CH 17: Just Life
As the days and weeks melted into each other life rolled on. Charles Winchester was won over by Candace just as everyone else was. She spent many afternoons when it was quiet listening to his classical music and hearing about his life in Boston. Evidently she fed his ego beautifully.
"You really get to see the Boston Symphony when ever you like?" Candace smiled brightly one day.
"Of course," Charles nodded, "Have you ever seen them perform?"
"No," Candace sighed, "I'd love to though."
"Perhaps after the war is over your parents will take you," Charles stated.
"Sure thing Candy no problem," Hawkeye stated as he and BJ were having a martini on the other side of the tent.
Candace ran over and hopped in Hawkeye's lap cuddling into him.
"I love you daddy," she smiled.
BJ laughed seeing Hawkeye's face so proud at being called daddy was a sight.
"Hawk….Hawkeye…Ben!" Margaret called as she ran into the tent, "Ben your dad's on the line."
"Grandpa," Candace grinned as she and Hawkeye ran after Margaret.
"Oh…oh here he is sir," Radar stated as Hawkeye slid into the seat by the phone and Candace hopped into his lap.
"Hello? Dad?" Hawkeye shouted then laughed, "Hey dad how's it going?...Yeah we're all here….. You got it? Great!"
"We got the house," Hawkeye grinned.
"Yay!" Margaret and Candace cheered.
"Oh what's that dad?...yeah the girls are thrilled…..yes dad We'll get some made," Hawkeye stated turning to the girls, "he wants pictures of all of us together."
Margaret nodded.
"One minute left sir," Radar called.
"Right…hey dad…yeah dad I got to get going…what? Oh fantastic…. Okay dad we'll do it," Hawk nodded, "Okay girls one three say bye to him."
The girls nodded.
"3!"
"Bye dad!" all three shouted.
They heard laughing as Hawkeye hung up the phone.
"Grandpa laughs like you," Candace giggled.
Hawkeye smirked.
"What are we going to do about pictures he wants?" Margaret asked.
"We can take them at the wedding he'd like that," Hawkeye smirked.
"You picked a day?" Margaret blinked.
"Yep three from now on my birthday that way I'll never forget our anniversary," Hawkeye smirked.
Margaret rolled her eyes.
"Either way Mags you and I should get hitched in 3 weeks when your rings come in," Hawkeye stated.
"Rings?" Margaret frowned.
"Well every gal needs an engagement and wedding ring to show off. I sent a letter to dad with your ring size. He said they should be here soon along with your wedding dress," he stated.
"My dress?" Margaret frowned.
"Yes I sort of sent him some notes for Mrs. Peachtree. She's a dressmaker in town thought you'd like an original from her if not we can always give it to Kilinger," he stated.
Margaret bit her lip and nodded.
"Colonel Potter mummy and daddy are getting married in 3 weeks!" Candace shouted running into the Colonel's office.
A week and half later Radar dropped two packages and some letters off in Margaret and Hawkeye's tent. Candace was with Margaret when she got the package.
"Open it mommy let's see," Candace grinned.
Margaret unwrapped the box and took the top off gasping as she took the white gown out. It was white satin with short puffy sleeves and buttons all the way down the back and flowers hand embroidered in sequins on the bodice.
"Oh mommy it's so pretty," Candace gasped.
"It really is," Margaret smiled looking at it in the mirror holding it against her clothes.
Margaret was about to put the dress back when she saw something yellow in the box; along with a pink note. The note was from Mrs. Peachtree and read:
Margaret,
It's so good to know Hawk finally found a girl he really cares about. All of us in the Cove can't wait to see you and your little girl. Hope these dresses are just the right fit
Abigale Peachtree
Candace got up and took the yellow dress out the dress zipped up in the back and was a sunflower yellow with white sash and the same short puffy sleeves as Margaret's.
"It's so pretty!" Candace grinned.
"Daddy out did himself didn't he?" Margaret smirked.
Candace giggled as they heard Hawkeye approaching whistling. The girls quickly boxed the dresses and put them under Margaret's cot as he walked in.
"The dresses came in?" he smirked.
"Yes and you can't see it it's bad luck," Margaret stated.
"Fair enough…do you want to see the rings?" he asked holding up the other package the girl's hadn't opened.
"I do!" Candace stated climbing on the cot so she was as tall as the two adults.
Hawkeye laughed as he opened the package and handed a black box to Margaret.
She opened it smiling as bright as ever inside was a silver ring with a square cut 4 carat sapphire and two round ½ carat diamonds on either side. There was also a smaller plain silver band and a thicker larger plain silver band.
"This was my mother's," Hawkeye stated taking out the ring with the stone and slipping it on Margaret's finger and kissing her hand, "The others I had dad pick out for me."
"You and your father certainly know the way to a girl's heart," Margaret said teary eyed.
Hawkeye grinned as he closed the box the wedding bands still in it and pulled Margaret close kissing her soundly.
Candace watched them kiss smiling brightly.