Lambert's Peace (24 page)

“Are you sure?”

Will leaned toward Matilda, White Birch Bank's senior teller. “I'm sure.”

She shook her head, muttering, “Well, I never,” under her breath.

“First time for everything, Tildy,” Will said with a wink.

“I've never known you to withdraw so much as a penny, let alone … “

Will tucked his money away, waved to the bank president, Fred Moon, and walked out the door.

Fresh snow drifted from low, gray clouds. Will tucked his coat collar around his neck and walked to his truck. Opening his door, he beckoned to Harry. “Come on, boy.”

When he passed Duke's Barber Shop, he stuck his head in the doorway. “Need a haircut. I'll be back in about a half hour.”

Duke waved from where he worked on Tom Laribee's balding head. “I'll hold my breath.”

Will laughed and continued down Main Street, past Sam's. When he got to Earth-n-Treasures by Cindy Mae, he stopped and wiped his clammy hands down the sides of his khakis. He felt hot and nervous, yet peaceful and excited.

“Lord, here we go.” Will was leaping out in faith, knowing the hand of the Lord would catch him. He had to take a chance; he had to risk it all.

“Will Adams.” Cindy Mae looked up from her workbench on the far side of the shop. “I never thought I'd see you in here.” She snorted.

He made a face. “You're seeing me now.”

She hopped down from her large wooden stool, settling her hands on her wide, round waist. “What can I do for you? Something for your mom? Grandma Betty?” Harry nuzzled her leg, and she patted him on the head.

“No.” Will pulled a printed Web page from his coat pocket. “I want this ring.”

She whistled loud and long. “You're not going for cheap, are you?”

“I'd like to have it by Saturday.”

“Saturday? What's this, an emergency engagement?”

He cleared his throat. “Can you have it by Saturday?”

“Let me do some checking. Be right back.” She maneuvered her large frame toward the back office. “There are some dog treats over by the door if Harry wants one.”

Will pulled a crunchy bone from a plastic container and gave it to his furry companion.

His blood pumped. He'd discovered the ring about a month ago while surfing the Web. If a man could fall in love with jewelry, he guessed he had with this ring. Elegant and modern, bold and beautiful, it was a platinum and diamond representation of Taylor Hanson.

This is crazy
. But at the very core of his being, Will knew he had to ask Taylor to marry him. Ethan was right. He'd said everything but “Will you marry me?”

“I have two options for you,” Cindy Mae said, coming toward him. “I can get this ring in by tomorrow afternoon.” She held up the picture Will gave her. “Or, I have this piece here.” Cindy Mae held up a black, felt-covered ring box.

Will took it from her and pulled the ring from the slit. It was beautiful.

“Same karat weight as the one in the picture. Brill and I picked it up at an estate sale last summer. Belonged to ole Martin G. Snodgrass.”

Will snapped his head up. “The old bachelor?”

Cindy Mae nodded. “One and the same. He fell in love with Carrie Waterhouse back in the sixties. But she was a wild child and ran off to California to make it in the movies.”

Cindy Mae's words pelted him like hailstones. “Ran off to California.” He put the ring in the box and thrust it at her.

“No thanks.”

Cindy Mae gently closed the box's lid. “It's a beautiful ring, Will. Cheaper than the one you wanted.”

“It's not the money,” he said, looking her in the eye. He wanted something new. Something fresh. A ring that had never been slipped on a woman's finger with the words “Will you marry me?”

He didn't want a ring that signified a man's broken heart, a ring that signified a woman running off to California. He didn't want to be another Martin G. Snodgrass.

“Suit yourself,” Cindy Mae said. “I'll have this ring for you by tomorrow.” She tapped the printed paper.

“How much?” Will pulled the bundle of bills from his inside pocket, unable to suppress a buoyant smile.

“Cash?” Cindy Mae said, her brows raised. “Well, well. Will Adams is finally in love.”

“No, Will Adams is finally putting his money where his heart is.”

Friday night, Taylor packed. She separated her clothes into piles: California clothes and Northeast United States clothes. Claire sat on her bed, cross-legged, reading a teen magazine.

“Okay, Claire, pick what you want from this pile.” Taylor motioned to the Northeast pile.

Claire poked her pretty face from behind the magazine. “Are you kidding me?” She tossed the magazine onto Taylor's desk. “This is all designer stuff, isn't it?”

Taylor anchored her hands on her hips. “Yes.”

“I don't believe it.” Claire picked up a cashmere sweater. Her mouth dropped open when she looked at the label. “My friends are going to die.”

“Well, just don't rub their noses in it.” Taylor picked a pair of slacks from the California pile and put them in her suitcase.

“Did I tell you Dad agreed to pay for half of my plane ticket when I visit you over Christmas break?”

Tears burned in Taylor's eyes. “Great. I can't wait. We'll go shopping, and you can help me replenish my wardrobe.”

