Chapter 25: The Big Ask
The Christmas season was drawing near, and Mitch was determined to summon the courage to approach Tim. He'd heard stories about Tim always being the last to know things, and he didn't want to have that mistake repeated where he was concerned. He also needed to get help from Lou with the gift he wanted to prepare for Amy.
The next time he was at Heartland, first he made sure that Lyndy had been told he'd brought her saddle over. Amy assured him she knew, and she was most delighted and had already taken a ride on Harley using it! Amy told him Lyndy said she was also saving a ride using it when he could go with her. Once more, a little arrow pierced his heart, a sweet one.
He then watched for a time to catch Lou without Amy around. When that quick moment arrived, he told her what he needed her to get and what his plan was for it. Her eyes misted as she recognized how meaningful the gift was, and she told him that it might be a bit difficult, but she'd do her best.
Now to try to find a time to talk to both Tim and Jack. Amy needed to help Lyndy with some homework, so he saw his chance. He went to the barn and found Tim there. He asked if they might take a walk. They headed toward the pond. Mitch felt his stomach doing flip-flops. He wanted to do this right. He tried to get the words to start but found it hard to get them out. But start he must! 'So here goes!'
"Tim, I think you know that Amy's and my relationship has been growing stronger and stronger. I love your daughter and Lyndy with all my heart. I want to ask you…will you give your blessing for me to ask Amy to marry me?"
Tim had guessed what was coming because of how nervous Mitch was. He made him squirm just a little bit by being silent for what seemed forever to Mitch. After all, he was still Tim. But then he turned to Mitch, shook his hand and placed his other hand on his shoulder and said, "Mitch, I can't think of anyone else I'd rather Amy choose to spend the rest of her life with or to have help her raise Lyndy. In watching you two together over these past months, it's become obvious that you belong together."
Mitch breathed a huge sigh of relief and ran his fingers through his hair. "Tim, thank you so much! I promise I will take good care of them!"
"I know you will. And thank you for asking."
"You're most welcome, Sir."
As they headed back toward the barn, Tim said, "Well, Mitch, it looks like this time, I might actually become your father-in-law," and he impishly grinned.
Mitch replied, "Oh, I hope so, Tim, I really hope so!" Mitch was oblivious to Tim's ribbing because he was lost in the excitement of his thoughts. He had never felt so relieved. It had been a huge weight lifted off his shoulders. He had a feeling talking to Jack would be a lot less stressful. But he did want to ask him as well.
He found Jack working in the Quonset hut. Jack looked up and smiled when Mitch entered. "Hi Jack! I was wondering if we could talk for just a minute?"
"Sure. What's on your mind?"
"Well, I think you know that things have progressed with Amy and me. I'm here to ask for your blessing in asking her to marry me. Do I have it?"
A huge grin made its way across Jack's face and all the way to the crinkles around his eyes. He shook Mitch's hand and drew him into a warm hug saying, "You absolutely do!" As he drew back, he continued, "Mitch, this is something I've been hoping for both of you since the day I discovered you two together. I've thought of you as a son for quite a while now, and I thought we'd lost that chance. I can think of no one else I'd entrust Amy and Lyndy to more than you. I'm really happy for you, Son!"
Mitch was overcome with emotion and had to take a moment to get his composure. "Jack, thank you. That means the world to me, and I've thought of you as a father. I admire and respect you so much! However, I do still have to ask her, and she has to say yes," he added.
"Well, I'm pretty sure you've got no worries there."
"Thank you, Jack," and as Mitch turned to head back to the house, the smile on Jack's face would not go away. And for Mitch, it was going to be hard to conceal the pure bliss he felt was written all over his face as he walked back inside. Now to plan just how he was going to ask Amy.
Before he left that day, Lou caught him and said she'd been able to sneak what he needed out to his truck in a brown paper bag. He gratefully thanked her.
That night, he measured it and started to work. And as he worked, he thought, 'The Christmas dance is coming up….' The next day, he made a special trip into Calgary.
A/N: Can anyone guess what the gift is going to be?