Chapter Forty-Five

It was the end of April, and spring was in full bloom. Heath, along with Sharon, Tara, and Sean, were driving out to the ranch after Sunday services. He and Sharon had spent the last two months seeing each other quite a bit. There had been picnics with the children and socializing with family and friends. A traveling theater troupe had passed through town at the end of March, which they went to see.

On Friday night they had dined at the main restaurant at the Empire hotel, rather than the Chart House as Sharon had specified when they made their agreement. The Chart House was closed, so Heath picked out the fanciest restaurant in Stockton. Now they were going to tell Sean and Tara, and then announce the engagement at Sunday dinner. Heath pulled off the road, and into a small clearing in the orchard. Sharon noticed that the trees were covered in orange blossoms and thought it ironic. Those were considered wedding flowers by the English.

"Why are we stopping?" Sean asked from the back seat, while Tara stood up to try to reach the flowers on the trees.

"Tara lass sit down. I will pick some flowers for you after we talk." Sharon turned around and smiled at the little girl. "Mr. Heath and I have an announcement to make to you both. He asked me to marry him Friday night, and I have said yes." Inwardly she was holding her breath, wondering what the reaction would be.

"Does that mean he will be our father? Can we call him Papa?" Sean asked eagerly, while Tara reached over to hug Heath.

"We can talk about what you call him. I am glad that you are both happy." Sharon hugged Sean, and then looked over at Heath. "I think you should decide what the children call you."

Heath nodded his head, realizing he had not given the matter any thought. The children had had a father, and he wondered what the man's relationship with the children had been. Turning his mind away he remembered the item he had in his pocket.

"When I proposed to your mother on Friday, I did not have the ring. I wanted to make sure that you were good with us getting married." He spoke to Sean and Tara, as he took a small black velvet box from his inside jacket pocket. Heath opened it, and then showed it to Sharon. He was curious as to what her reaction would be.

"Heath, tis tis" Sharon was speechless, and she felt her eyes go wide. The ring she was looking at was the same one he had offered seven years ago. It was set with five round emeralds in a row, with small rose cut diamonds at either end, in gold. The ring had taken her breath away then, and it so again today. The emeralds were good sized, perfectly matched, and dark green in color.

"Children I chose this ring because the green stones represent Ireland, your mother's birthplace." Heath said, as he took the ring out of the box.

Sharon felt him reach for her hand, and realized she needed to take her glove off. It also came to her that she could not ask about the ring in front of Sean and Tara. As he slid the ring on her finger it almost felt like it burned, and it took everything to keep her hand steady. After placing the ring on her finger, he reached over and kissed her on the cheek, and she noted how tight his lips were.

A feeling of – unease – guilt – she was not sure what washed over her. Sharon had the strongest desire to not go through with the marriage. Just as she had that thought, she saw how happy her children were. They had never had a proper father in their lives. The children and been four and three respectively when Paul had passed. Paul though had never taken a great interest in Tara, and only paid Sean attention if people were around.

Sharon told herself that she was doing the right thing for her children. It was important for them to have a father – a good father. She knew that Heath would always care about Sean and Tara, and they would never lack for anything.

"Mama, can I see the ring?" Tara's voice broke into her thoughts, and Sharon pushed them aside. She held out her hand, and let the little girl admire the ring. Sharon was glad that it fit but was still surprised that Heath had held onto it for so long.

"It is pretty, but I would rather have a pony!" Tara commented after she had studied the ring. Her comment caused Heath to laugh happily.

"We'll see if you feel that way in fifteen years." He winked at Sharon, while Sean just shook his head.

"Knowing Tara, she will want a ring and pony." Sean offered as he jokingly pulled a lock of her hair. She gave him a fierce frown in return.

"Well, as her brother you will need to make sure that whoever she marries, they will be able to give her a ring and pony. Brothers have to watch out for their sisters." Heath explained to Sean, and Sharon was touched at the attention he paid to her children.

"Did you do that Mrs. Wheeler?" Sean asked, with a serious look on his face.

"Absolutely. Mr. Jarrod, Mr. Nick and I were always looking out for her." Heath winked as he talked.

"Poor Mrs. Wheeler with three brothers." Tara sighed, giving Sean a sideways glance.

"I think we need to be getting up to the house, so we don't hold up Sunday dinner." Sharon had enjoyed watching the interactions; it confirmed that she was doing the right thing by marrying Heath.

When they arrived at the house Ciego took the surrey, after Heath had helped first Sharon, and then Tara down. Sean had jumped down on his own and was waiting at the stairs.

"Mr. Heath is marrying my mama." Tara announced first thing as they came into the parlor where everyone was gathered. Sharon gave Heath a rueful look; they had planned on announcing the engagement at the table. All the occupants in the room exclaimed happy surprises, with Priscilla and Audra crowding around Sharon.

"Silas, we need champagne." Jarrod announced, as he clapped Heath on the back. Nick came over and gave Heath a big hug. Silas brought the champagne, which was opened and poured. A toast was offered by Jarrod and Victoria, welcoming Sharon, and the children to the family.

"Have you thought about the wedding?" Priscilla asked, putting her hand on Sharon's arm. Her eyes widened, as she had not given a great deal of thought to the ceremony.

