***Monday***
Jonathan and Jennifer arrived back at the house around 3.
"Darling, do you think we could ride out to where the house is that Grand-mere left me?"
"Certainly".
After the car was unloaded, they got in the convertible and rode out to the neighborhood.
It took them about 15 minutes to find the street.
They finally found the house and were surprised to find the gate open.
They drove up, and Jennifer fell in love. Granted, they had a lot of work to do on the yard and everything, but she could see the potential.
There was a pond that seemed to be empty, and then out of nowhere, there was the house.
It needed paint, and a new roof, but it looked to be in good shape.
"Darling, why don't we contact an appraiser and a home inspector and have them come and just check everything out?"
"That's a wonderful idea. I should be getting my trust soon, so I will have some money to play with".
They drove out of the neighborhood and he suggested a walk on the beach. She easily agreed, and he pulled them up to the public access parking lot and they headed out to the sand.
He laced his fingers through hers and they walked a good ways.
"Something on your mind, darling?"
"Not really. Things are going to be getting pretty busy in the next few weeks, so I'm trying to get all the quiet moments with you that I can".
"I love that. What do you mean by busy?"
"Well, we have several meetings this week, several big decisions coming down that I'm going to have to decide on. And there's a few other things that I've been mulling over in my head, that I need to act on. And of course, I am going to spend as much time with you as I possibly can".
"Well, I love the last part, but darling, if you need to focus more on work, I understand. We have sacrificed so much to be together, and now we are together, and we both know we aren't going anywhere".
"Baby, I've waited long enough to have you out here with me full time. I'm not about to stay longer at the office the second you get here. It's going to be hard enough for me to be at the office with you so close by".
They walked back to the car and drove back to the house.
Max had dinner waiting on them, so they ate as soon as they got home.
"Did you two have a fun time at your bed and breakfast?"
"We did. It was a spa, and we got to pick our treatments".
"What do you mean treatments?"
"Well, they have typical ones, like massages and facials and things like that".
"And they also have weird ones where you end up with plants in places you'd rather not."
Max gave him a funny look.
"Darling, you said you enjoyed that".
"I did. But darling, they covered me in lotion and plant leaves and algae and wrapped me up like a baked potato in foil. I enjoyed it, but I'm not in a rush to do it again".
"Fair enough".
After dinner that night, Jennifer had Jonathan move the coffee table out of the way so they could practice dancing.
He dipped her and spun her and waltzed her all around the living room for a couple hours.
"We are a shoo-in to win that contest, darling".
"I don't know….Paul in legal, his wife used to be a professional dancer when she was younger".
Just before the news came on, they headed to bed.
As they crawled into bed together, Jennifer looked up at him and smiled. She gave him a few sweet kisses and then settled on his shoulder.
"Penny for your thoughts".
"I was just thinking how happy I am to be here with you, and how I just feel so at home".
He kissed her forehead.
"It makes me so happy to know that you are happy. That's all I ever wanted, to make you happy".
***Saturday***
Jonathan and Jennifer were getting ready for the dance. The committee had approved that couples could pick their own music, and would have 4 minutes to dance however they wanted.
Jennifer had gone shopping and purchased a new gown and a new clutch for the evening.
Her dress was off the shoulder, rose gold and sparkly. It had the shape of a Barbie doll dress. She put on some strappy black stilettos, and her new clutch was black sequin.
Jonathan came out of the bedroom in his tux and found her in the living room.
"Darling, can you tie this?"
"Certainly".
She had gotten him a rose gold bow tie and a rose gold handkerchief.
After she got his bow tie all perfect, she leaned up and kissed him.
"You look absolutely radiant, darling".
"Thank you. You look so dashing in that tux".
"Max, we will be home later. Don't wait up".
"Mr. H., didn't I tell you? My date Julia and I have tickets to your dance thing. It's for a good cause".
"That's right, it is. We will see you there, Max".
They drove to the venue, and Jonathan valet parked the car.
They walked the red carpet and posed for several photographs.
Inside, most of his employees were there. They all clapped for him when he came in.
He checked them in and got them their drink tickets.
"What do you want to do first? Eat, or dance?"
"I'm not really hungry, darling. Can we dance first?"
"Certainly".
He took her hand and headed to the dance floor. She stood over out of the way while he was on the microphone.
"Hello, everyone. Welcome to the annual Hart Ball, to kick off LA Gives Back week. Thank you all for coming. This year, just like in year's past, we are going to be raising funds for Mission Street Orphanage in San Francisco. That's where I was raised. They do great things for kids who just need someone to love them. Some of them are fortunate and get adopted, and others, like me, are not. Also, as in years past, we allowed the employees to nominate their favorite charity. I am now going to pick one out of a bowl. Actually, Jennifer, can you come draw this out?"
Jennifer walked out to him.