“You won't have to work too much will you?” Claire asked, reaching for a dark wool suit.

Taylor sighed. “Probably. But we'll have some part of the evening and weekends.”

The teenager shrugged. “Would you mind if Chelle came with me?”

Taylor shook her head. “The more the merrier.”

Leaving the family so close to Christmas tore at her. For the first time in years, she'd hoped to spend the Christmas season with the family, not dashing down from the city late on Christmas Eve only to leave Christmas Day after dinner.

White Birch Community Church had a Christmas play this year, and Pastor Marlow would play Joseph. Taylor so wanted to see it.

She'd imagined staying up late after the Christmas Eve service to watch Christmas movies and drink hot chocolate with Mom.

She wanted to wake up Christmas morning and listen to her father read about the birth of Jesus from Luke's Gospel. She wanted to help Mom and Dana cook a turkey dinner and learn, finally, how to make homemade rolls.

“I'm trying this on,” Claire said, dashing from the room with a red dress in her hands. “It's perfect for Christmas Eve.”

Taylor answered without looking up. “Okay.” She sat down on her bed, a silk blouse in her hands. Missing Christmas. It's the price she paid.

Boswell needed her, and she had a feeling
Computing Today's
article hitting the newsstands the same day she started her job was not coincidental.

It bolstered her confidence to know Boswell invested so much in her—from her salary right down to a news article.

“Besides,” she said, getting up to resume packing, thoughts of Will flickering across her mind. “Other than family, there's no reason for me to stay in White Birch. None. The first day of the rest of my life begins with Boswell Global.”

From his chair, Grandpa watched Will pace. “You've talked to Grant, I assume.”

Pensively, Will said, “Today. After I picked up the ring.”

“And?”

Will faced his grandfather. “He said it was between me and Taylor, and if I could get a yes out of her, he'd be amazed. But I have his blessing and prayers.”

Grandpa grinned. “He's got a point.”

“I don't care. I let her get away before; if I don't ask her to marry me now, I may never get another chance.”

Grandpa looked proud. “Good. You don't want to go through life wondering.”

“Not about this. Not about Taylor. She's amazing, isn't she?”

“Yes, she is. Tell me, what are you going to say to her?”

Will stopped and raised his hand to lean on the mantel. “I don't know. Give her the ring—ask her to marry me.” He held out his hands in question.

Grandpa cocked a brow. “That's it?”

Will pondered a minute, his chin raised. “Yeah, that's it.”

Grandpa rose to his feet, chuckling. “Now look, son, I'm not a great romantic, but I've learned over the years that women like the flowery words.”

Will slapped his hand to his forehead. “Flowers. Should I get flowers?”

Grandpa laughed outright. “No, no, I said flowery
words
. Tell her how you feel. Tell her what's in your heart.”

“She knows how I feel.”

Grandpa shook his head. “Don't tell me you need me to be your Cyrano de Bergerac.”

Will furrowed his brow. “No, I don't need you to whisper sweet nothings in my ear.”

“Let me remind you that the beautiful, intelligent Taylor Jo Hanson is not waiting for you to come calling. If you want her to say yes, you're going to have to bare your soul. Lay it on the line.”

Will clenched and released his fists, still pacing. “You're right.” He looked at Grandpa. “I know what I want. I know how I feel, but saying it in a way to win, Taylor … I'm going to need the help of angels.”

“Well, you're in luck. I happen to know our Father in heaven commands the angels. Let's pray and ask Him for a little assistance.”

“Thanks, Grandpa.”

Around nine, Claire gathered up the clothes Taylor had given her and went downstairs to watch a Christmas special with Mom. Taylor promised to join them in a minute.

She was leafing through a stack of financial periodicals when a familiar, strong voice spoke to her from the door.

“Is someone in this room moving to California?”

She whipped around, her hand jerking to her hair and her heart beating like a runner taking off at the sound of the gun.

“Will.”
I'm a mess
. “W–what are you doing here?”

“Came by to see my friend.”

Her cheeks flushed when he winked at her.

“Sorry I'm such a—I mean—the room is such a mess.”

His gaze never left her face. “The room is beautiful.”

He held out his hand. “Come on.”

She slipped her hand into his. Downstairs, the family sat way too quietly in the family room. Taylor wondered what was going on as she put on her boots and coat.

“I'm going out with Will for a while,” she called.

“Okay,” they answered in unison.

She made a face at Will. “That's odd. Usually when they're watching a movie the house could practically burn down around them and they'd never know it.”

Will opened the front door. “Who knows? It's Christmas.”

Outside, the night was cold and clear. Taylor bumped Will. “What, no horse and sleigh?”

He smiled and bumped her back. “No, just you and me.”

His tone sent a tingle down to her toes. When he slipped his gloved hand into hers, she wrapped her fingers around his and suddenly wanted the moment to never end.