Love Inspired January 2016, Box Set 1 of 2 (50 page)

“Sure we do. The town's lawyer is going to draw up an amended contract that will allow the town to buy the land and not the house. That will take some time. Enough for us to get a foundation poured on the property and then, literally, move everything.”

“And who's going to handle the foundation?” she asked, already knowing the answer.

“I know a contractor who will do it for free. Your aunt has her contacts locating someone who will take care of the move for what the town is going to pay you for the land.”

“Oh, my goodness.” Anne put her hands to her face, almost giddy with excitement. “This might actually happen.”

“Believe it, Anne. It is going to happen.”

“So that's why we only need to pack the valuables?”

Matt nodded. “I talked to the house movers Lily contacted. According to them there's no risk of jarring, but they advise homeowners to remove valuables. Once a house is off its foundation there is an opening underneath in which anyone can enter. This may be Paradise, but we have a lot of seasonal traffic this time of year.”

“I'm stunned. I never would have thought this was possible.”

“Your aunt did.”

She mulled that thought for a moment, her mind still reeling. “Why do you suppose she's been so mentally clear these past few weeks?”

“You're the nurse, you tell me.”

“My guess is that working on this problem is actually good for her. It's been fun to see the old Lily back in action, wheeling and dealing,” Anne said.

She turned around and really allowed herself to take in the beauty of the land around her. Then it hit her.

“Matt, this is your land. My house is going on your land.”

“I'm hoping it will be our land.”

Though he'd said the words clearly, Anne still couldn't comprehend the reality she was hearing.

“Anne, I've made some mistakes. Clearly, I didn't honor our love after you left. I was devastated and I'm not proud of the choices I made. But the Lord turned me around and gave me Claire despite the fact that I walked away from Him for a short time.”

He met her gaze.

“That doesn't mean I stopped loving you. I've never stopped loving you. It took coming back to Paradise to make me realize that.”

She stood very still, taking in his words. “But will you ever really trust me again?”

“Stop persecuting yourself for decisions you made at eighteen. You were right. I can see that now. You owed Lily far more than you owed me back then. She was the only family you had. I would have liked to have grown up with someone like her on my side.”

“Maybe I was too loyal to my aunt.”

“You owe her that. You'd only known me a short time.”

Anne was silent, afraid to voice the question deep inside, though she knew it was time. And then it was as if he'd read her mind.

“I take responsibility for what happened, too. I should have come to Paradise to find you long ago.”

“Why didn't you?” Anne asked.

“Fear. Pride. When you're hurting you find a way to turn it into anger, as well.” He shook his head. “Eventually, I realized that the timing was all wrong for us. I was ashamed that I had rushed you into marriage.”

“You didn't.”

“Yes, I did. You wanted to wait for a traditional marriage. I pushed for the justice of the peace.”

“That wouldn't have changed Lily's mind.”

“Maybe not, but if she'd had some time to get used to the idea, things might be different. I was so afraid you'd disappear that I pushed things.”

“I did disappear and I let you down,” Anne said.

“No. I had some growing up to do. I had to get to the place where I realized I wasn't alone. God was always with me.”

“It looks like we both made mistakes. The question is where do we go from here?” she asked.

“Where do you want to go?” he asked softly.

She took a deep breath, savoring the question, praying he was ready for the answer that was on her heart. The answer she could no longer hide.

“I think we have more than we did ten years ago. Now we have strong faith and a friendship, as well.”

“That is, if you love me.”

“Matt.” The word was a whispered vow. “I've always loved you.”

She was caught off guard when he pulled her into his arms.

A sigh was all she had time to utter as his lips met hers.

“Anne,” he murmured against her mouth. “You have my heart. And my daughter's. I trust you with both.”

She sighed again as she rested in the circle of his arms.

“So what about now?” he asked.

“Now?”

“Are you willing to take a chance on a future with me right now?”

“You always ask the hard questions,” Anne said, unable to hide a smile.

“I have to. I'm not willing to wait another ten years for what I want.”

“What do you want, Matt?”

“I want you in my life. Permanently and forever.”

“What about Claire? What would she think about all this?”

“Let's see, she gets to stay in Paradise, she gets you for a mother. She gets Lily as her own aunt. She gets the turret room. What's not for Claire to love?”

Anne laughed. “Well, that's true.”

They stood together looking out at the land for minutes, her hand in his.

“Ever notice how we never spend much time alone,” Matt said, breaking the silence. “It's always Claire and Lily and Stanley or even Manny.”

“Yes, that's because they're part of our lives.”

“I know, but we haven't been alone since I changed your tire. Not really.”

“What are you getting at?”

“I wasn't going to do this now. I wanted everything to be perfect this time.”

