“Knock, knock!” Sandy called from the front porch. Her transformation had been the most shocking of all in the last six months. Although they’d kept their home in Atlanta, Phil and Sandy and their kids had bought a house in Seaview right on the ocean. Phil would occasionally go back and forth to Atlanta on business, but Sandy was doing something totally off the wall. She was working with Mamie Sue on the new affordable housing complex that was built in the old bowling alley. As the director, Sandy finally had a purpose that excited her. Plus, she and “Big Mike” - as she’d come to call him - had formed a great friendship.
“Come on in. Dinner’s almost ready,” Elise said as she hugged her friend. “Where’s Phil?”
“Oh, he’s at a meeting with a client. He’ll be along later. The kids are outside climbing your tree,” she said laughing. Elise had one of the biggest old oak trees on her property, and Sandy’s kids loved to climb in it.
“Where’s Ben?”
“He should be here shortly…” Elise said, distracted as she walked outside looking for his car. “Oh, here he comes,” she said as she saw Ben’s new black pickup truck barreling down the road.
“Hey, good lookin’,” he said as he got out of the truck with a bouquet of fresh cut roses, her favorite.
“Aw, thank you. They’re beautiful.”
“Who said they were for you? I thought Phil was coming?” Ben said with a laugh. He and Phil had become golfing buddies, which amazed Elise since Ben had never golfed a day in his life before.
“Well, you’ll have to settle for me because he’s late,” Elise said, smacking him on the arm as usual. She rose up on her tiptoes and gave him a lingering kiss.
“Mmmm, I guess I’ll give you these flowers then,” he said as he scooped her up and twirled her around. “I’m so glad to see you.”
“Long day?” she asked as they walked arm in arm toward the house.
“Always is when I’m not with you. But, I did get a contract to do the Langford mansion today.”
“Oh, Ben, that’s wonderful! That’s a big job. How long will it take?” Elise asked as they sat down on the front porch steps.
“About six months if everything is on target,” he said. “And it’s important that it be on target because there’s a couple getting married there in exactly six months.”
“Talk about pressure,” she said giggling. “Well, I’m sure you can do it. You can do anything,” she whispered.
“You think so?”
“I sure do.”
“Well, let’s see if I can close my next deal. Then I’ll know I can do anything.”
“Oh yeah? Is it an even bigger deal?” she asked.
“The biggest I’ve ever done.”
“What is it?” she asked, excited for his newfound success.
“Hang on. I’ve got the information here in my pocket,” he said, fumbling with something in his front jean pocket.
Before Elise realized what was happening, Ben was on one knee in front of her, his face flushed and his eyes welling with tears.
“Elise, I’ve known you almost my whole life,” he started. Elise could hear her heartbeat in her ears again. Maybe a doctor should check that, she thought momentarily. “And I want to know you for the rest of my life as my wife. God gave me you, and I love you with everything I have. Will you please do me the honor of being my wife?”
Elise was shaking all over and couldn’t speak. She couldn’t believe what was happening as she hadn’t expected Ben to propose so quickly. Of course, it had been twenty plus years…
“Mommy! Are you gonna say yes or what?” Jilly called from the screen door behind her. Everyone was standing there, an obvious set up. They all knew and she didn’t!
“Yes!” she yelled as Ben shot up and pulled her up with him. He slipped a beautiful diamond solitaire on her finger and then pulled her into his arms for a long, passionate kiss.
“Thank goodness you said yes,” he whispered into her ear. “Because we’ve got a date booked for six months at the Langford mansion!”
“Ben Campbell!” she said giggling. “What were you going to do if I said no?”
“Honey, I wouldn’t have taken no for an answer,” he said. “You’re stuck with me for life.”
THE END
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Always There: Christian Inspirational Romance Page 19