"This is Jennifer Edwards, my date. Ok, darling, you are going to reach in, eyes closed and draw one slip of paper out".
She reached in and pulled out a slip and handed it to him.
"World Wildlife Federation, for the conservation and ethical treatment of animals world wide".
"Oh I love that".
"Great choice, darling".
He handed his assistant the bowl with the slips of paper and then turned back to the crowd.
"Ok, as is customary, food lines are now open. Jennifer and I are going to have the first dance, and then the dance floor will open up later. Thanks for coming and enjoy yourselves, everyone!"
He led Jennifer to the center of the dance floor, and took her hand in his.
"Great job, honey. You were so masterful on the microphone".
"Everyone is looking at you in that gorgeous dress".
"I splurged on this dress, but you said the theme was the best night of our lives, so I wanted my gown to reflect that".
She looked at him after a few minutes.
"How many of these balls have you had?"
"This is the 6th one".
"Nice event".
They finished their dance and then after he announced the dance floor was open, they headed to get their plates.
Jennifer chose a plate from the taco company, while Jonathan chose shrimp cocktail and meatballs.
Everyone was coming up and telling them how pretty Jennifer's dress was and how handsome Jonathan looked.
After they were done eating, Jonathan went and announced the terms of the dance contest.
"Each couple gets 4 minutes. Each couple can pick their own music. There are 5 couples that have entered, and at the end of the contest, everyone can go vote at either of the dropboxes on either side of the dance floor. You can either write the couples number, or their name on the slip. The winning couple will get a cash prize, and the top 3 couples will get to draw a prize envelope. So, let's begin. My date Jennifer and I are couple number 1".
Jennifer handed their music choice to the DJ, and they took their place on the dance floor.
They had chosen to dance to "In the Mood", by Glenn Miller.
People started clapping as soon as it came on. Jonathan and Jennifer jitterbugged, spun around, danced cheek to cheek, the whole thing. He spun her over and over. At the end, he dipped her. They didn't look like two people trying to win a dance contest, they looked like two professional dancers winning everyone over.
She hugged him at the end of their dance, and kissed him.
They headed back to their seats, and watched the others.
Stanley and Deanne, Jonathan's secretary, were couple number 2. They were flawless, and had a very good dance routine.
The final couple was the next best couple. They did the foxtrot and really covered the whole dance floor.
Jason Mangrum, the head of accounting, announced the winners.
"Ok, so we are going to announce our top 3, before we announce our winner. So, could Mark and Donna Calkins, Mr. Hart and his date Jennifer, and Stanley and Deanne come to the dance floor?"
Everyone clapped for them as they headed out to the dance floor.
"Ok, so this is your top three. Will each couple please pick an envelope?"
Jonathan went and picked envelope 2.
"Ok, and now for your top overall winner. I want to say that this was not a close call. The winning couple beat the other couples by almost 40%. The winning couple is…..Mr. Hart and his lovely date Jennifer!"
The applause was crazy loud, and Jason came over and handed them their cash prize.
"Their prize for winning is $10,000".
Jason handed the microphone to Jonathan.
Jonathan asked Deanne to sit with Jennifer's purse and the envelopes with their cash prize and other prize while they had the final dance.
"Darling, where is the bathroom?"
"Over in the corner".
"Ok. I'll be quick, I promise".
She kissed him and ran to the bathroom.
A few minutes later, she came back, just in time for him to announce it was the last dance.
"Ok everyone, can I have your attention? It's time for my speech. If I can get everyone looking this way…I just want to say thank you for coming out and supporting the orphanage, and the animal charity. Jason is getting the final totals for me, so we will get to that in a minute. I also want to encourage you to give back to as many charities this week as you can-this week is always a great reminder about how we should always try and serve and help others when possible. Next weekend, Hart Industries is going to serve dinner at the downtown soup kitchen. We will need as many people as possible to help us out, so please consider signing up."
Jason came and gave him the totals.
"Ok, so the total donation for the Orphanage is $64,982.59".
Everyone clapped for that.
"And the total for the World Wildlife Federation is $61,248.97. Thank you all for donating".
After the applause died down, he continued.
"Now, as is tradition, there is one thing left to do. Jennifer, can you join me up here?"
Jennifer walked up to him.
"Max, where are you? Can you come up here?"
Max came up and stood over off to the side.
"I couldn't do what I do without Max. And I wouldn't have made it out of the Orphanage without him, either. He's not only my mentor and my father figure, but he's also my friend. So I know I say it every year, but every year I mean it sincerely. Thank you, Max".
They shared a hug, and then Max retreated to the side of the dance floor.
"Now this is the last part. A few days ago, this lovely lady asked me to tell her what happened at this event. And I told her all about it, but I left out this part. This part, darling, is where I tell them all about you."
Jennifer blushed.