“Perfect?” She turned to him, confused.

“I wanted to do the whole thing this time. Get all dressed up and go out to dinner and have violins.”

“Violins? Do you even like violins?”

“No. You're missing the point here.” Matt ran a hand through his hair and then frowned, his brows knit together in concentration. “Now, where was I? Oh, yeah. In a perfect scenario, I'd get down on one knee and ask you to marry me and the whole restaurant would cheer as you said yes and I slipped on your ring. But we're running out of time and who knows the next opportunity we'll have to be just the two of us.”

Anne's ears perked. “Wait a minute. You bought me a ring?”

When Matt reached into the pocket of his jeans, she could only stare, afraid of what was coming. Afraid her heart would burst with joy.

“Yes. I bought a ring.” A small jeweler's box lay in the palm of his hand.

“Remember the first one?” she asked.

“I'd rather not.” He grimaced. “I think we got it at the drugstore near the college.”

“I still have it. It's in my jewelry box.”

“And I still have a photo of our wedding day.”

“I know. I saw it in your Bible when I was in your house...

“So are you going to ask me to marry you?” she blurted, unable to wait any longer. “Because I think this is the perfect scenario.” She gestured toward the majestic landscape behind him.

Matt grinned. “Yes, ma'am. I am.”

She closed her eyes for a moment. “I can't believe this is real. I didn't dare to believe you could still love me.”

His face became solemn. “But I do. Always. Forever.”

Once again he leaned toward her and this time she eagerly reached for his kiss. Her heart pounded an urgent beat as their lips met.

Then Matt stepped away from her, suddenly distracted. “I think one of our phones is ringing.”

“Hmm?”

“In the truck.”

“Oh!” Anne stepped back, as well, still dazed from his kiss.

He strode to the truck and pulled open the door. “Yours,” he said, holding her cell up.

Anne checked the phone. “I've had a message from Sam Lawson.” She pressed the replay button and listened, then inhaled sharply.

“It's Lily. The sheriff's office received a notification from her alert necklace. She fell. They have her in ER.

“Oh, Matt. I hope she's okay.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

S
am met them at the door of the Paradise Hospital emergency entrance. He nodded to Matt and fell into step beside Anne. “Seems a little odd, doesn't it? Me meeting you at the door instead of the other way around.”

“It does. Very odd,” Anne said. “What happened?”

He gave a short shrug. “Your aunt did everything right. She fell, used her necklace to call for help and didn't panic.” He frowned. “I can't believe I'm going to say this, but it was a good thing that key was under the mat. That saved Jake MacLaughlin and the volunteer fire department from breaking down your door.”

“How is she?”

“From the way she's been laughing with the staff for the past twenty minutes, I think your aunt is fine. Last time I stuck my head in she was asking about chocolate-chip cookies.”

“Oh, thank you, Lord,” she murmured.

“I'll be in the waiting area, if you need me,” Matt said.

Sam's gaze followed Matt as he left, then he turned to her while they crossed the floor to the exam rooms. “Looks like things are going pretty good for you two.”

“I, um...”

“Oh, come on. I'm your friend. Don't make me hear about you and Matt secondhand.”

“Sorry.” She offered a smile of apology. “You're right on both counts. Things are going very well.”

“I'm glad. Matt's a solid guy. You can count on him. And you deserve to be happy.”

“Yes. He is.” She smiled. “Thank you, Sam. For taking care of Aunt Lily.”

He gave her a pat on the back. “My pleasure. I love Lily. Everybody does.” He nodded toward Exam Room 2. “She's in here. I'll be going. You let me know if you need anything.”

Anne pulled the chart from the wall. She gently knocked on the door and stepped into the exam room.

Juanita was at the foot of the bed talking to her aunt, while Marta stood at the head, taking her aunt's blood pressure.

“Juanita? What are you doing here on a Sunday? And Marta?”

“We had some staffing issues,” Marta said. She removed the cuff and turned to Lily. “Blood pressure is fine.”

“Of course it is,” Lily said. “Juanita has had me laughing since I got here.”

“Excuse, me? Hello. Why didn't you call me?”

Juanita turned, her eyes wide. “Are you kidding? You take off one day for the first time in who knows how long and we're going to call you back in? I think not. Marta and I got things covered.”

“You shouldn't have to work on a Sunday after being here all week.”

“Small price to pay to get you to stay home. We'll take some comp time. Don't worry.”

Anne simply shook her head and moved to stand next to her aunt. “Aunt Lily, are you okay?”

“I fell.” Lily shrugged. “It happens.”

“Nelson says it doesn't look like she fractured anything,” Marta said.

“No lacerations or signs of a concussion?”

