"Oh. Fine."
"Joanna."
"I'm sorry, what?"
"Where is your head today?" Barbara asked, reaching up and feeling Carey's forehead. "You're not running a fever. Are you feeling all right?"
"I'm fine, Mom. My mind's just on other things, that's all."
"I asked if you wanted any of the furniture or should we try to sell it furnished?"
"Sell the house?"
"What do you think I've been talking to you about for the last ten minutes?" Barbara shook her head. "If you don't want to talk about it then just say so."
"Mom? How did you know it was right?"
Her mother looked at her for a second, then took Carey's hand and pulled her toward the bedroom. "When you start asking questions like that I know it's time for a serious talk."
"But Grace will be looking for me," Carey protested as she was pulled into the room.
"She'll survive two minutes without you," her mother said, closing the door behind them. "How did I know what was right?"
"Mom..."
Her mother pointed at the bed. "Joanna, sit."
Carey wanted to protest but took one look at her mother's face and thought better of it. "We can't be in here long," she said as she sat down. "I don't want Grace to think something's going on." Why are my hands so clammy?
"You're walking around with your mind a hundred miles away and you don't think she's going to think something's going on?" Barbara pulled the chair from the desk over to the bed. "Talk to your mother."
"What made you think Richard was right for you? He's not like Dad."
"I could ask you the same question about Grace," her mother pointed out. "Though you seem happier with her than you ever were with Eve."
"I love Grace, very much," Carey said. "She's not like Eve at all."
"You never talked about what happened between you and Eve," Barbara pointed out. "As a matter of fact, you hardly spoke of her at all even when you were together. I ask you how you're doing now and I hear all about Grace." She smiled. "And Richard hears all about you. That girl adores you."
"I know that," Carey said. "That's why I did something really, really crazy. I bought her a ring, Mom. After dinner I'm going to ask her to marry me."
"Marry her?"
"You don't approve?"
Barbara reached over and took her hand. "Oh, baby, I adore Grace. You know that. I was just surprised that you want to marry her when it really won't mean anything."
"It will mean something to me, Mom. And I hope it will mean something to her too. I'm not doing this for any type of benefits that they award to someone that is married in the eyes of the law. I talked to Reverend Pellegrino, and he agreed to marry us. That's official enough for me." Carey leaned forward and squeezed the hand that was holding hers. "I want to give her this special moment to show her that I'm committed to this relationship. That she's the only one I'll ever want. I've sent her too many mixed signals, but this will tell her that I'm really serious. Isn't that what getting married is all about?"
A tear started down Barbara's face and she pulled Carey over for a hug. "Yes, it is."
"Grace," Carey said. "I need to run down to the store and get more milk." She grabbed Richard's arm. "Your dad's going with me. We'll be right back."
"I am?" he asked, allowing himself to be led to the door.
"Yes, you are. The store's just down the road," Carey said, climbing in the truck and starting the engine. "I wanted to ask you something."
"I had a feeling I wasn't here just to keep you company," he said. "You know I love Grace."
"Ayup."
"I think of our relationship as a permanent thing," she said, taking a deep breath. "And…I'm committed to making it work. I would never do anything deliberate to hurt her."
"Grace is very happy," he said.
"Yes," Carey said. "She seems to be. The thing is...l want to show her how I feel." She rolled down the window, the cab suddenly feeling very hot. "See...that commitment...I want to give her that...for both of us." She passed the store. "And well...tradition...and..." Shaking her head, she reached over and opened the glove compartment, revealing a velvet box. "May l?"
Richard started chuckling and reached for the box. "Finally decided to make an honest woman of my daughter, huh? Good thing too, because you're not the only one around here with a shotgun." He opened the box. "Oh, that's very pretty. I'm sure Grace will love it."
Carey pulled over. "So that's a yes, right?"
"Ayup, if you're asking for my daughter's hand in marriage. Do yourself a favor, though," he said, closing the box and putting it back in the glove compartment. "Just show her the ring. It'll say everything for you."
"What are you doing here?" Carey asked, stepping outside and closing the door behind her.
"You're going to ask her, aren't you?" Gage said. "I want to see her face when she sees that ring."
"Before or after I have my heart attack?" Carey said, sitting down on the steps. "I almost had a stroke just asking her dad's permission."
"You mean your step-dad," Gage said.
"Don't say it like that," Carey said. "I'd much rather think of him as her father and the man who lives with my mother. If I think of him as a step-father then that makes Grace my step-sister, and that's just too weird to be asking my sister to marry me. Funny, I told Grace it wasn't that strange, but at a time like this, the last thing I want to do is think of Grace as my sister."
"Just don't faint before you give her the ring," Gage said. "Come on, let me in so I can watch you make a fool out of yourself."
"Look who's here," Carey said as she opened the door and ushered Sue in. "Mom, you remember Sue, don't you?"
"Of course I do," Barbara said. "It's nice to see you again, Sue." "Yes, it is," Sue said as she walked over and sat on the arm of the couch.
"Um…I have to get something out of the kitchen," Carey said, turning away from the group of people sitting in her living room.
"I'll go with you," Grace said, following her into the kitchen. "Are you okay?"
"Me? Of course," Carey said, feigning casualness.
"You seem nervous or worried about something," Grace said, moving closer. "Are you sure you're feeling okay?"
"I'm fine." My stomach's in knots, my head feels light and I'm not sure if I'm going to pass out or throw up. Other than that, I'm fine. "I think it's just a little warm in here."
Grace put her hand on Carey's forehead. "It seems fine to me but you do feel a little warm. I'm going to get the thermometer."
"No," Carey said, putting her arms around the younger woman. "I'm fine, really." Holding Grace in her arms had a calming effect, ebbing the fear that was playing havoc with her emotions. "I love you," she said, claiming Grace's mouth with her own.
"Mmm, and I love you," Grace said when their lips parted. "You sure you're okay?"
"I'm sure," she said. "Go on, I'll be out in a minute."
Grace kissed her cheek. "I love you."
Carey watched her leave, then turned and leaned her forearms on the counter. It's time. Just go out there, kneel down next to her and give her the ring. That's all there is to it. She'll say yes. Of course she will. She loves me. She wants commitment. She won't ask to think about it. She'll say yes. "Oh God," she whispered, clasping her hands together. "Please just give me the strength to get through this...and please let her say yes."
Taking a deep breath, Carey pushed open the louvered door, her eyes locking on Grace. "Um...if everyone could be quiet for a minute. I have something I want to say." She took a step forward, aware of Gage's smirk, Richard's smile, and most of all Grace's concerned look. "Grace, when you first told me you loved me, I couldn't return that love." That's good, voice is steady, keep going. She took another step forward. "I told you to find someone else, that it could never be." The room seemed to close in and Carey gripped the back of Gage's chair for support. "B-but you waited for me to see what you knew all along." She reached into her pocket. "That we were meant to be together." Cupping the box in her hand, she knelt down, her eyes never leaving Grace's. "I love you," she said, revealing the black velvet box and looking into teary blue eyes. "I...I..." Tears formed in her eyes, matching those rolling down Grace's cheeks. Opening the box, she held it out to the woman who owned her heart. "Marry me?" Grace didn't say a word, she just held out her hand as tears started down her face.