Chapter 20
Thinking quickly that Vic could only mean AJ the night of their date, she said, "Of course he didn't, he went home shortly after you left, with Allison!"
"So it's AJ and not Mike, you love?" asked Victor confused.
"Victor, I love both of them," replied Harriett still confused at why he was upset with her.
"You tell me you love both of them and you don't understand why I'm hurt after the way you acted Friday night."
Getting a bit miffed by now Harriett demanded, "Just what do you mean 'after the way I acted Friday night'?"
"The way you were climbing all over me in the car and on the door step or are you just so hot for it, that any man will do, even a married one!? Mike is still married, isn't he?"
Hurt and confused Harriett reached out and stopped his pacing by slapping his face. "How dare you?!"
Rubbing his cheek Victor replied, "I dare because of the way you were kissing me Friday and the very next day I hear you tell Mike you love him and just now when I asked you about it you tell me you love the Admiral too."
"Victor Galindez! I love AJ as a father figure and what you heard me tell Mike was that I love him as a brother not as a brother-in-law, but it's you I'm IN love with."
His jaw dropped open and he asked, "What did you say?"
With her tiny fist planted on her hips she glared at him and said, "I said I love AJ as a father and Mike..."
Victor interrupted her saying, "No, not that part...the end."
"I said 'I love you', you idiot!"
With a cocky grin on his face, "I don't seem to remember the 'you idiot' part the first time, but I love you too."
Crossing her arms across her chest she said, "I already knew that."
Chuckling he replied, "Ah, my little know it all," and opened his arms to her.
Tapping her foot with her arms still crossed she told him, "I not sure I forgive you...yet."
"Forgive me!? You slapped me!" exclaimed Victor.
"I mean for the 'hot for it' comment and thinking I was in love with AJ and Mike. Wait until I tell them."
"Now, Harriett, honey, why would you want to go and do that?"
"Just to get that cute six of yours in trouble."
"You realize that either one or both of them might hurt me bad enough that I wouldn't be any good to you on our wedding night."
"Who said I was going to marry you?"
"Well, my mother won't approve, but if you just want to live in sin..."
"I will not live in sin with you Victor Galindez! You will have to marry me."
Placing both of his hands over his heart he gave a dramatic sigh and said, "Why, Harriett, honey, I accept your sincere and heartfelt proposal."
Going up to him she beat her tiny little fist on his chest and exclaimed, "Oh, you!"
Capturing both of her hands in his, he brought them to his lips and kissed them. Seeing that she still wore her wedding ring set he asked, "I don't have a ring for you yet, but I need to know if you are you ready to remove these so I can put mine there."
Blinking up at him with tears forming in her eyes she said, "I guess I hadn't thought about taking my rings off yet. It just seems so final."
"Well, I have known some women that moved them to their other hand to signify that they are ready to date again, but if you're not ready to give them up yet maybe you could do that."
"No, Vic, it's all right. I know that it's time to let Buddy go, I just hadn't gotten this far as to think about removing my rings yet." She looked down at her hand and with a sad little sigh took off her rings and put them in her pocket.
Knowing how big of a step this had been for her, he took her left hand in his and kissed her now empty finger. "I love you, Harriett, and I want you to be my wife, but I can wait until you're ready to take that step."
To be continued….