“Anne, she's fine. Your aunt tells us she got tangled in the quilt and landed on the floor. The bed was too high for her to get up by herself. Nelson ordered an X-ray of course and that's the only holdup.”

“This has been a big day for falls,” Juanita said. “We only just cleared out the waiting room. Your aunt is next in line. I told her she had to take a ticket.”

Lily laughed. “She also told me she was working on a line of hospital gowns with sequins. Oh, Anne, can't you just see me in a pink hospital gown that glitters?”

“Did you give her anything?” Anne murmured to Marta.

“Not a thing. She's just happy. Your aunt loves to be around people.”

“You're sure that's all?”

“Of course I'm sure.”

Anne glanced from her friends to her aunt. “Could I have a few minutes alone with my aunt?” she asked.

“Okay,” said Juanita, “but we'll be right outside listening in.”

“Speak for yourself,” Marta said.

Anne put her arm around her aunt and gently rested her head on her shoulder. “Oh, Aunt Lily. I was so scared. What would I do if something happened to you?”

“Something is going to happen to me eventually, you know. Besides, the longer I'm on this earth the more I'm ready to go home to the Father.”

“I'm not ready for that.”

Lily patted Anne's head.

“Matt asked me to marry him.”

“Oh, thank goodness. About time, too. That's the best news I've heard in years.”

“Is it?”

“Of course. Let's get this wedding going. No time to waste. I'm not getting any younger and this is Colorado.”

Anne straightened. “What does Colorado have to do with anything?”

“First flakes, Anne. They are always in September. You know that. We have to get that house moved and you and Matt and Claire settled before the snow flies.”

“Oh, my goodness. I hadn't even considered that.”

“What about next weekend?” Lily asked.

“Next weekend?” She blinked. “You haven't even been discharged yet.”

“I will be soon enough. Your friends can help. We'll have the pastor perform the ceremony in the rose garden.”

“I'll need a dress.”

“Susan down at the Paradise Boutique will take care of you.”

“Two weeks might work.”

“All right, but time's a'wastin'. At least call Patti Jo and get your cake ordered. Get one like you saw last week.”

“First I have to wait until Matt asks me to marry him.”

Lily's eyes popped open. “I thought you said he asked you.”

“He started to and then we got the call you fell. I'll have to ask him if two weeks is okay.”

Lily laughed. “He's a man. Two weeks is pretty much about perfect.”

A knock on the door interrupted them. “Here's our techs ready to take her up to X-ray,” Marta said.

“I should go with her.”

“Anne, you know Victor and Aidan. They're wonderful orderlies. They'll treat your aunt like their own mother. She'll be more than fine.”

“Yes. You're right. Let me know the minute the film is ready, will you?”

Anne strode across the department to the waiting area with a new determination. Matt was the only one in the room. He'd settled his big frame into an uncomfortable-looking, orange-vinyl chair and was staring at the floor as the big-screen television droned on in the background.

“Matt, I've changed my mind.”

He stood, alarm on his face as he shoved his hands into his pockets. “Uh-oh. Look, Anne. Whatever the problem is, we can work around it. Is your aunt going to be okay?”

“Lily is fine.” She licked her lips. “I...I want to get married. Now.”

“Now?” His eyes rounded.

“What about the weekend after next?”

“I rushed you into a quick ceremony before. Are you sure you don't want a big wedding?”

“Yes. I've waited ten years for you. It's time. I want to be free from the moat that I built around my life.”

He laughed. “Spoken like a true princess.”

“Do you think Claire would be a bridesmaid?”

“Does it involve a new dress?”

“Definitely.”

“Then I'm sure she's in.”

“Good. Now I've got to go find Juanita and Marta and ask them to be bridesmaids.” She turned away.

Matt grabbed her arm. “Anne, wait. We were interrupted before. Let's do this right.” Matt proceeded to get down on one knee in the middle of the waiting room. He pulled the ring box from his pocket.

From behind her Anne heard a collective gasp. She didn't dare look behind her.

“Marta, grab the remote and turn off that television,” Juanita said. “We're about to witness history.”

When he opened the box, a solitaire diamond ring winked at her.

“That diamond is huge,” she murmured, her knees shaking.

“No, it isn't. It looks huge because the last one was so small. Now stop interrupting, I'm trying to propose.”

She swallowed and nodded.

“Anne, I love you. I've loved you for ten years. Will you marry me?”

Her breath hitched so she could barely breathe.

“Say yes,” Juanita whispered.

“Shh,” Marta whispered back.

“Yes. Yes. I love you, Matt.”

His shoulders relaxed as he took the ring from its bed of satin and slid it on her finger.

From behind her, the applause of the emergency room staff echoed into the waiting room.

She pressed her lips to Matt's in a chaste kiss.

