Chapter 22
This has been such a nice place to work, Lucy thought as she swept up the restaurant’s dining room, but I’m not going to miss these late nights.
Excitement fluttered in her stomach when she thought about the future.
She would be graduating soon, and she hoped she’d find a teaching job in the fall.
It would be wonderful to be around children all day, teaching them new things and getting them excited about learning.
She smiled softly to herself as she finished her work.
“Well, hello my lovely rose,” came Jesse’s deep voice from the back of the room.
Lucy’s smile widened when she saw her favorite person in the whole world. “What are you doing here so late?”
Jesse hardly ever came by the restaurant this late at night anymore since Ellis had stopped bothering her, though Avery still checked on her frequently just in case.
“I missed you,” Jesse said with a grin.
“And you couldn’t wait a half hour until I got done with work?” Lucy said with a laugh. She put down her broom and went over to wrap her arms around him. He was just so damned irresistible.
Jesse pressed his lips to hers in a sweet kiss. She brushed back the hair from his forehead and looked down at his outfit. He was wearing his work clothes—his usual gray wool pants, white shirt, and suspenders.
“Having you dressed like this and visiting me here reminds me of when we first met,” Lucy said fondly. “I loved having you here, but I was so nervous around you!”
“I was nervous, too,” Jesse said. “You were so beautiful and so sweet, I just couldn’t take my eyes off you. Still can’t.”
Lucy kissed him again, and then said, “Well, I better finish up. Shouldn’t take me too long.”
“Okay, darlin,” Jesse said, then he released her. “Oh, wait. There was just one thing I wanted to ask you.”
Then he got down on one knee.
Lucy stared down at him with astonishment.
“Lucy, I love you with all my heart. I’ve been in love with you since the first moment I laid eyes on you,” Jesse said as he lovingly looked up at her.
She looked down into those precious, blue-gray eyes of his and was utterly overwhelmed with love for him. He took a ring from his pocket and held it up to her.
He gazed at her for a moment, then said, “Lucy Ann Westbrook, will you be my wife?”
Lucy gasped. She could hardly believe what was happening. She had always known she would spend the rest of her life with him. Having him by her side felt like a miracle every single day, but somehow she hadn’t given much thought to making it official.
She stared down at the ring. “H-how did you…”
Jesse grinned. “Put in some overtime at work while you was workin’ late so I could get it for you. I know it’s not much.”
Lucy looked down at the gold ring with its tiny diamond.
She couldn’t imagine how hard he must have worked to afford it.
The ring was sweet and humble, just like Jesse.
Lucy could not imagine a more beautiful piece of jewelry.
She was stunned, overwhelmed, and doing her best not to burst into tears.
“Lucy?” Jesse said, looking a little worried. She realized she hadn’t given him an answer yet.
“Oh, Jesse,” Lucy said, her voice trembling with emotion. “Of course I’ll be your wife!”
Jesse grinned that boyish grin of his that still made her heart pound. Tears spilled from her eyes, and Jesse had to hold her left hand steady so he could slip the ring on her finger.
“Jesse!” Lucy cried. He stood up and she threw her arms around him. He hugged her so tightly that he lifted her off the ground.
He finally released her, looked into her eyes for a moment, then kissed her.
“I love you so much, my rose.”
“I love you, too,” Lucy said.
Jesse suddenly took a step back from her, a mischievous grin on his face.
“What are you up to, cowboy?” Lucy asked suspiciously.
Jesse drew in a deep breath, and then shouted, “She said YES!”
The door to the restaurant kitchen burst open, and out came Theresa, Sean, Remy, and Avery.
“Sean!” Theresa yelled. “Quick, open this!” With that, she thrust a bottle of champagne into her boyfriend’s hands.
Sean laughed, then popped open the bottle. Theresa grabbed it from him and raced toward Lucy, squealing. She grabbed Lucy in a forceful embrace, spilling champagne on her.
“Sorry, babe! Got champagne in your hair!”
Lucy laughed and said happily, “I don’t care!”
Remy ran over, too, and the three embraced each other, laughing.
“You planned all this?” Lucy asked Jesse.
He nodded proudly. “Craig and Mandy and all your coworkers left already so we could have a private party.”
Lucy sighed happily. Jesse had planned the perfect proposal. A public proposal would have made her uncomfortable and would have been all wrong for her. This way, he’d popped the question in private, but she still got to celebrate with her friends.
“I want to be the first to make a toast!” Remy said. Theresa ducked behind the bar and started pouring champagne. At first, Remy just grabbed an empty glass.
