After work, I came home and saw Ashley's car parked in front of the house. I went inside and saw him sitting on the couch with Jonesy, Cindy and Elizabeth.
"Hi everybody." I said with a wave.
"Hello Erin." Ashley responded turning to look over at me.
"Can I talk to you outside?" He followed me onto the front door. I sat down on the swing and sighed.
"Have you made a decision yet?" he stopped to sit down and put his hand on mine. "I love you Erin, you know that." I nodded, but my ears buzzed. This wasn't going to be as easy as I expected.
"Yes," I took a deep breath. Why was it so hard to tell Ashley I chose him? Finally I looked over at him, "I told Paul this morning that I couldn't marry him."
"Erin, that's wonderful. I want to get married right away. I love you. I have since the first time I ever met you and saw you completely covered in the water from that puddle."
I smiled remembering back to my first encounter with Mr. Ashley Longworth junior. "I was upset at first, until I saw you. I think I fell in love then."
"Miss Emily kept us apart, but I'm here for you now. I want us to get married. I want to spend my life with you Erin Walton."
"I've waited a long time to hear somebody say that."
"He never said it? You were thinking of marrying him."
"The wedding kept getting pushed off for jobs he and Ben had. I don't think our wedding should be less important than some job."
"I agree. That's why I want to get married right away." Our conversation was interrupted when Paul and Ben walked up the steps. Paul and I looked at each other briefly before he walked into the house. I couldn't tell if there was more hurt or anger in them, but I knew he was upset; but when Ashley touched my hand and a warm feeling shot up my sine I knew I'd made the right choice.
"Are you coming in for dinner Erin?" Ben asked looking at me.
"I actually wanted to ask Erin if she'd have dinner with me in Rockfish." Ashley spoke up and we both looked at him.
"That's your choice Erin." Ben replied and walked in the front door. I turned to Ashley as he smiled.
"I need my sweater if we're going to Rockfish." Quietly, I slipped through the front door and up the stairs. I heard everybody getting ready for dinner. The house was always so lively, even after Mama and Daddy went to Arizona, but even more so now that Daddy's visiting. I went into my room and picked up a sweater. When I started coming down the stairs I heard Ben and Paul's voices, so I stayed on the stairs to listen.
"I'm sorry to leave you like this Ben, but with John here, it won't be so bad until you find somebody."
"Paul, you don't have to leave. It'll be okay. Things can work out." Cindy said calmly.
"No," he said, "this is Erin's home. She doesn't love me and it's clear we aren't getting married. We cannot both stay here, I'll go and then it won't be a problem." I finally decided I couldn't stand there anymore and I quickly rushed down the stairs and out the front door. My facial expression must have looked worried because Ashley tilted his head to look at me as he took my hand.
"Erin, are you okay?"
I looked back at the house once more before I shook my head. "Yeah, let's go." I followed him down the steps and he opened the door for me.
"We can live in New York, I have so much to show you. We'll travel the world. We can go to London, Paris."
"I can't leave Walton's Mountain. It's the only place I've ever lived. New York is so big. I went once, but I don't know if I could live there."
"It's beautiful Erin. We can see your brother John-Boy. We can always come back and see your family and the others on the mountain, but I want you to come with me. We can start our lives like the war never separated us. I want to be with you Erin." I laughed the more excited he got talking.
"I want that too."
"So you'll marry me? I want to do it as soon as possible."
I smiled before this was the attitude I'd wished Paul had. "I'd love that."