Juanita let out a catcall and a loud whoop. “I knew this was coming. Didn't I tell you I smelled romance?”

Anne whirled around. “Ladies, we need to talk. In my office. Now.”

“Uh-oh, it's never a good sign when the boss calls you into her office,” Juanita said. “And right after she said I do, too.”

“Is everything okay, Anne?” Marta asked as she and Juanita eased into the two chairs in front of the desk.

Anne smiled as she glanced down at the sparkly ring on her finger. She couldn't help but release a sigh. “I was proposed to by the man of my dreams in my very own emergency department. It doesn't get any better than that.”

Marta frowned, obviously confused. “Then what is it?”

“I need your help.”

Juanita shook her head and then gently tapped her ear. She offered a short laugh. “Did you just say
you
need
our
help?”

“Very funny. Yes. I need your help.”

“Whatever you want, you got it, boss.”

“I'd like you two to be bridesmaids at my wedding.”

“Ahhh! A bridesmaid. At my age. Yes. Yes. Yes. I am so in.” Juanita jumped out of her chair and danced around the room before finally turning to Marta. “I told you matchy-matchy dresses were in our future.”

“Wonderful,” Marta said with a groan. “So when
is
the wedding, Anne?”

“In two weeks.”

“Two weeks?”

“No worries, Marta.” Juanita nodded confidently. “I have Susan's Boutique on speed dial.”

“Lovely.” She rolled her eyes and took a deep breath. “What will your wedding colors be, Anne?”

“I have no idea. Ladies, I'm turning all of the wedding preparation over to you two. That is, if you'll do it.”

Juanita's shoulders shook as she silently laughed. “Of course, we will.”

“I want it simple. You two know me better than anyone.”

“We really get to plan your wedding?” Marta asked.

“I've got to sit down. I'm overwhelmed with joy and happiness. This is like a dream come true.” Juanita fanned herself with a hand and then dabbed at the moisture in her eyes.

“Seriously, you're putting us in charge?” Marta asked with a concerned frown.

“You've asked me that twice. Yes. You have two weeks. How much damage can you do? We're getting married in the rose garden. The reception will be outside. We can rent a tent.”

“Still, this seems highly unusual. All this spontaneity.”

“I've had a reality check today, Marta. My aunt isn't going to be around forever and in a month my house is moving four miles down the road. We could get snow between now and then. So, if I'm going to do this, it better be now. I'm being spontaneous, isn't that enough for now?”

“That's the attitude,” Juanita said. She leaned forward in her chair. “Would this be the time for some girl talk? Maybe, we can discuss that hunky man out there next.”

Anne laughed. “No, we cannot.”

“That's what I thought you'd say. And we did get to witness the proposal, so I guess I shouldn't complain. Too bad I didn't get it on my phone. I bet it would have gone viral.”

“Juanita, no you wouldn't have,” Anne said.

“Of course not, I know the rules. Still...”

* * *

Anne peeked through the French doors of the dining room out to the backyard where the celebration had already begun. Guests were filling the rows of chairs strategically placed next to the rose garden. A white tent filled the space beyond that and inside caterers were already setting up.

“We really pulled it off. In two weeks,” Marta said. “We've got temp staffing in from Alamosa so everyone from the emergency room can be at your wedding.”

“I see Megan is here,” Anne said. “With Sam or with Luke Nelson?”

“Neither. She's playing her cards close to her chest. She finally figured out what I was doing and told me she'd find her own husband, thank you very much.”

Juanita burst into the dining room. “I want to see the bride,” she said.

Anne turned.

“Oh, my, my, my. You're going to make me cry. You look so beautiful. Where did you get that dress? I love that sweetheart neckline.”

“Believe it or not it was my mother's.”

Anne twirled around in the princess-length, oyster-white dress with the full petticoat skirt. She touched her hair to make sure that it was still in place. The sides had been pulled back and pinned to a headpiece of pink rosebuds from Lily's garden.

“You look amazing. The prettiest bride I can remember,” Juanita sniffed.

“Both of you look lovely, as well.”

“We do, don't we?” Marta added. “Even in matching dresses, though I can't believe I'm saying that.”

“Anne, how does this look?”

Claire came in from the hallway in a pale pink version of the darker pink dresses that Juanita and Marta wore.

“Oh, Claire, look at you.” Anne circled the little girl, taking in the tiny braids wound into her caramel-colored tresses. “Who fixed your hair like that?”

“I did,” Juanita said.

“She looks so grown up,” Marta said.

Claire whirled around, her arms spread wide. “I am grown up!”

“Did you test your blood sugar?” Anne asked. “We don't want to get too busy to check.”

Claire nodded. “Not too high. Not too low...”