“Wait, give it here,” Theresa said, gesturing at the glass. Remy handed it over, and Theresa filled it with soda water for her.
“Thanks,” Remy said, happily accepting the glass.
She waited until everyone else—except Avery, of course—had a glass of champagne.
She took a deep breath and looked at Lucy and Jesse.
“Okay, here goes. I’ll never forget when Jesse Spenser first came to work for the Blue and Gray Touring Company, because I developed a mad crush on him pretty much the moment I met him. ”
Lucy gasped. She covered her mouth, giggling. She looked at Jesse, who looked equally surprised. Jesse glanced at Avery, who chuckled and nodded, making it clear that this was not news to him.
“Then, I met Lucy,” Remy said, and everyone laughed knowingly.
“And it wasn’t just that Jesse was taken.
I took one look at the two of them, and I knew she had his heart forever.
When I saw them together, I just knew that they had that amazing, everlasting kind of love.
And this was before I knew the incredible tale of how Jesse managed to cheat death to be with her.
” Remy’s voice shook a little when she said that part and everyone in the room knew why.
Their looks of empathy and understanding threatened to overwhelm her, so she knew that she’d better wrap it up.
She raised her glass and said, “To Lucy and Jesse, and to their happy ever after.”
“Hear, hear!” Theresa shouted, and they all toasted the happy couple.
Remy walked over to Lucy and Jesse, looking slightly abashed when she glanced at Jesse.
“I can’t believe it!” Jesse said. “You liked me first, then you threw me off for the Irish guy!”
Remy laughed, and Lucy’s heart swelled with affection for Jesse. It was the perfect thing for him to say to ease any discomfort Remy might have felt over her confession.
“What can I say?” Remy said, looking at Avery with fondness. Then she turned to Lucy and said, “I’m sorry, but I have to know.” Remy glanced around at the room, then back at her friend. “Where?”
“Where what?” Lucy asked.
“Where did you two, you know…”
Lucy groaned and hid her face in Jesse’s shoulder. Jesse laughed, and stroked her hair. When Lucy lifted her head, she saw that everyone was looking at her, waiting for her answer.
Lucy slowly walked over to the bartop near where Theresa had just been pouring drinks. She put her hand on the section of the bar where she and Jesse had made love, then turned around. Flushing a deep red, she laughed, letting her friends know that it was all right to tease her about it.
Theresa started applauding, and the others joined in. “All right, Luce!”
Jesse walked over and put his arm around Lucy, laughing. “I’m sorry, honey.”
“No, you’re not,” Lucy said with a smile.
Jesse shrugged guiltily. “Well, I’m a little sorry.”
“Got started on the honeymoon a little early, did ya, Jesse?” Sean teased, then fist-bumped him. “Okay, now I want to make a toast.”
“Be nice,” Jesse warned Sean, waggling a finger at him, then glancing at Lucy. Jesse seemed to appreciate that Lucy had a sense of humor about discussing their sex life, but he didn’t want the teasing to make her too uncomfortable.
Sean raised his glass and said, “To the most wonderful couple I have ever known. Jesse, I know you’re gonna be chasing Lucy around furniture even when you’re old and gray. To a long and happy life together. Cheers!”
Lucy laughed along with everyone else as they clinked glasses. She reveled in the warmth and happiness of being with her loved ones.
Jesse put his glass down, and as soon as Lucy put hers on the table, he grabbed her and dipped her down low, kissing her. When he put her back on her feet, she looked over to see Theresa and Sean kissing as well.
Avery and Remy stood off to the side, their grief at not being able to touch each other palpable.
Lucy walked over and looked at the both of them sorrowfully. “I understand,” she said softly. “God knows I understand. We just have to keep praying for another miracle.”
Remy nodded, then said, “Oh, Lucy, please don’t worry about us. This is your night. I’m so happy for you both!”
Lucy could see the joy in her dear friend’s eyes. Remy was happiest when others were happy.
Remy hugged Lucy warmly, then Avery blew her a kiss.
“Congratulations,” Avery said with a smile. “Your joy is our joy.”
* * *
Lucy and Jesse had asked Fillis to meet them at a quiet spot on the grounds of Gettysburg College.
They wanted to tell her the happy news, and they also had a few other important things they wanted to discuss with her.
Theresa, Remy, and Avery were there as well.
For support. They all loved Second Mama, and they wanted what was best for her.
It would be almost like an intervention of sorts, and Lucy hoped it went well.