Jim placed his gnarled hands on his knees.“I believe it is.”He heaved himself to his feet and smoothed his shirt.Clearing his throat, he called out, “Milly, how about you and the girls come on out here?”
The three appeared in the doorway.Milly dried her hands on a kitchen towel.“Yes?”Her gaze on him was soft.
Jim said, “I asked Rio and Becca to make a trip up here so we could all be together,” he said.“Plus, I wanted to see my grandkids.When they get big enough, we’ll buy a couple ponies.”
Becca smiled lovingly at her husband, still in his chair, and the innocent baby slumbering on his chest.She cupped the infant’s head in her sling.“Cannon and Brock will love that.”
“I had one more reason for our get-together,” Jim said to them all.“Something real important.”
Knowing what was coming, Ben studied the women’s faces, and he saw understanding bloom on Sarah’s beautiful features.Becca looked expectant, and Milly had no clue.
“Can’t believe,” Big Jim began, “that I wasted so many years.But it’s time.”
Sarah grew misty-eyed.Becca smiled.Milly seemed puzzled.
Big Jim took off his cowboy hat and ran his fingers through his gray hair.He looked around the room.“Just feels right.You know?When I’m with her.Everything’s good.”Then he looked deeply into Milly’s eyes.
The older woman blushed.In her hands, she twisted the kitchen towel.“I’m kinda sweet on you, too, Jim.But getting you to admit your feelings was like pulling hen’s teeth.”
They all chuckled.
With effort, Big Jim managed to get down onto the wood floor, taking a knee.From his pocket, he withdrew a sparkling ring.“Milly, I wanted our family here today, and they areourfamily,” he said.“You helped raise Sarah and Rio.They’re your kids, too.Now, we also get Becca and Ben, and the babies.”
Milly gasped.
He held out the piece of jewelry.“So, will you?”
Frozen to the floor, Milly’s gaze went to the shining ring and her mouth fell open.She didn’t say a word.
“These old knees aren’t getting any younger,” Jim said, clearly in pain.“Can you say yes so I can get up?”
Coming to life, Milly opened her arms.“Yes!”
Jim lumbered to his feet to embrace her.He slid the ring onto her finger, and she stared at her hand in astonishment.
Tilting her chin up, he took her into his arms and kissed her.He kissed hertenderly.
The room erupted in whoops so loud Rio’s baby woke and fussed.He quieted the boy with a stroking hand on his back.
“I’m so happy,” Milly said, her chin trembling.Next to the tall man, the plump woman looked tiny.“I never thought I’d get married.”
Becca and Sarah swarmed the couple, exclaiming over the ring.
Ben got to his feet to shake Big Jim’s hand and drop a peck onto Milly’s cheek.He grinned at her.“Congratulations.Maybe we should get married together.”
“A double wedding?”Sarah exclaimed.She grabbed Milly by the shoulders.“That would be wonderful!Do you want to get married with us at Christmas?”
“I’d love that,” Milly said.
From his chair, Rio raised a hand to get Sarah’s attention.He waggled his eyebrows at her.“Sis, should we tell him now?”
“Sure.”She smiled at her brother knowingly.“Go ahead.”
“Well, Dad,” Rio said, drawing it out.“You know how you finally told us that the reason you named me Rio is because you always wanted to go Brazil, to Rio de Janeiro?”
“Yeah?”Jim held Milly close to his side.
“We’ve been reading the tea leaves.You know, seeing how well things have been going between you and Milly.And we’ve been conspiring.”
