by Arlene James
To Petra’s astonishment, her mother burst into tears. “Oh, my!” she wailed. “Will you just look at that? Isn’t it wonderful?”
Petra felt her jaw drop just as the police captain chuckled and folded his arms, the bullhorn still clasped in one hand. “Well?” he asked, cutting her an amused glance and nodding at the building. “What do you say?”
She looked upward again just in time to watch Dale put the finishing touch on a question mark, which came at the end of the sentence, “Will you marry me?”
Petra clacked her jaws shut again, but then she began to laugh, weak with astonishment and relief. Dale twisted around, pushing off from the building with one foot and wrapping his arm around the downspout of a gutter to hold himself in place. His gaze raked across the scene below and came to rest on her. He cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled, “I’m not coming down until you say yes!”
Still laughing, Petra grabbed the bullhorn out of the policeman’s hand and found the trigger that operated it. As she did so, she saw Garth drop his hand, removing his phone from his ear. She shrugged, letting him know he’d been upstaged, grandly, and lifted the bullhorn to her face, pointing it toward Dale.
“I love you, too!” she shouted around the widest smile imaginable. “And yes, I will marry you!”
Everyone around her started talking at once, it seemed. She even heard cheering, but all her attention focused on Dale as he gave her a big double thumbs-up, put back his head and laughed. Someone took the megaphone out of her hand, but she hardly noticed because Dale chose that moment to let go of the downspout. He twisted around then reached up, released a catch on the line that held him above the ground and began rappelling down the face of the building.
Garth walked out into the intersection to watch. Petra laughed, tears running down her face as her loony carpenter, magnificent fiancé carefully placed his feet so that no windows were broken or bricks dislodged. When he hit the ground, he began unbuckling the harness. She moved toward him, but a hand fell on her shoulder. She turned reluctantly to find her parents there.
“Pet,” her father said in a choked voice, “are you sure? A grand gesture like this can—”
“She’s sure,” said another voice. Dallas pushed forward, her eyes filled with tears. “If she was going to fall for a grand gesture, she already would have.” Petra smiled and reached out a hand to her sister, who quickly squeezed her fingers and said, “Guess I was wrong this time.” She seemed genuinely puzzled about that. “Go get him. He’s waiting for you.”
To Petra’s everlasting surprise, Maryanne stepped up then and hugged her, whispering, “Be as happy as I have been.”
“Thank you, Mom,” Petra said sincerely. Then she tore away and ran to meet Dale.
Grinning, he stepped off the sidewalk, handing Garth a spray can as he passed by the other man. Garth motioned to the police captain, and for an instant Petra feared that Dale really would be arrested. She hoped Hypatia had been able to reach Asher! Glancing at the can, however, Garth held up a hand, not that any of the policemen had moved.
“Water solvent!” Garth announced loudly. He pointed the can at Dale’s back, yelling, “And you’re going to wash it off, too, Bowen!”
“I’ll get right on that!” Dale retorted, opening his arms to Petra.
She flew into them, literally leaping at him. Catching her, he spun her around before setting her down again.
“Once I figured out what Anderton had been up to,” he explained, “I figured I needed something dramatic to convince everyone that I’m the one you belong with.”
“I was convinced a while ago,” she told him, turning her gaze on the building again, “but it’s a proposal no one’s going to forget!”
“Your mountain-climbing brother gave me the idea,” he said, grinning. Then he cupped her face in his hands, lowered his head and did his best Kent imitation.
Petra put her arms around as much of him as she could reach and kissed him back with every fiber of her being. Someone began to clap. Shortly, the whole square rang with applause. Dale dropped his arms around her and broke the kiss, motioning to his family. The Bowens trooped over, all talking at once.
“I knew she’d say yes.”
“Who wouldn’t say yes to my brother?”
“Oh, I’m so happy!”
“We’re going to have another wedding, Mother. Our boy’s getting married!”