"Tis would be unseemly for me, as a widow to have a big church ceremony, but" Sharon paused trying to figure out how to say what she was thinking. "But my first wedding was very simple and plain. I remember, before I left Ireland, His Grace, the Duke, gave a dinner party for his wife. It was outside – they took the furniture and everything outside. There were lights in the garden, and then dancing under the stars. I had never seen anything like it. It would be fun to have such a party." She smiled with reminiscence.

"I have the perfect idea" Priscilla enthused, and then paused. "If you already have a plan, I understand; it is yours and Heath's wedding."

"No, not really Priscilla. I would love to hear your idea." Sharon gave Priscilla an encouraging nod of her head. She then looked at Heath, who smiled but did not say anything.

"What if we do a small ceremony with the vows in the garden, late in the afternoon? We can have family and a few close friends in attendance." Priscilla tilted her head as she spoke. "Then we have a large dinner party outside, in the garden. We can set up tables for the guests to sit out, and then after the meal, Sharon you and Heath can cut the wedding cake. I think we should have a dance floor also, so you two can do the opening waltz. We will have torches all around the area, to provide light."

"Tis so wonderful sounding!" Sharon felt like she was going to cry, as she imagined what the event would be like. She then gathered her thoughts and turned to look at Heath. It was his wedding too, but she hoped that he would not be like her late husband.

Heath in fact had been watching Sharon as Priscilla laid out her plans, and he could see how excited she was about the wedding. In truth, Heath had only partially been listening to Priscilla, because he already knew it would be elaborate if she had her way. He was willing to defer to Sharon about the wedding, since it was only window dressing anyway.

"If you are happy, then so am I" Heath stated, putting his arm around Sharon. It had come to him that he needed to show some affection in front of his family, so they believed the story.

"We can get working on the plans. Sharon, you need to let me know who you want to invite, and Heath" Priscilla looked at him and then Victoria. "Would you and Victoria like to work on the guest list for your side? Sharon says she wants a party, so we need to give her one." Her eyes were shining and dancing with happiness.

"Mother, I would be happy if you took care of the guest list. You have more experience with that kind of thing." Heath raised his glass of champagne in her direction. "I will give you a couple of names, but you know everyone we would want at the reception."

"Mr. Heath I am so happy for you and Miz Flynn." Silas spoke up, as he regarded the couple. "I would like to have the honor of baking both the bride and groom's cakes. Mr. Heath, he likes a chocolate cake; Mrs. Flynn what kind of cake to you like?"

"Thank you Silas, that is so wonderful of you." Sharon beamed at him, honored at what he was doing. "I do not want the traditional heavy wedding cake, like we do in Ireland. What about something light, with fruit? It is spring after all." She looked expectantly at the older man.

"Leave it to me, Miz Flynn I will come up with something." Silas answered with pride.

"What are your plans for the wedding trip?" Nick asked loudly, as he smirked at Heath. Sharon saw that and felt her cheeks turning pink, but not surprised at what the man was implying. She was also curious as to what Heath had in mind.

"I was going to surprise Sharon, but now is as good as time as any" Heath paused as he smiled down at her. "We are going to San Francisco."

"San Francisco!" Nick's voice was even louder, as he gave his brother an incredulous look. Heath knew exactly why Nick was reacting like that, but he had a story all set.

"Yes, San Francisco. Sharon can do some shopping for herself, and we are going to the theater." He smiled as he went on "She has introduced to the pleasure of going to the theater; we enjoy it very much." In truth Heath had enjoyed the two outings he had done with Sharon to see a show.

"Sharon, thank you for that." Victoria declared. "Jarrod and I have spent years trying to get Heath to spend time at the theater and opera. The companies in San Francisco are very good, and we have season tickets that you are welcome to use." She came over and hugged the red-haired young woman, and then Heath.

"On the subject of gifts, Priscilla and I have something we would like to do." Audra and Priscilla had been talking quietly, and now they both looked at Sharon. "We want to provide your dress, and Tara's dress for the wedding. We can go up to the city and get everything ordered."

Sharon was touched at what the two women wanted to do, even as she struggled with her pride. However, she had been trying to figure out what to do about a dress, and of course Tara would want a new frock also.

"Tis so generous of you! Thank you so much." Sharon swallowed as she felt her eyes get wet. Heath's family was being so kind and welcoming, and she started to feel a little guilty about the arrangement. Jarrod's voice speaking interrupted her thoughts.

"I too would like to gift something. My plan was to take Simon to San Francisco next week, to see my tailor. He has outgrown most of his clothes." Jarrod nodded in the boy's direction, who was off to the side with Sean. "I would like to take Sean and get him a suit for the wedding. And Heath, you should come along – a man should have a new suit to get married in." His aquamarine eyes were dancing as he laughed.

The rest of the afternoon passed slowly, with Heath and Sharon working very hard to act like a happy couple. Heath though was uncomfortable with the fact he was lying to his family – the people he loved. When he had come up with this plan, he had not given this angle any thought.

He looked over at Victoria, who was happier than he had seen her in a long time. Heath privately acknowledged that the last six months, with his divorce and Simon arriving had been hard on her. She had also been very worried about him, even if she tried to hide it. At least she would not have that concern anymore, he told himself, trying to salve his conscience.

Sharon had to keep on looking at her children, to rationalize agreeing to marry Heath. She knew that many couples married for convenience, or to please family. Society was going to approve of her marrying so well and doing right by her children. The guilt though, at participating in a lie, was at the back of her mind.

Heath and Sharon did not know it, but someone else at the table was also having misgivings about their marriage.