Jack knocked on the girl's room door. "Kylie, honey?"
"Come in," she said with a sniffle.
He walked in and opened the shades. "Let's go down and cook dinner, sweetie."
"Dad, I don't feel like eating. Can I just sleep?"
"Kylie, I know what happened with Cam but I think dinner might help you feel better." She stared at him and then got up slowly.
"What are we making?"
"Roast pork, garlic mashed potatoes, and green beans."
"It does sound good."
Jack noticed her eyes were all puffy and red. "Why don't you wash your face before we go?"
"Dad, I don't care if you guys see me like this."
"Ok, then." They walked down the stairs and into the kitchen. Kylie was not expecting what she saw.
"Cam," she whispered, noting his black suit and tie and the flowers in his hand. She wished she had washed her face. "What's going on?"
Her dad had disappeared leaving the two of them alone. "Kylie, you've been crying." Cam set the flowers down and walked closer.
"Yes," she confirmed, her eyes filling with tears. "I'm so sorry. I love you and I don't want to be without you."
"I don't want to be without you either." He pulled her into his arms and held her. "I love holding you." He looked down and touched her cheek softly before kissing her. Finally.
Kylie sighed, feeling his lips on hers, her arms slipping around his waist to keep him close. When they pulled away slightly, Cam knew he could not wait two years. One year was pushing it.
He pulled a simple gold ring out of his pocket and then knelt down on his knee.
"Cam! What? I can't wait two years…"
"Neither can I. I want to marry you next year, after we graduate. Please, Kylie. I want you with me when I leave. I want us to be together. Will you be my wife?"
He seemed sincere. She touched his cheek and then helped him stand. "You were so against it, Cam. I feel like you are not doing what you want. I don't want you to regret us getting married. You'll resent me because I wanted it." She closed his fingers over the ring.
"Are you saying no?"
"I don't know. What changed your mind?"
"I told my mom what I was afraid of and she helped me see that we could work together and we would be just fine."
"Cam, you've never told me that you were afraid of anything."
"I told you. I said that I was worried that we wouldn't have any money and if you got pregnant right away it would be really hard."
"Money isn't everything, Cam, when we have each other."
"I know and she helped me see that. I want us to be in this thing together. You and me."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes. I'm sure." He opened his hand and held out the ring. "Will you be my wife, Kylie? I love you so much. I will do my best to be a good husband to you."
She held out her left hand for him to slip the ring onto. She looked up and then pressed her lips to his once more.
"Is that a yes?"
"Yes." She smiled sweetly and then hugged him. "I love you."
"You gettin married?" Lydie said from the doorway.
"Yes, little sister, we are."
"Yay!" She ran off again and soon everyone else who had been hiding walked in for dinner.
….
HOPE VALLEY
Em, Maddie, Ashley, and all eleven of their children were at Maddie and Nate's house for their weekly sister gathering. It gave them a chance to get together, swap stories and ideas about raising their children, and drink tea.
Em laughed. "So Zach asked me last night where babies come from. I knew the question would come but he's only six. How do you explain that to a six year old?"
"How old was Davie when he asked?" Ashley wondered as she sat down to nurse her youngest Jacob.
"He never really asked me. Lee had brought him out to see a new foal being born and had explained it to him."
"Ok, so what did you say?"
"I told him to ask his Dad."
"Em!" Ashley laughed. "Did you at least warn Lee?"
"Of course. He, however, told Zach we would talk to him tonight, all three of us."
Em looked over at Maddie, seemingly lost in thought. "Maddie? You ok?"
"Yeah. I just…I was thinking about Mom and Dad. I miss them. I wonder if they'll ever move here."
"I don't know."
"And, I'm pregnant." Maddie sipped her tea as if she hadn't just told them something big. It was big. Lucas was five and she had wanted a baby for awhile.
"That's great!" Em told her. "So is Amy and so am I."
"You are? That's wonderful. I'm due in January so I can't make the trip for Christmas."
"Let's ask mom and dad to come here this year."
…..
The next day…Harris Town
Elizabeth smiled at the telegram. Things were falling into place in her mind and heart. Three more grandbabies on the way and Kiki and Cam would be married within the year. That brought her closer to their big move. She would tell Jack that night about her idea.