After hugs all around and chatter that Petra didn’t even try to follow, Dale held out his hand to his mother. She reached into a pocket and brought out a small bundle of tissue, which she carefully peeled away. As she turned over the contents of her hand into Dale’s palm, she said, “These belonged to my grandmother. They were always meant for Dale’s bride.”
He picked up one ring and held it up for Petra to see. A nice emerald-cut diamond sat in the middle of a gold filigree band encrusted with smaller stones. “It’s not much,” he began, “and it’s old-fashioned, so if you don’t like it, we can—”
Petra snatched it out of his hand, lest he think he could alter that precious piece of jewelry in any way. “Don’t you dare!” she exclaimed. “It’s perfect!”
“Okay, okay,” he laughed, taking it back and sliding it onto her finger. “We won’t touch it.” Petra closed her fist around it. “Well, maybe we’ll have it sized so it won’t fall off,” he amended. “This one, too, I guess.” He showed her the matching wedding band. Also filigree with tiny diamonds tucked into every nook and cranny, it took her breath away.
“I’ve never seen anything like it.”
“And you won’t, either,” Dale told her. “My great-grandfather had this made special.”
“Over a hundred years ago,” Hallie added.
“In Boston,” Walt put in, as if that was significant somehow. And, funny enough, it was. Everything about this moment was.
* * *
Tears flowed from Petra’s beautiful, warm-honey eyes.
“Oh, sweetheart, don’t cry,” Dale pleaded, taking her in his arms again. He couldn’t bear the sight of her tears, even happy ones.
“Save the tears for the wedding,” advised Petra’s father from behind her.
Dale stiffened as Petra turned within the safe confines of his arms to face Murdock Chatam. Glancing around, Dale saw that the larger crowd was dispersing. Even now, the police were taking down the barricades and traffic was starting to move.
“I think we should step to the sidewalk,” Murdock advised, motioning to the corner in front of the pharmacy where Petra’s family waited. Asher and Ellie stood beside Phillip, who had arrived with the Chatam sisters and Petra’s parents. Dallas had shown up on her own early on, alerted, no doubt, by Garth Anderton. She hung back now, quite subdued.
Dale wrapped his arm around Petra just in case anyone thought she would be going anywhere without him for a while. She looped her arm around his waist to let him know that she was of the same mind, so he dropped another quick kiss on her sweet lips.
His family had been so certain that this would work, but Dale had had his doubts. The further he’d gotten into the thing, though, the more he’d believed. He’d taken a chance, risking everything, even his dad’s health, when it came right down to it. But it had all been worth it.
As soon as they all congregated on the corner, Ellie opened the door to her grandfather’s shop. “Let’s go in here and get a cold drink.”
They trooped into the pharmacy and over to the red-and-chrome counter. Magnolia and Hypatia moved to one of the booths at the end. Dallas and Phillip joined them, while Ellie went behind the counter to help Millie, the ancient clerk, draw and pass out glasses of ice water. Dale’s family commandeered the other booth.
“Now then,” Murdock said, standing behind his wife, who had taken one of the stools at the counter.
“The wedding will be in Waco, of course.”
“No, Dad,” Petra contradicted him, slipping onto the stool next to her mom. “We’re getting married here. Our family is here. Well, most of them. And all of Dale’s.”
“And Chatam House is here, too,” Hypatia put in.
A phone rang. Dallas got up and moved away, digging in her pocketbook. Everyone ignored her.
Petra glanced at Dale and said, “Oh, I wouldn’t want to put Hilda through another wedding so soon.”
“Nonsense,” Maryanne said. “It will be months, surely. A year, at least, if we have to manage the arrangements from Waco.”
“No, ma’am,” Dale told the woman gently, looking down at Petra. “Weeks, maybe, but not months.”
“Days would be all right with me,” Petra put in, eyes sparkling.
He grinned and dropped down onto the stool beside her. “I’ve got a good suit that’s hardly seen any use.”
“I can buy a dress in an hour.”
