Black Bird
Page 67
She smiled at him at his usage of her name, and her eyes looked like they were on fire. “Sure. Thank you.” She handed him the larger bag with her clothes and nervously straightened the front of her dress as she waited a few moments for the waiter to return.
He came back and motioned to her. “Please follow me.”
David was glancing at his watch again and didn’t see her come in. He heard murmuring and looked up to see what the commotion was about. The other diners in the restaurant were turning to look at something.
He looked and saw her. She was gorgeous, wearing a beautiful burgundy gown that fell all the way to the floor, and clutching a small matching bag. She looked lovely, and everyone turned - they all recognized her.
Bethany seemed embarrassed by the commotion, and as soon as she saw David she hurried over to his table. David stood and pulled the chair out for her as she approached, but she leaned in and kissed him on the cheek before thanking him and sitting down.
“You look beautiful,” he said, sitting down.
She smiled and set her purse on the table. “They were very nice to me at Victoria’s. And the dress store. They let me have my pick. So, what’s this all about?”
David smiled too. “Well, I thought you deserved a nice dinner. Why, did you have other plans?”
She laughed and smacked his hand. “No, I didn’t have plans.”
He was nervous, but not as nervous as he had expected to be. “Well, I want to ask you something.”
Bethany shifted a little in her chair, facing him.
He swallowed.
“Well, I have been thinking a lot about things lately, and I think that things are pretty good, especially between us. I mean, I think you and I make a good team, and a great couple. And with the way things are going, and you and I being so happy, I think that we should...I was thinking that we might, if you want to, of course, ah...well, I was thinking that I would be perfect if you and I...”
He glanced up at her and she was grinning.
“What?” he asked, a little sheepishly.
Bethany shook her head and took his hand in hers.
“You never ramble like this unless you’re nervous. And your face is so red I think you could burst at any moment. Now just slow down and ask me your question.”
He nodded, composing himself.
“Okay. Bethany, I love you. I’ve loved you for so long that I can’t remember a time when I didn’t love you. You make me so happy.”
He stood and took the box out of his pocket, handing it to her. She took it as he moved the chair out of the way, and as she opened the box, he gingerly knelt down next to her, being careful with the leg.
She was looking at the ring, and when she looked down at him, her eyes were sparkly.
David Beaumont smiled at her - suddenly, he wasn’t nervous at all. In fact, he felt perfectly calm.
“Bethany, will you marry me?”
Slowly, she smiled. “Yes, David. Yes. I will.”
Please Consider
Reviewing
Thank you for reading this book - I hope you enjoyed it. Now that you've finished my book, won't you please consider writing a review? If you could, take a few minutes out to write a review of this book on Amazon, Goodreads or any other place you feel like sharing.
Reviews are the best way readers discover new books. And, believe it or not, the sheer number of Amazon reviews affects how Amazon lists book titles. So swing over there and jot down a couple of sentences. Good or bad, every review helps increase the "social buzz" of the book. I would truly appreciate it. And thank you!
— Greg Enslen
About the Author
Author and columnist Greg Enslen lives in Ohio with his wife Samantha and three children. He’s enjoying the small-town life after two decades in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles. A Field of Red is Greg’s sixth book. He has published four works of fiction, and he’s working on several more.
All of his books are available on Amazon.com and Kindle, and several have been published by Gypsy Publications in Ohio. For reviews, news updates, and more information, please visit his website at http://www.gregenslen.com.
My Titles
If you enjoyed this book, check out my full list of titles:
A Field of Red
Ex-cop Frank Harper doesn't want to get involved. Harper is visiting the small Ohio town of Cooper's Mill, trying to reconnect with his estranged daughter and a grandson he's never met. But he finds the town gripped in fear-two young girls have gone missing, taken in broad daylight from a busy street. And the police are coming up blank. But once Harper is drawn reluctantly into the investigation, he'll stop at nothing to find the girls. And he doesn't care who gets in the way.
Paperback: http://amzn.to/19KLkJe
Kindle: http://amzn.to/14700y5
The 9/11 Machine
Dr. Donald Ellis lost everything on 9/11. He lost his wife and daughter in the south tower of the World Trade Center. But while others grieved, or plotted revenge, Dr. Ellis threw himself into a long-dormant research project. He traded his lab at the University of New York for an ugly riverfront warehouse in Brooklyn. What is he working on? And why does he spend every free moment at the warehouse standing by the river, staring across the water at Ground Zero? Because Dr. Ellis has a plan: he's going to make 9/11 "unhappen."
Paperback: http://amzn.to/1aMQO9x
Kindle: http://amzn.to/146irmq
The Ghost of Blackwood Lane
For years, the witness protection program has kept Gary Foreman safe from the horrors he left behind. He's got a new career and new friends, but they can never know his real name or where he comes from. But the program can't protect him from the relentless dreams of a young woman in danger. It's the same dream, night after night, and Gary is helpless, unable to stop the dream's inevitable and horrifying conclusion. The woman seems strangely familiar...is she someone from his dark past? Is she even real? All he knows for certain is that she needs his help, or she will die.
Paperback: http://amzn.to/1824IPQ
Kindle: http://amzn.to/14B89P0
Black Bird
Jack Terrington, the nation's most prolific serial killer, returns to the scene of his first murders, a small town he'd escaped only by dumb luck. Jack has an aptitude for getting away with murder; he's been doing it for twenty years. He's a drifter, leaving a trail of fear and death from coast to coast. And though he's always avoided capture, he's haunted by the memory of Liberty, Virginia--Jack had escaped capture only by dumb luck. And that's always bothered him. Now, before he retires for good, he's returning to the small town to settle the score. Meanwhile, David Beaumont couldn't wait to leave Liberty--he was tired of listening to the endless stories about what a great man his father had been, how he had saved Liberty from a killer, sacrificing his own life. David's starting a new life, but when the killings start again, David's the only one that can stop them. Should he return to the town he despises? And if he does, will he end up like his father--dead?
Paperback: http://amzn.to/16LjmbS
Kindle: http://amzn.to/1cdRfYa
...and two non-fiction titles:
Tipp Talk 2011
"Tipp Talk," a weekly newspaper column in Tipp City, Ohio, explores life in small-town America. Covering the columns for the 2011 calendar year, this collection recounts the local and regional challenges, events and activities in and around the town of Tipp City, located just north of Dayton, Ohio. These recollections form a unique snapshot" of life in a small Midwestern town struggling with job losses, mounting infrastructure costs and a weak economy.
Paperback: http://amzn.to/1dntrFw
Kindle: http://amzn.to/16LlKzp
Tipp Talk 2010
"Tipp Talk," a weekly newspaper column, explores life in small-town America. Covering the 2010 calendar year, this collection recounts the changes and challenges, events and activities that took place in Tipp City, Ohio. These recollections are interspersed with vignettes about day-to-day life, includ
ing thoughts on the writer's decision to shutter his downtown business and why small-town life is something to be coveted, not avoided.
Paperback: http://amzn.to/13WS8nY
Kindle: http://amzn.to/16Ln6Ki