Page 55 of Air Affair

He looked all around the house and finally saw the note on the table in the breakfast nook.

“Hank,

Thank you so much for letting me stay at your house when I had nowhere else to turn. I am deeply grateful. While you were away, I managed to procure employment and a place to live. I rented the third-floor apartment above the flower shop on Main Street. I would love it if you would call on me when you return.

Yours truly,

Rory”

“Good God,” he said aloud. “Rory moved in with the O’Donnells?” He could just see Bill O’Donnell’s smug face now. He didn’t live with his parents, but Hank was sure he’d be over at their house every night once he found out about Rory. “Christ.”

Taking a deep breath, he regrouped. His plan didn’t need to change very much. He could still go over, invite her out for an evening walk, and then propose. Retrieving his grandmother’s ring from deep in his sock drawer, he shoved it in his pocket and set out for Main Street.

Arriving at the florist, he just caught Mr. O’Donnell as he was closing up. “Mr. O’Donnell, I⁠—”

“I’m so sorry, Hank, but I have to close up. The missus says dinner is almost ready.” He was rapidly putting away the day’s flowers in an icebox.

“I’m not here for flowers, Mr. O’Donnell. I’m here to see Miss Belmont. I understand she just took the third-floor apartment?” Come to think of it, flowers weren’t a bad idea. “Though I would love to buy those roses right there,” he said pointing to a bunch that hadn’t gone into the icebox yet.

“Lovely girl, Miss Belmont. Very decent sort. Well educated. Offered to teach our Adelaide French if you can believe it. She had her first lesson today and she can already say yes, no, and hello.” He grabbed the bunch of roses Hank wanted to buy.

“Wait, Mr. O’Donnell, I’ll give you five dollars for those roses.”

Mr. O’Donnell paused, narrowing his eyes. “But they’re only worth eighty cents.”

“Yes, but I need them.” Hank tried and failed to keep the desperation out of his voice.

“Oh, aye? A romantic emergency, is it?” Mr. O’Donnell asked with a wide smile.

“Something like that,” Hank said, shoving his hands in his pockets and pulling out his billfold.

“Well, since you’re such a good friend of our Bill, I’ll give them to you this once. One dollar, please.”

“You said eighty cents.”

“And you said five. I think this is a fair compromise.” Mr. O’Donnell wrapped the flowers in paper and tied a bow around them. “Here you are.”

“Thank you.”

“I take it these are for Miss Belmont?” Mr. O’Donnell asked, going back to closing up the store.

“They are.”

Mr. O’Donnell nodded slowly. “I should warn you the missus has other designs. She’s determined to make a match for our Bill. Myself, I don’t think it’s right to meddle in these things, but Shannon does as she pleases, God love her.”

Getting impatient, Hank asked, “May I go up to see her now?”

Mr. O’Donnell smiled at his impatience. “If you like. She’s with the missus on the second floor helping get dinner ready.”

Oh no. Hank had hoped to get her alone, but it looked like he was going to have to pry her away from Mrs. O’Donnell, not an easy feat.

He climbed the stairs with some trepidation, wondering how he was going to get his plans back on track.

The door was open when he arrived on the second-floor landing, but he gave a little knock anyway. Mrs. O’Donnell came bustling over, wiping her hands on her apron.

“Lieutenant Hawley, what a surprise! And what lovely flowers! Did Finn send those up for me? He’s such a romantic, even after all these years.”

Rory appeared behind her, watching the scene unfold with great amusement. His heart lurched in his chest. Good Lord, she was beautiful, and to his immense surprise, she looked perfectly content and at home in the O’Donnell’s humble kitchen.