Sofia. I thought all I was looking for was friendship. But I – " he faltered. "I've been praying, and – I don't want to leave without telling you how I feel about you – about us."
She held her questions back.
"I – I love you, Sofia Connelly."
"Charles," she started softly. For just a moment he feared she would tell him that she wished for nothing more than friendship. "Charles, I – "
"Sofia, please, don't – "
"Charles, please, let me finish."
"Alright," he replied lamely, expecting the worst.
"Charles, you have no idea how long I've wanted to hear you say that. I admit, all I wanted was friendship. But somewhere along the way, that changed. You are a very special man, and I love you very much."
"Sofia – will you marry me?" he popped the question, arising from the porch swing and getting down on one knee.
"I – of course I will. Yes."
He jumped up to kiss her as she did the same.
"I love you, Sofia," he said, pulling back a bit.
"I love you too, Charles."
Charles did not have a ring yet because he had no idea where the conversation would lead, but Sofia did not care about a ring right now. All she cared about was the man in front of her.
"We had a few friends over to celebrate," Sofia was now speaking. "And we left to come back here shortly after."
"Sofia will be renting one of the row houses down the road. That's what we were busy with on Tuesday. Looking over the property," Charles took over.
"And I signed the papers this evening," Sofia jumped back into the conversation.
"Well, we are so happy for you two, and we wish you all the best," Elizabeth smiled warmly at the new couple.
Jack seemed please that Charles had found someone to truly make him happy. Now he knew, without a shadow of a doubt, that Charles would not be going after Elizabeth ever again. He had found his one true love, and he seemed extremely happy. They both did.