The Heart of the Matter (14 page)

“I’m not behaving out of character,” Jason replied, “because I’m changing my style. Irrational behavior requires a take-charge response. And I’m glad about the audience. This time when I ask you to marry me I’ll have witnesses so that you can’t back out.”

A quiet little peace Laura had been searching for her whole life suddenly flowered inside her and took root. Suddenly she saw not the embarrassment of her situation but the thrill of it. This man loved her and was making a place for himself in her life for the duration.

“But I’ve always liked your style,” she said softly.

He bounced her once in his arms to firm his grip on her. He looked into her eyes, his own dark with love and regret. “I am sorry about yesterday,” he whispered.

“So am I.” She punctuated her apology with a sound kiss. It made the anguish of the past twenty-eight hours disappear and wash away with the rain.

Barry, drenched and grinning, dangled keys in front of their faces. “I suppose I’ll be expected to drive so that you can neck in the back seat all the way home.”

“Would you?” Jason asked without looking away from Laura.

“Lucky for you I was off the clock ten minutes ago. Ready?”

“No yet.” Jason turned to face their audience. Seven faces watched them eagerly. “I’m asking you to witness this proposal,” he said, smiling at the group. “Are you paying attention?”

They surged forward.

Jason looked into Laura’s eyes, feeling a joy he’d been so sure he’d never know again. “Laura Price…ah, what’s your middle name?”

She firmed her grip on him, so happy she was sure she’d float if he weren’t holding her. “Geneva,” she replied.

“Laura Geneva Price, will you marry me?” he asked.

“Yes!” she shouted, squeezing him tightly around the neck and kissing his jawline. “Yes, Jason…what’s your middle name?”

“Lincoln,” he said in a strangled tone.

“Nurse!” Barry called to the audience. “Oxygen, please.”

The audience laughed and waited.

“Yes, Jason Lincoln Warfield,” Laura said. “I will marry you.”

“We’ll elope,” Jason said.

Laura shook her head. “No, we won’t. We’ll let Patsy do it. And we’ll have lights in the window and a cat on the windowsill.” Her voice broke. “Okay?” she asked on a sob.

He kissed it away. “Okay.” He grinned at the audience. “Thank you for your participation.”

The nurses cheered, the ladies from the gift shop blew kisses, and the man held firmly to his IV pole and whistled.

Barry held his coat over Jason while he put Laura in the car.

“Sergei!” Laura said anxiously.

“We’ll get him on the way,” Jason said. “Along with your clothes.”

“I am getting dinner out of this?” Barry asked as he took his place behind the wheel.

Jason and Laura didn’t hear him.

He smiled fondly into the reflected image of love in his rearview mirror, then drove them home.

Yes, that is my wedding photo heading the column this morning instead of my usual solitary mug. I am solitary no more. Meet Laura Price Warfield, nutritionist, aerobics instructor, outdoorswoman-and my bride. The three handsome boys you see beside us are my sons—our sons—whom you’ve often read about in these pages. In the fall, your local bookseller will carry my chronicle of how Laura and I met and battled the obstacles to come to this point. Meanwhile-I have the love and devotion of those you see in the photo, a dog at my feet, a rose in my pencil cup, a light in my window and a cat on the sill. Life doesn’t get any better than that.

—“Warfield Wins”

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ISBN: 978-14592-7409-9

THE HEART OF THE MATTER

Copyright © 1997 by Muriel Jensen

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