"Should we head in and tell my children and our grandchildren our news?"
"I suppose so. There's no better time to tell them. I just hope it won't cause lots of problems for you." Leo says as he sits up and puts his socks and shoes back on as May puts her stockings and shoes back on. "I don't want you to be unhappy."
May sighs. She can't tell Leo that she won't be upset if her children don't approve of her choice, but she can't tell him that her children won't be upset either because she just doesn't know what will happen. They walk hand in hand back to the house. "Can I speak to all of you before you children head to bed?" May requests quietly.
"Of course, mother. What is it that you need to tell us?" Grace asks calmly as her brother Robert gets up and allows his mother to sit in the chair he'd just vacated. Leo sits on the arm of the chair and puts one arm around her shoulders.
May takes a deep breath and says, "Well you know that Leo and I have been getting closer again and that we care deeply for each other. Leo asked me to marry him tonight and I have accepted. I just wanted to make sure that the family we are creating with this union are comfortable with this." May says quietly as she places her hand on Leo's knee.
Leo's granddaughter, Maisey, comes over and throws her arms around her grandfather. "Congratulations. You've been so happy since you've been back in New Bedford. I'm glad you're doing this."
Leo puts his arms around his granddaughter and gives her a squeeze. "Thank you for your support, Maisey. You don't know how much I appreciate your vote of confidence."
May looks nervously at her children and chews on her thumb and waits for their reaction. She sees her son run his hands firmly over his face. "Mother, I can't believe you're even considering this. If you marry him he'll get a share in the mine. I don't approve at all, mother."
"Oh Robert, trust you to think of business first and your own mother's happiness second. I'm disappointed in you, Robert. I didn't raise you to be this way. He should have a share in the mine. Even if I wasn't marrying him he'd be getting a share in the mine. Leo helped find the silver deposit and he helped found the mine. I would appreciate a little consideration from you. I have enough of a brain to realize and recognize what I'm doing. Please trust me." May says as her eyes well up with tears.
"Mother, it's not that I distrust you judgement. I just don't like Mr. McGinty. I never have." Robert says bluntly.
"Robert, how dare you. You have seen how happy I've been with Leo and you're denying my happiness by saying this. I'm not going to be around forever and I don't want to be alone for the rest of my life." May says defensively.
"Mother, I want you to be happy and that's why I don't think you should do this. I don't want you to get your heart broken. Mr McGinty is a wanderer. What's to say he won't pack up and leave after you're married?" Robert asks seriously.
May sighs. "Let me field this question, May." Leo says as he squeezes her shoulder. "I won't be leaving your mother any time soon, Robert. I've finally found what I've searched for my entire adult life. I've loved your mother my whole life; I finally know what it feels like to be in love and I'm utterly unwilling to let her go now." Leo says seriously.
The tears are flowing around the room as Leo speaks and May buries her face in Leo's chest. "I'm sorry I underestimated you, Mr McGinty. Congratulations, mother!" Robert says after composing himself and then comes over and kisses his mother's cheek.
"Thank you, sweetheart. I appreciate your change of heart immensely. I know that you can be stubborn when you choose to be, so I love that you compromised." May says when she dries her tears.
Grace walks over to her mother's chair and kneels next to it. She takes her mother's hand between her two. She has tears streaming down her face. "I am privileged to witness such love as you two have. I'm glad you'll get to marry the love of your life now, mother." She says as she kisses her mother's cheek.
"What about you, boys? What do you think?" May asks as she shifts her position in her chair.
"It's nice to see you like this, grandma. You've been less grumpy and a lot happier since Mr. McGinty came into your life. We just want you to be happy, grandma. Right, Fat?" Hubert asks.
"Absolutely. We like Mr. McGinty very much and we'd be happy to have him as our grandfather. He cares about us and we care equally about him. Just be happy grandma, that's all we want for you: happiness." Henry says bluntly.
May opens her arms to her two grandsons and squeezes them tightly as tears pour down her face. "Thank you so much for your kind words, boys." May says as she dries her eyes. "It's time for bed. You go get ready and I'll come up and tuck you in in a minute."