She put a roast in the oven and sent Lydie, Bradley, and Charlie to the boarding house with Kiki to spend the night.
Then she dressed in her favorite dress, fixed her hair just the way Jack preferred, and lit some candles.
"Elizabeth?"
"Hey there," she said with a smile.
He walked over and kissed her hello. "Just us tonight?"
"Yes. We need to talk without sensitive ears listening in."
"Ok. How about a bubble bath after dinner?"
"Sure. Dinner will be ready soon."
"Ok, I'll go get cleaned up."
Ten minutes later, Jack, dressed in black pants and a white dress shirt, joined her in the kitchen. "Mm, you look handsome, love." Her butterflies were active as he approached.
"You, my dear wife, look beautiful." He kissed her softly and smiled. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were pregnant by all the fuss with this supper."
"Uh no, but Em and Maddie are."
"That's great. It's been awhile for both of them."
"For Em it's only been two years. Regardless, they are both due in January so they can't come for Christmas. They asked if we can go there."
"Sure. It's past time that we visit."
"I want to stay there until the babies are born. Would that be ok with you?"
"I would miss you but of course it would be fine." He wondered if he should spill his news or wait until she said something. "I have news, babe." He sat and pulled her to his lap.
"Ok. If I didn't know better, I'd say you were getting sent away on a new assignment." She touched his side burns, peppered with gray and smiled.
"What?"
"Nothing, go ahead with your news."
"I wrote to Nate and Will. I asked them to see if the piece of land next to theirs was available. It was. So I bought it."
"You did? When?"
"I received the papers in the mail a few days ago and signed them to finalize it."
"What did you want land there for?"
"For us to live on."
"How did you know I would want to go there?"
"Just call it husband's intuition." He kissed her softly and ran his fingers through her loose hair. He loved her hair down. "I know you, babe. You want to move and you hate the city and most of our kids and grandkids are there, along with your sisters."
"I do want to be there." She stood and removed the roast from the oven. "I want to live the rest of my days where we fell in love and started our family. It's important to me."
"That's why I made this." He took a folded up piece of paper out of his pocket and laid it on the table. "What do you think? Three bedrooms, a big kitchen, extra big for when everybody comes over, two fireplaces. The porch wraps around the whole front of the house which faces the west."
"It's perfect."
"Good. I'll send the plans to Lee and Lee Junior tomorrow. Then I'll hire some men to build it, with Tom and Lee overseeing it so it will be ready by next summer when we move."
That was what she wanted to tell him. After being married for so long, they had the same thoughts. She was relieved and excited about the coming year of their lives.
…..
Harry held Abbie's hand as it rested in the crook of his elbow. It made her feel cherished when he did that. Every few moments, he would gaze over at her and smile, but he never spoke. Now, they were walking up to the stream and the moon was shining bright on the water.
"Thank you for dinner, Harry. It was great." They had gone to the restaurant in town and eaten the best steak and potato dish she had ever eaten. Then they shared a slice of apple pie for dessert.
"It was good." He stopped and smiled, looking like he had a secret.
"Harry?"
"Abbie, I can't believe that just a couple months ago I hadn't even met you. Now I….I can't imagine my life without you by my side. I've never met a more lovely, kind, thoughtful woman. The way you take care of Holly and how much you love your family…it just makes me realize what a treasure I've found." He got down on his knee and held out the most beautiful ring she had ever seen. "Will you be wife, Abbie Joy?"
"Yes." She smiled, watching him slip the ring onto her finger. "It's so beautiful."
He stood up and kissed her, swinging her around. He had never been so incredibly happy before.
…
The next day….
"Moving?"
Elizabeth sat next to her mother-in-law at the table in the boarding house kitchen. "Yes. I think you should come too, Mom."
"Oh, but this is my home. I buried two husband's here."
"I would love if you did come, though. You're my friend, one of my best friends. I'm not sure what I would do without your advice some days."
"I love you, daughter, with all of my heart. I'm so grateful for all the years I've been blessed with you in my life, but I feel like I belong here."
Elizabeth blinked back her tears and hugged Charlotte. "I love you too. I want you with us but I understand why you want to stay. Just think about it some."
