Aunt Shirley chuckled. “It was pretty comical. Especially when you consider I was yelling at him with no teeth in!”
“What happened to your teeth?” Garrett asked. “Wait, no. Don’t tell me. I still want to eat tonight.”
Mom, Aunt Shirley, and I laughed heartily at Garrett’s face. It felt good to finally release the breath we all seemed to have been holding since the incident. I didn’t think my heart could feel any fuller than it did right now.
Doc came outside the house and hollered out to us. “Everything okay out here?”
Mom opened her door and slid out. “Come inside soon. We are ready to eat when you are.”
I watched as Mom and Doc walked hand in hand back inside. “You know,” I mused. “I really think something serious is about to happen with those two.”
Garrett smiled. “Is that so?”
I nodded. “Yep. I just have this weird feeling about tonight.”
“Oh, you do, huh?” Garrett leaned over and kissed my nose. “You’re really something, Ryli Jo Sinclair, you know that?”
I preened at his praise. “I know.” I turned back to Aunt Shirley. “So are we good?”
She grinned at me. “We’re good. Let’s go inside. I could use a drink after all this touchy-feeling crap.”
Garrett took my good hand in his and we walked toward the front door. “I’m not so sure I’m good with this decision you and Aunt Shirley have made.”
I grinned and kissed him. “Yes, you are.”
He grunted.
A car door slammed and Hank and Mindy walked toward us. “I didn’t know you guys were coming,” I said as I hugged Mindy.
Mindy smiled at Garrett. “We wouldn’t miss this for the world.”
I gave Paige a big hug when I saw her. It’d been a few days since I last saw her, and I swear she looked even bigger. Of course, I wasn’t going to be stupid enough to tell her that. We all took turns congratulating Paige and rubbing her belly. She took the ribbing good-naturedly, although I saw her cower in fear when Aunt Shirley squatted down and told the baby all the things she was going to teach her.
Dinner was a delicious meal of salad, grilled veggies, and salmon. Even though the outdoor table sat eight, Mom found a way for the nine of us to squeeze in and still be comfortable. The cool, spring air was just what we all needed to forget about the life and death situation we’d recently been in.
For dessert Doc had made a strawberry poke cake. Just so he wouldn’t wonder if it was any good, I forced myself to have two pieces. I finished off my glass of pinot noir, which I could finally have now that the pain pills were gone, when Garrett stood up from the table.
Every eye turned to him. I looked around the table and realized I was the only person surprised when he stood and held up his hand. “Most of you know the true reason why you were invited here tonight.” He turned to me and drew me from my chair so we stood and faced each other. My heart started to beat out of my chest.
“Ryli, I’ve enjoyed these last six months. And even though I fought this pull for so long because of our age difference, I’ve come to realize that it’s ridiculous for me to make that be our biggest obstacle. I just wasn’t prepared for you. I was used to living alone, being alone. I had the military, and then I had my job. I thought those things were enough for me, but I was wrong.” He grabbed hold of my hands. “Ryli, I love the intelligent woman you are, the fierce independence you seem to have.” He blew out a sigh and looked at Aunt Shirley. “And, yes, I’ve also come to love the quirky, silly things you do that leave my heart in my stomach.”
I grinned at that statement. And because I knew in my heart where this speech was going, I wanted to yank my hand out of his grasp and wipe it on my pants…but I refrained. Wine made me retain water, and I may need that extra bit of hand sweat to help slide the ring on.
Garrett reached out and took a box from Matt. I made eye contact with Paige. She was squirming and doing a victory dance in her chair.
“Ryli, I want to spend the rest of my life with you. To grow old with you, to one day start a family with you. Whatever we decided, I want it to be together.” Garrett opened the box to reveal the ring to me. I could hardly speak. I suddenly wished I’d been lifting weights like I kept telling myself I would do. The ring looked like it weighed a good five pounds!
“Ryli Jo Sinclair, will you marry me?”
I felt myself nod as tears ran down my face. Garrett lifted the ring out of the box and slid it up my finger. It was a perfect fit. I squealed and threw my arms around him. He hugged me back, laughing. And then we kissed.
After a few minutes, I heard Hank and Aunt Shirley grumble good-naturedly, and I knew I needed to break apart from Garrett and show my ring off.
“Let’s see it,” Aunt Shirley demanded.
I turned to see Mom, Paige, Mindy, and Aunt Shirley all huddled around waiting to get a look at my ring finger. Garrett was receiving handshakes and back slaps from the guys. Hank handed him a glass of bourbon and told him he might as well get used to needing a glass of this every night if he was going to be calling me wife. I grinned like an idiot at that statement.
“First thing we need to do is find a wedding dress,” Mom said.
I groaned. “How about I just be engaged for a while.”
“I hear that new quilt and fabric shop has some beautiful tulle,” Paige said as though I hadn’t spoken.
“Oh, a handmade veil,” Aunt Shirley gasped. “I think that would be perfect!”
I rolled my eyes at Garrett. Although inside I was secretly enjoying the pampering. It looked like things were finally going my way.
A half an hour later when everyone was gone, I walked a tipsy Aunt Shirley out to Garrett’s car. We’d opened a couple bottles of champagne to celebrate, and Aunt Shirley celebrated just a little too much.
“I’ve been thinkin’,” Aunt Shirley slurred slightly. “We should take some self-defensen classes you and me.” She flipped her hand back and forth between us about seven times. “You and me. We may need to learn to defend ourselves a little more. Whaddaya think?”
I laughed and put her in the back seat. “Self-defensen classes, huh?”
Aunt Shirley nodded. “Yep.”
“Why not? What harm can come from learning some self-defense moves?”
Me and my big mouth.
About the Author
Jenna writes in the genre of cozy/women's literature. Her humorous characters and stories revolve around over-the-top family members, creative murders, and there's always a positive element of the military in her stories. Jenna currently lives in Missouri with her fiancé, step-daughter, Nova Scotia duck tolling retriever dog, Brownie, and her tuxedo-cat, Whiskey. She is a former court reporter turned educator turned full-time writer. She has a Master’s degree in Special Education, and an Education Specialist degree in Curriculum and Instruction. She also spent twelve years in full-time ministry.
When she’s not writing, Jenna likes to attend beer and wine tastings, go antiquing, visit craft festivals, and spend time with her family and friends. You can friend request her on Facebook under Jenna St. James, and she has a blog http://jennastjames.blogspot.com/. You can also e-mail her at [email protected].
Jenna writes both the Ryli Sinclair Mystery and the Sullivan Sisters Mystery. You can purchase these books at http://amazon.com/author/jennastjames. Thank you for taking the time to read Jenna St. James’ books. If you enjoy her books, please leave a review on Amazon, Goodreads, or any other social media outlet.
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Bed, Breakfast and Murder (A Ryli Sinclair Mystery Book 4) Page 13
