The Cat Lady's Secret
Page 25
“I’ve been carrying this thing around with me for months. I wanted to wait until after Mom got married before I asked you, and, well, she’s married now.” He opened the box, and a one-carat marquis sparkled from its platinum perch above the twelve round-cut diamonds flanking it. “What do you say? Will you marry me?”
Tears caused her vision to shimmer, and her breath caught, choking her throat. The ring dazzled her. She didn’t care that they weren’t at a quiet table for two in Zabaglione’s, didn’t notice the church parking lot with its twinkling white lights from Rita’s reception, and she was barely aware of her friends watching them. The focus of her entire being centered on Scott.
“Well, you gonna say yes?” Roger demanded.
Emily nodded. Scott let out a victory shout, and she laughed as he swung her around.
“Yes,” she cried when her voice returned. “Yes!”
He slipped the ring on her finger, and Lauren grabbed her hand to see it. Even in the soft glow of the strings of twinkling lights, the diamonds put on a fiery show.
Emily returned to Scott and rested her hands on his chest. The love radiating from him matched the intensity she felt in her heart, and again her words were trapped in her throat.
So she let her kiss do the talking.
44
Spring
The amber-eyed calico keeps easing herself into the corner, and I don’t think she can arch her back any higher. She’s planning her escape, I just know it. I have my net, but I don’t want to have to use it. Cats go nuts when caught in the web.
“Go slow. She’s spooky.”
“I know, I know.” Jake casts me an irritated glance, and the cat darts between us and heads behind the courthouse.
“You took your eyes off her.”
“Well, so did you, old woman. When are you going to learn how to catch a cat?”
I stick my tongue out at him, and he laughs.
I have to admit, having him hunt with me makes the job far easier. He brings a cat carrier with him. I’ve had far fewer scratches now that I don’t have to carry frightened felines anymore. Jake takes ’em straight to the clinic. We can’t do this too much longer, though. In another few weeks, the baby I’m carrying will stretch my belly so far, this old woman get-up will look ridiculous. When that time comes, “Millie” will have to go into hiding again.
Jake hobbles over to me, smacking his lips like old men do, and gives me a devilish look. “You’re lookin’ hot today, Mrs. Falco. How’s ’bout you an’ me have us a little date?”
His bushy brows waggle, and I can’t stifle my giggle. In my orange tee shirt and purple polyester pants, I doubt I look “hot,” but beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, right? Besides, I’ll go on a date with him any time. He doesn’t have to ask me twice. “Where we going?”
He reaches in his front pockets and turns them inside out to reveal how empty they are. “Can’t afford much. How about A&K Barbecue or Down Home Diner?”
“How about both?” He’s fibbin’ about being broke. I saw him slip a fifty in his wallet just this morning. “We’ll do A&K for lunch and the diner for dessert. I’ve got a hankerin’ for one of Clara’s brownies with ice cream on top.”
Jake steps closer to me, but it’s Scott’s eyes I see, beaming love at me like I’m the center of his universe. “Anything you want, little mama.”
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May God’s glory shine through
this inspirational work of fiction.
AMDG