19
Engagement
Within three days, Lucas went back to his slacks, oxford shirts, and routine. The only difference was that he still went to the rescue farm to visit with Heidi. He never invited me to join him, and I didn’t ask again. Every time I tried to talk to him, he had something going on or was too busy. I barely saw him anymore. Instead of coffee in the kitchen with his laptop, he hid away in the music room.
This morning was no different.
The doorbell rang and Lainey went into the foyer to answer it. Sheila, the interior designer. Lucas had asked us to work with her and make some decisions on new renovations since we knew the place better than he did. I was thankful I had to work instead. The last thing I wanted to do was decorate a house that would eventually be for someone else.
Before I left, I figured I’d give it one last shot with Lucas, because the truth was, I couldn’t stop thinking about him. I wanted things to go back to where they were before that damned kiss with Austin.
I missed him.
I knocked on the music room door and opened it. Lucas was intently focused on his laptop, typing away.
“Your interior designer is here,” I said.
“Thank you. I’ll be out in a minute.”
“Do you have a moment to talk?”
His hands froze over the keys. He looked up at me, that old brooding stare he first greeted me with back in full force. “I have a lot going on right now. Can it wait until tonight?”
“Yeah.”
He went back to typing, and I closed the door.
* * *
Thelma and Ben were way more googly-eyed and smiley than they normally would be for prep time. I tied my apron around my waist.
“What’s going on with you two?”
Ben turned away with a ridiculous grin on his face and turned on the grill. Thelma held out her left hand, revealing a diamond set between sapphire and emerald—both their birthstones.
I grabbed her fingers and took a closer look. “You’re engaged?”
She nodded, a huge smile spreading over her face. “Yup. He asked last night.”
Excitement burst through my chest, and I wrapped my arms around her. “That’s awesome. I’m so happy for you guys!”
“I would’ve called you last night, but… um… we were a little busy.” She looked over at Ben, and his cheeks reddened a little under his tanned skin.
“Oh my gawd, don’t worry about that. I get it.”
We headed toward the waitress station to get ready for the lunch crowd. “So, tell me everything. How did he do it?”
She grabbed a few pens and a check pad and stuffed them in her apron pouch. “Well, Ben cooked me dinner and set it up real nice by the lake.” She laughed. “I figured he did something awful, and I was mad through most of it. I was waiting for some kind of confession that would get us fighting again.” Tears rimmed her eyes through a smile. “But instead he got down on one knee.”
I put a hand to my chest, imagining how she must have felt in that moment. “That’s beautiful, Thelma.”
“We haven’t done any real planning for the wedding yet. It’s just gonna be something simple, but I’d love for you to be my maid of honor.”
“Are you kidding? Of course I will.”
I grabbed the silverware tray and headed to a table, while Thelma scooped up a stack of napkins. “Do you guys have a date in mind?”
She shrugged. “Since it’s gonna be small, we figured a fall wedding just when the leaves are turning would be nice.”