“You have to wait until Odelia gets back from her honeymoon!” Magnolia spoke up. “It’s bad enough that she missed the proposal.”
Everyone laughed, and Phillip held up his phone, announcing, “I’ve got it on video.”
“Me, too!” Hallie cried.
Dallas strolled up then and held out her phone to Petra. “Here. You’d better take this.”
“Who is it?”
“Garth.”
Dale pushed out a harsh breath. What now?
“He probably wants to fire me again.”
“It’s not like that,” Dallas said. “He realizes…we both realize that you and Dale belong together. Besides,” she added with a wry smile, “he has a hotel to finish. Just talk to him.”
Petra looked to Dale. He reluctantly nodded. She took the phone in hand and pressed it to her ear. “Hello.” A few minutes later, she lowered the phone again. “He says he’ll pay for the honeymoon.”
“What?”
“If we’ll wait until after the hotel renovation is done,” she hurried on, grinning.
“You mean, he’s not canceling our contract?”
She shook her head. “He even wants to know if I’ll come back and see the project through.”
Flabbergasted, Dale couldn’t think for a moment, but then he glanced at his dad and remembered what they’d talked about earlier. Spinning on the stool, he hung his elbows on the edge of the counter. “Fine by me,” he decided, “if that’s what you want. But from the Bowen & Bowen end of things.”
Petra’s brows lowered in confusion. “What do you mean?”
“We talked it over,” Dale told her, “and we need you in the company. You’ve got the business savvy that I don’t, and the organizational skills that neither Dad nor I have. Plus, I’ve worked with you enough to trust your judgment. Can’t say the pay would be all that great, not at first anyway, but if you think about it, the benefits are special.”
“Especially when the babies start coming,” Hallie put in.
“That’s right,” Sudie said. “Mom and I will always be available to sit for you.”
“Put a nursery in the office,” Maryanne recommended. “That’s what I did when my babies were small.”
“You did?” Petra gasped, suddenly throwing her arms around her mother’s neck. “I didn’t know that!”
“Sounds like a great idea,” Dale said eagerly.
Then he took the phone out of Petra’s hand and put it to his own ear. “Did you get all that, Anderton?”
“I got it,” the other man growled.
“Are we agreed?”
“Agreed,” Anderton grumbled. “But I’ll pay Petra’s salary until this job is finished. And I expect it done on time and budget!”
“You have my word on it.”
“That’s good enough for me,” Anderton said with a sigh.
“You know,” Dale told him sincerely, “you’re not half the jerk I thought you were.”
“Why, thank you,” came the acidic reply. “I am all aquiver with delight.”
Dale laughed. “Just don’t expect an invitation to the wedding.” He ended the call without waiting for a reply and handed the phone back to Dallas. Looking at Petra, he said, “If it’s all right with you, I’d as soon keep it pretty much family.”
“Is that what you want, Petra?” Murdock asked. “A small, family-only wedding?”
“Just the immediate family, I think,” she answered firmly, “and then later, after the job is finished, maybe a reception for everyone else. What do you think, hon?”
Dale grinned. “I think I like it when you call me ‘hon,’ so wedding now and reception later is fine with me.”
“Okay,” she said, lifting a hand to his cheek, “so how’s Saturday?”
“Three days away!” her mother cried.
“Saturday it is,” Dale agreed, turning his head to press a kiss into her palm. Now that was what he called answered prayer!
Epilogue
Petra and Dale were married in the front parlor at Chatam House at five o’clock in the evening. Odelia and Kent rushed back from San Antonio to get there in time. Phillip extended his stay in Texas, pleased to be able to make two weddings in one trip. Naturally, Hub presided. Garrett stood up with Dale, and Dallas with Petra, tears flowing the whole time. She still couldn’t figure out how she’d been so wrong about Petra and Garth, but Hypatia had her own private suspicions about that.
