Dearly Loved (28 page)

“No,” she said, dumbfounded, “it’s
not
obvious.”

He brushed a tear from her face with his thumb. “I guess I hesitated in telling you because I worried you might not return my feelings.”

Meredith swallowed, amazed at their identical struggles. Was it possible he really felt this way? But why make the statement unless he did?
Whoa
.
David loves me
. She soaked in that truth for a moment, then licked her lips. It was time to make her own statement—it was time to let go of the fear that had hobbled her for so long. “I love you, too, David. I have forever, I think.”

He grinned, pulling her into his arms. “You sound annoyed about it.”

She gave him a watery smile. “I am—a little.”

“What can I do to make it up to you?” he whispered.

Meredith stared at his lips, her heart beating hard. “You’re a smart guy, you figure it out.”

David smiled before lowering his head and touching her lips with his own.

Twenty-One

A week later, Meredith sat next to David in church. Her gaze strayed to him every few minutes during the service. She half-wondered if anyone else around noticed. It was like she could see herself from the outside—the prim, proper Meredith staring at a man with a silly expression on her face. Rather disgusting. But she couldn’t have changed it if she wanted to.

During the last week, David had gone to great lengths to assure her he was earnest in his affection. She no longer doubted his feelings for her. It finally occurred to her that he wouldn’t pursue her if he wasn’t truly interested. So much time wasted worrying.

David glanced down and smiled at her. She lowered her gaze, embarrassed to be caught staring, but was gratified by the look in his eyes nonetheless.

At the end of the service, after the benediction, Rosa and Gino approached them. Rosa’s speculative gaze told Meredith her friend was aware things had changed between she and David. Perhaps it was an instinct sharpened by love that made Rosa so perceptive. Whatever the cause, Meredith knew she’d be interrogated before long.

“So, are you two interested in doing lunch again?” Gino asked, with his arm slung about Rosa’s shoulders.

“Not this time,” David said, earning a surprised look from Meredith. “We’ve made plans for today.”

Rosa reached out and gave her a discreet pinch. “I’ll talk to you later.”

As David led her out through the foyer doors, Meredith turned to him. “Did we have plans? I don’t remember you saying anything about it.”

He gave her hand a squeeze. “I may not have mentioned anything to you, but we definitely have plans today.”

They arrived at his Jeep. David had picked her up from her house so they could go to church together. Once they were both settled inside, she touched his arm. “What are we going to do?

“It’s a surprise.”

Meredith gave him a quizzical look. Her heart leapt at his words, wondering if he meant
that
surprise, the kind one wears on a finger. Her head overruled her heart when she remembered David wasn’t the most sentimental of creatures. He probably had a new restaurant he wanted to take try. She didn’t care where they went as long as they were together.

Meredith soon realized they were leaving town. Must be
some
restaurant. She sat up straighter in her seat when she noticed they were driving in the direction of Greenwood, their old hometown. She cast David an inquiring look. He sent a smile and a shrug, but didn’t give any explanations.

After driving for about an hour, David passed the sign welcoming visitors to Greenwood, Oregon, population five thousand-four hundred. Meredith looked around with avid interest. She hadn’t been back for seven years. Parts of the community appeared unchanged, but she noted so-called progress as well. A Burger King and Wal-Mart store were new additions to the town. Downtown on Main Street showed some signs of revitalization, which encouraged her. Everywhere was evidence of the approaching holiday—empty lots filled with Christmas trees, glittery plastic candy canes decorations on the street signs, and free-hand holiday paintings on the storefront windows.

He slowed down as they passed Greenwood Valley High School, Home of the Tigers. Meredith groaned out loud, remembering her pitiable, David-obsessed years there. She turned to him as they passed the sports field where he’d played all his soccer games. “What’s your point? Are you trying to remind me of every cheerleader you ever dated here or what?”

“Ouch,” he said with a smirk. “No, that’s not what you’re supposed to remember. I just thought it would be fun for reasons of nostalgia.”

“Maybe your nostalgia is better than mine,” she grumbled, thinking of those bouncy beauties who’d fluttered around David like orange and black butterflies in their short little uniforms.

David laughed. “Oh, those bitter years you spent on the National Honor Roll, President of the Spanish Club, and recipient of the Community Volunteer of the Year Award.”

Meredith’s lips twitched into a smile. “Sounds liked you’ve dusted off your yearbooks.”

He tapped his forehead. “It’s all right up here. You made me proud, Merrie.”

She rolled her eyes. A few minutes later, they arrived in front of the two houses where they’d lived as neighbors. Roy and Gloria had long since moved from their house to a small retirement community on the east side of Greenwood.

They pulled alongside the curb on the opposite side of the street and came to a stop. Meredith saw that the houses seemed to be in decent condition. Families with children lived there judging by the bicycles, basketballs, and toys strewn about the yard.

While they watched, the front door of her old house opened and a little girl of about ten jumped from the steps and picked up a ball. She had straight black hair pulled into a long ponytail splayed out over the back of her hooded coat. A few moments later, a boy came out from the house where David had lived with his aunt and uncle. He had white blond hair and looked only slightly bigger than the girl.