"Ok. I'll think about it."
Abbie, Kiki, and Holly walked in then from cleaning the upstairs room.
"Hi, Mom." Abbie kissed Elizabeth's cheek.
"Hi, love."
"I asked Abbie to be my maid of honor," Kiki announced, "And Holly to be one of my bridesmaids."
"That's wonderful, sweetie."
"I have news too," Abbie announced. Everyone turned and looked at Abbie. "Harry proposed last night."
Kiki and Holly squealed and hugged Abbie. "Did he ask Dad?" Kiki wondered.
"Yes, he did. He asked that Dad not say anything, Ma."
"I understand." She stood up and walked over to hug Abbie. "Congratulations, baby. I'm so happy for you too."
"Thanks, Mom. Will you be one of my bridesmaids?"
"Me?"
"Yes. You and Carlie and Holly, and I want Kiki to be my Maid of Honor."
"I'd be honored, sweetheart. When is your wedding?"
"Next month. August 15th."
"Wow! That's quick."
"Why wait? We are both old enough and we know we want to be together."
Elizabeth smiled at her and hugged her again. "Two weddings in the next year. Lots of good things happening to the Thorntons."
….
Three weeks later…
Abbie knew all of her siblings wouldn't be able to travel on such short notice so when Caleb showed up with his three youngest from Buxton and Will showed up with Mary and Becky, she was grateful.
Abbie sat in the kitchen of her boarding house, enjoying the quiet of the early morning.
She heard the door open in the parlor. "Abbie?"
"Harry?" She looked at him as he walked in. "What's wrong, sweetie?" He knelt in front of her and held on to her, his head reaching her shoulder. "Honey?" She looked into his eyes and saw tears. "You miss your mom?"
"I wish she was here."
She knew he would be missing his brothers too so she was able to arrange for a few of them to come. Hadley and his wife Sally along with Herb and his wife Mandy and two kids came, showing up the night before. Harry didn't know yet.
As if on cue, Abbie looked up to see them all enter the kitchen. She smiled and then kissed her fiancé. "Harry," she said motioning to the small crowd.
"Oh!" He stood and rushed to hug all of them. "I can't believe you're here. How did you know?"
"Abbie let us know. What I don't understand is why you didn't tell us, little brother."
"I knew we weren't giving anyone much notice so I didn't think you'd be able to come."
Holly walked in then. "Abbie, Carlie told me….Oh! Oh my!" She rushed to her older brothers, hugging them.
Abbie stepped into the parlor and wiped her eyes. She was going to be Abbie Yates in just a few hours and that made her so very happy. Those people in her kitchen would also be her family. The blessings in her life overwhelmed her then.
"Thank you," she said in prayer. "Thank you for all of them."
Elizabeth walked in. "Hey, sweetheart. Ready to get married?"
"Very ready."
….
LATE THAT NIGHT, ABOVE THE BANK
Harrison woke up and found the other side of the bed cool. It was nearly midnight so he had expected Abbie to be right beside him.
He pulled his pants on and headed out into the kitchen. "Ab? Can't sleep?"
"No. I'm sorry if I woke you."
"You didn't." He sat on the couch next to her and stared at her profile that was dimly lit by the lamp on the other side of her. She was gorgeous sitting there.
"You ok?"
She turned her head and smiled, her dimples showing. "Yeah. Sometimes I just need tea before I can sleep."
"I know it's different sleeping with someone in the bed beside you."
"Not really. Kiki and I shared a bed for years."
"I'm not Kiki."
Abbie laughed and set her cup down, moving closer to her new husband. "No, you definitely are not." She kissed his soft, warm lips. "Kiki doesn't snore."
"Do I snore?"
"A little." She took another sip and smiled again.
"Did I keep you awake? No one has ever told me that I snore."
"I'm sure I'll get used to it, honey. Like you said this is all different." She stood up and took her cup to the kitchen sink. "You comin?"
"Maybe I should wait until you're asleep."
She untied her robe, revealing the lacy white knee length gown she wore earlier.
"I think you should join me, Harrison Robert," she told him as she walked down the short hall. Who was he kidding? There was no way he was waiting.
"Coming Abbie Joy!"
