“Are you saying that you’d rather guess what I have in this box than receive it?” Abraham pulled a small jewel box from his pocket.
Saucers could fit inside her eyes for as wide as they felt. Was he going to propose, right here in front of the courthouse, just after hearing Lawson’s sentencing?
She didn’t know whether to be thrilled or appalled.
“I’ll take that as my cue to leave.” Papa dipped his hat and strode away, a chuckle following in his wake.
She jumped for the box, but Abraham pulled it out of reach, a broad smile on his face.
“What’s your guess as to what’s in here?”
“It’s a ring box!”
“It could be earrings.”
It could, but he was having way too much fun for it to be something like that.
“You, Theresa, Nora, and Flossie have been sneaking around for weeks. It has to be a ring, and I expect a proposal with it as well.”
“Oh, you do, do you?” He shook his head and lowered the box to within reach. “In that case, I suppose I have no choice but to follow through now, rather than with the surprise I had planned.” He lowered to one knee and lifted the closed box. “Lydia Pelton, you would make me the happiest of men if you would do me the honor of agreeing to”—he opened the box, revealing a square piece of confectionery—“eat this piece of chocolate.”
“Abraham!” She swatted his arm and, at the same time, nabbed the chocolate. “You’re such a scoundrel.”
“But you had everything figured out. I couldn’t very well give you what you wanted.” He plucked the chocolate from her hands, split it, and popped one piece into his mouth, offering the other to her.
“So youareplanning to propose.” She tossed the chocolate into her mouth and gave him a saucy grin.
“Maybe. Maybe not.” He kissed her cheek and slipped her arm around his. “Come, I’ve been at the courthouse since breakfast. I’m famished.”
She shook her head. “All right, but since you’ve been such a scoundrel, you’re getting your present now, and I’m going to tell you it’s because I’m tired of you smelling like Florida Corpse Water.”
He laughed as she thrust the wrapped cologne at his chest. “I suppose I had that one coming.”
“Yes, you did.”
They strolled to a restaurant far enough away from the courthouse to be free of the hungry crowd of trial observers. The food was delightful and the company even better. At the end of the meal, Abraham pulled a long rectangular box from his pocket and set it in front of her.
“It’s still not a ring, but I’ve been praying about something regarding you, and something your father said the other day confirmed it. Maybe for both of us. Open it, then I’ll explain.”
She squinted suspiciously at him before flipping it open. A simple fountain pen lay atop a sheet with the verse 1 Peter 4:10 written beneath it. She read it aloud. “‘As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.’”
Abraham took her hand in his. “God has given you a passion and a gift for writing. I don’t think you should set it aside forever. Your writing is an opportunity to minister to others. You might have gone about it poorly in the past, but when God places a story that honors Him on your heart, I think you should write it.”
She gaped at him. The story that wouldn’t leave her alone? Was he really saying she should write it? Was God? Even after the heartache and terror her stories had wrought? “Do you really?”
“Yes. I’ve seen your longing as you scribble notes when you think no one is looking, and then your heartache as you set them aside.” He lifted her hand and kissed it. “Write that story you’ve been trying so hard to deny. There is no need to write in secret anymore.”
She bounced up from her chair and circled around to hug and kiss him. Who cared if it was an unseemly display of affection? The place was nearly deserted anyway.
He laughed and allowed her only a respectable peck. “If I’d known it would make you so happy, I would have given it to you in the privacy of your parlor. What do you say to a stop at the confectionery before heading home?”
“But I’ve already had chocolate.”
“Half a piece, and are you actually going to turn down an opportunity for more?”
“No.”
“Good.”