"This is Jennifer Edwards. She is an award-winning journalist. She has worked for the New York Times, as well as other papers around the world. She is the most generous, genuine, kind-hearted person I have ever known. She literally puts a smile on my face every day. And she's put up with a lot from me. I have moved to Tokyo on her twice, and both times, she took me back with open arms when I returned. She has been by my side since the moment we met, and through everything we've been through, she's never lost sight of what we have and what we could be. I told her this week that I have a few decisions to make, and I do. Some of them I'm still deciding, and some I've already made. And one of the ones I've already made ended with me deciding that regardless of what happens with my company and regardless of what happens with everything else in my life, the one thing I know for sure that I want to do is I want to spend every day of the rest of my life telling you that I love you, and making you feel like you are the most special, beautiful, amazing woman in the whole wide world. So, with that-"
Jonathan dropped to one knee and pulled a ring out of his pocket.
Jennifer was shocked and covered her mouth with her hands, as the tears spilled down her cheeks.
"Jennifer Suzanne Edwards, will you please make me the happiest man in the whole world, by allowing me to make you the happiest woman in the world every second of every day, and marry me?"
She tearfully nodded yes and held out her hand to him.
He slipped a sparkling 4 carat radiant cut diamond with a diamond halo and a pave diamond platinum band on her finger and then stood up and kissed her.
She was crying as she kissed him.
The whole room erupted in the loudest applause she had ever heard.
Max was the first to come over and congratulate them.
"I'm so proud of you, Mr. H."
He gave him a big hug.
"Welcome to the family, Miss Edwards".
"Thank you, Max".
Max whispered something in Jonathan's ear and then disappeared into the crowd.
Jonathan and Jennifer hugged each other a few more minutes and then he got on the microphone again.
"Last dance, everyone. Enjoy yourselves, drive safely, and see you at the office on Monday".
They decided not to dance, but rather to head back to their table.
Everyone was coming up and congratulating them.
About an hour later, they headed out.
They posed for more pictures outside and then walked to the car.
"Darling, what did Max whisper to you?"
"That he was going to an all-night poker game so we could have the house to ourselves".
"That's very kind of him."
She kept looking at her ring the entire drive home.
"Were you surprised?"
"I definitely was. I never saw this coming".
"Never?"
"Not really. I mean, I overheard you ask my dad for your blessing when we were at his house, but when you didn't propose that weekend, I figured you weren't ready. And then I convinced myself that we weren't really ready. And then when you were giving your speech, I was like, oh, he's just telling them we are together and that he loves me. I had no clue until you dropped to one knee".
He grabbed her hand and kissed it.
"Oh, I've been ready. I just wanted to get you out here and I wanted it to be perfect. And walking on the beach the other night, I knew I wanted to marry you".
"Darling, when we get home, I want to call Pa. I want him to find out before it hits the press".
"Great idea".
He pulled them up to the house a few minutes later, and they went inside.
She immediately went to the couch and sat down and picked up the phone.
"It's almost midnight here, so that means it's almost 8 a.m. in London. Perfect".
She dialed the number of his gallery.
"Hello?"
"Hi. Can I speak to Stephen Edwards, please?"
"Just a moment".
"Hello, this is Stephen Edwards".
"Hi Pa, it's Jennifer".
"Hi sweetheart! How are you?"
"I'm fine. In fact, I'm better than fine. I'm calling to tell you that Jonathan proposed to me tonight, Pa, and I said yes".
"Engaged? My daughter is engaged?"
"Yes, that's right".
"Well, that's absolutely wonderful. Congratulations, and tell him that I said welcome to the family. You found yourself a good man".
"Indeed I did".
"Well, there's a wedding fund that you have. And your aunts are going to be ecstatic. You should probably call them tomorrow, sweetheart".
"Yes, I think I will. Pa, Jonathan proposed to me at his company's ball, so it might end up in the press. If you see it there, don't be alarmed".
They chatted a few more minutes, and Jennifer heard Jonathan popping some champagne in the kitchen.
"Well, I must go sweetheart. I love you, and I'm so happy for you."
"Thank you. How long are you going to be in London?"
"Just 3 more months, and then I'll be stateside the rest of the year".
"Perfect. We will plan the wedding for when you are home. Pa, I was thinking, and this is just thinking, nothing definite. But what if we have a private ceremony with just family, and then a big reception with family and friends? Would you be ok with that?"
"I am fine with whatever you two choose, sweetheart. Fancy or not fancy, it's all the same to me".
"Thank you, Pa. I love you".
"I love you too sweetheart. Talk to you soon".
They hung up, and she headed to the kitchen.
He handed her some champagne.
"To us being Mr. and Mrs. Hart".
"Oh, I'll definitely drink to that". They clinked glasses, shared a very passionate kiss, and then took a sip.
Just then, the doorbell rang.