With a swagger, he walked up to the girl, apparently demanding the ball. When she hugged it to her chest, he reached out and gave a hard yank on her ponytail. The girl, clearly outraged, dropped the ball. Then she hauled her arm back and punched the boy right in the eye. The bloodcurdling screams coming from the boy brought his mother out from the house.

Meredith burst out laughing at the sight, feeling a grudging admiration for the assertive, if violent, girl. She rolled her window down, absorbed in the scene. She heard the boy’s mother demanding to know what happened. Through sobs and hiccups, he told of how Samantha had hit him in the eye.

The mother looked over at the girl, who sat quietly in her own yard playing with a Barbie—a touching picture of demure girlhood. The mother raised her brow. “I hardly think Samantha capable of reducing you to tears. She’s two years younger than you.” Ignoring her son’s protests, she tugged on his arm, pulled him into the house, and told him to quit being so dramatic. The girl looked over to his house after they’d gone inside—a smug, self-satisfied smile on her face.

Meredith turned and glanced over at David. “Well, I can see there have been some real improvements to the neighborhood.”

“That’s sick, Merrie,” David said with a grin. “I can’t believe what I just saw. That little terror named Samantha is a future menace to society.”

“Well, the boy did pull on her ponytail, after all. A great offense, I assure you. I know this from experience.”

He laughed softly and pulled away from the curb. They drove to a few other familiar areas before David turned onto Maple Street and up the hill. Meredith wondered if he was taking her to the old maple tree. She had mixed feelings about seeing the place. A great many dreams had been woven there, along with some deeply disappointing experiences. Her suspicion was confirmed when David parked the Jeep.

They got out of the vehicle and began the trek up the hill. At the base of the hill, in what used to be acres of grassland and fields, was now filled with new homes. David put his arm around her shoulder as they crested the hill.

He suddenly stumbled. Meredith glanced up at him. When she saw the stricken look on his face, she turned her head to follow his gaze.

“It’s gone,” he said in a hoarse voice.

She let out a gasp. The huge, ancient, sprawling, magical maple tree had utterly disappeared. “I wonder what happened!”

They continued up the hill until the reached the top. Meredith saw what was left of the tree. Nothing but a stump. She walked over and peered down at the wood. “Looks like rot on the inside killed it.”

David snorted. “That’s not exactly the symbolism I was going for.”

She pointed to a little maple sapling planted nearby. “Look, a new tree. That’s a nice thought. Like a new beginning maybe?”

Standing with his hands on hips, David frowned. “It’s a puny, scraggly little thing.”

“It’s a Cedar of Lebanon compared to that Christmas tree you bought.”

David’s dark expression made her giggle. She walked up to him and slid her arms around his waist. “So, what type of symbolism were you going for?”

His features softening, he reached out and drew a wind-blown lock of hair from her face. “Well, since it’s winter and everything’s pretty much dead, I was at least hoping for some romantic reminiscence about our first kiss we shared here under the leafy shade. That tree,” he said, pointing accusing finger at the sapling, “couldn’t shade an ant.”

Meredith hugged him tight. “It’s a sweet gesture, David. Really.”

He grunted. She bit back a smile and watched the play of emotions across his face. David shook his head, making her wonder why he was so upset about a tree. He abruptly dropped onto one knee and held both her hands in his.

“Put me out of my misery, Meredith, and marry me, please.”

She forgot to breathe. Stunned, she swallowed, trying to form words. Her mouth opened. “You called me…Meredith.”

“Merrie,” he growled. “This is not the time for a discussion of names. That can wait until we have children.” He rose to his feet and gazed down at her.

She saw the uncertainty in his eyes. When he looked at her like that, when had she ever been able to say no to him? “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

“That’s better,” he whispered. “I love you.”

She rested her hands on his shoulders, trying not to cry. “I love you, too.”

David fumbled in his pocket and pulled out a ring box. He opened it and drew out an engagement ring. Meredith’s throat clogged with tears. It was so beautiful. With shaking hands, David slipped it onto her finger. Pressing her hand against his heart, he gazed at her, his dark eyes glimmering with emotion.

He smiled. “Kiss me, Merrie.”

Involuntarily, her eyes fluttered closed as she surrendered herself to the soft, sweet feelings his touch stirred within her.

Other titles for Kindle by Bonnie Blythe:

Rock And A Hard Place

(Book one of Cascade Brides)

Faith must decide whether to open her heart to love and reconciliation.

Restorations

(Book One of Oregon In Love)

Can her old boyfriend rebuild their relationship as well as her house?

Lights and Shadows

(Book Two of Oregon In Love)

Chiaroscuro: the treatment of light and shade to give an illusion of depth—even in love.

Milagro For Miranda

(Book Three of Oregon In Love)

Miranda needs a miracle—to find her lost sister in a Mexican orphanage.

How Sweet It Is

Chocolate maker meets surfer dude

Claire’s Not-So-Gothic Romance

Jane Eyre meets Lucille Ball

Texas Whirlwind

Did she buy her ready-made family and can she do it alone?

Melody's Knight

An English girl has a hankering for an American cowboy.

Love's Unmasking

A regency novella

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