Petra had found a lovely tea-length dress at a shop in Dallas where Hypatia had arranged a private viewing, and Jessa managed to put together some beautiful flowers, all yellows and pinks. Hilda, of course, insisted on baking a small cake, which she decorated with pink and yellow roses. Hallie provided Buttercup Punch, and agreed to share the recipe, which pleased Hilda to no end.
The rings had caused some consternation. Due to the age and value of the rings, the jeweler to which Asher had sent the newly engaged couple had not wanted to remove gold from the wedding set in order to cut down the size. Instead, he had recommended building up the rings from the inside at the top. As a wedding gift, Asher had offered to pay for the extra gold and filigree work. The result was very unique and pleasing, but Asher didn’t arrive with the finished rings until an hour before the ceremony, and Petra didn’t relax until that engagement ring was again on her finger.
After a small celebration, the happy couple went to spend the night at Garth Anderton’s penthouse apartment in the hotel, Garth having left town. They would reside in Dale’s apartment in the Bowen house for the time being and begin work on their own home sometime in the winter, after their delayed honeymoon. Hawaii seemed to be the leading contender for that trip.
With the house calm again and everyone seeking their beds, Hypatia traded her pearls and suit for ivory silk pajamas piped in navy and brushed out her hair. It had grown long of late, due to inattention, and needed a good cut. She would make an appointment with her hairdresser tomorrow. Too tired to even tie back her hair tonight, she padded out into the sitting room that she and Magnolia had shared alone the past three evenings.
Wearing flannel despite the summertime heat, dear old Mags sat in her usual spot at the end of the sofa, pensively unraveling her braid. She looked up when Hypatia came in and smiled.
“Sometimes I think we should hang a shingle.”
“Whatever for, dear?”
“Wedding consultants.”
Hypatia chuckled. “We’ve certainly had ample experience lately, haven’t we?”
“I wonder who will be next,” Magnolia mused.
“Bite your tongue!” Hypatia told her. “I, for one, could use a rest.”
“Me, too,” Odelia said, swanning into the room in a cloud of lilac chiffon and perfume.
“Well, I will tell you, anyway,” Odelia cried in a huff, plopping down on the other end of the couch. “My husband snores.” She giggled and added, “But only when he’s exhausted.”
Magnolia dropped her hands and rolled her eyes.
“Oh, it’s all so romantic,” Odelia sighed, hunching her shoulders. She went into a pout then, adding, “I wish I’d been there to see Dale’s proposal.”
“You’ve seen the video,” Hypatia pointed out.
“Repeatedly,” Magnolia muttered.
“I know, but it’s not the same as being in the moment,” Odelia said dreamily.
Hypatia smiled to herself. Not so much had changed, after all. Still, a new era had begun at Chatam House. Watching Magnolia with Garrett and his family tonight, seeing Hunter run around the place with Dale’s two nieces, noting the way Odelia gazed so warmly at her husband and sensing the sizzling joy of Petra and Dale, Hypatia had felt great joy.
“Isn’t life good?” she said suddenly, as surprised as her sisters.
“It’s wonderful!” Odelia purred, lifting her shoulders and stretching out her legs to point her toes.
Magnolia seemed to ponder for a moment, but then she swallowed and Hypatia saw that she was fighting tears. “What is it, dear?” she asked, leaning forward.
Magnolia smiled, her eyes shining, and whispered, “Hunter asked if he could call me Grandma tonight. We settled on Grammy Mags.”
“I’ll tell you a secret,” Odelia tittered, sliding to the edge of her seat. “I think I’m going to be a great-grandma before long.”
“Ellie’s pregnant?” Magnolia gasped.
“Soon.”
Hypatia took a deep breath. Oh, yes, life was very good. “Well, then,” she said, “in addition to praying God’s blessings on the newest newlyweds tonight, we shall also pray that He reward her efforts.”
As she reached out a hand toward each of her sisters, she marveled at all that God had wrought here at Chatam House. And if life here in this old world can be so grand, she told herself, imagine what heaven must be like! It would put the ceiling in the foyer of Chatam House to shame.
