Chapter 26 #3
When Gabe's Adam's apple bobbed repeatedly, Paige jumped back in. "His mom was heartbroken that she never got to see Gabe and his sister get married."
"Married?" Her parents said in unison, before Dad's gaze cut to Gabe.
Gabe raised both hands in surrender. "I only wanted my mom to see that I was in a happy relationship. I never intended for it to go that far."
Dad's brows hiked up, his eyes widening.
Oh boy, that didn't help.
"You didn't intend for it to go that far?" A fresh sheen of tears filled Mom's eyes. "Did you guys elope?"
Realizing how quiet the diner had become, Paige looked around. Every head was turned in their direction. Marie, their waitress, hovered off to the side, uncertain whether she should approach their table to take their orders.
Paige turned to Gabe with a grin. "Instead of rumors flying that you're dating a patient, the gossip mill will be full of the news that we secretly eloped." This was one time she didn't mind being the subject of gossip. As far as she was concerned, the sooner she was married to Gabe, the better.
"What?" Gabe's eyes bulged. Before she could explain to him how fast news traveled in a small town, he rushed to assure her parents. "No, no, no. We're not married."
Deciding to have a little fun with him, Paige pouted. "Only because we’ve had to keep it all a secret."
Gabe scowled at her before turning back to her father. "We haven't secretly gotten married, but I do want to marry your daughter." His gaze jumped to her mom.
Paige leaned into him to whisper in his ear but kept her voice loud enough her parents could hear. "Do you still have the ring I gave back to you, honey?"
"Ring?" Her father shot Gabe a stern look. "You didn't tell me you'd proposed already."
"Uh…no, sir." Gabe shifted uncomfortably in his seat. "I mean I did propose last Saturday, but Paige gave the ring back this afternoon. So I didn't think it was important to mention at the time."
"It most certainly is important." Dad's words sounded stern, but Paige spotted the twinkle in his eyes. He was enjoying the moment as much as she was.
Paige laughed out loud. She couldn't help it. She was just so happy.
Gabe squeezed her hand. "You're not helping."
"Sorry." She chuckled again. "I figured if our story was going to travel the grapevine, I may as well make sure it was interesting."
"Wait a minute." Mom raised both hands in the air as if quieting a bunch of teenagers.
"Would you two please back up and explain to me why Gabe needed a fake girlfriend—and how that came to be you?
" She pointed her finger at Paige then Gabe.
"And I want every juicy detail that led up to you proposing to my daughter. "
Paige waved Marie over, so they could place their orders before she and Gabe took turns filling her parents in on everything that had happened over the past month. She didn't care that dozens of people in the diner overheard their conversation. She was happy, and she wanted the world to know it.
Her mom laughed when she told them about Marisol insisting Paige call her mom the first day they met, since they would be related soon.
Then her dad joined in when she recited Marisol's argument that “a mother should never come between her son and the future mother of her grandchildren” to convince Paige to sit in the front seat on the drive to Yakima.
"I should have known something was up with you," Mom said. “I was so glad to see you coming out of the depressive funk you'd been in since the accident that I didn't question it." She grinned and winked. "I should have guessed it had something to do with a man."
When Paige insisted Gabe show her parents his grandmother's wedding ring, he pulled it from his pocket. Warmth rushed through her as she recalled Gabe's sweet proposal and how well the ring had fit her finger.
"Oh, that is pretty." Mom took the ring and studied it. Then her lips turned up as she handed the ring back to Gabe. "I can't believe my baby girl is engaged."
Paige fought the urge to reach out and take the ring. She wanted to insist Gabe put it back on her finger. Despite the positive recent turn of events, she ached for the connection that promised a future with him.
"I'm not. Well, not at the moment," Paige said, her voice full of disappointment. "I insisted Gabe take the ring back this afternoon. I wanted to clear the air with you guys and Dr. Stoker before we made it official."
“Well, I’m thrilled.” Mom pressed a hand to her chest. “I’m very happy for you both.”
Dad looked at Gabe. "You've worked more closely with Paul than I have, but I've known him for many years. He’s a reasonable man.
If certain boundaries haven't been crossed, like we discussed earlier…
" He gave Gabe a pointed look. "I think you'll be fine.
And like I said, I'm happy to put in a good word for you, if need be. "
Paige wasn't sure what boundaries he referred to, but she could guess. She blinked back tears as she mouthed, "Thank you." It meant the world to her that her father was willing to help ensure her happiness.
An hour later, she and Gabe waved goodbye to her parents, then she insisted he take a drive with her. She drove them up to the bluff where they could watch the sunset.
Brow cocked, he followed her lead when she climbed out and slid onto the hood of her car. She leaned back against the windshield. He'd barely settled beside her before she burst into laughter.
"Okay, this is not as comfortable and romantic as it was in my head." She sat up.
"Wait. Let's try again." He tugged her back into his arms, his shoulder cushioning her head. "Better?"
"Much." She settled into him, letting the fear and worry drain from her body. "How do you think Dr. Stoker will take the news?"
"If he responds even half as well as your father, I'll still have a job at the end of the day tomorrow." He stroked her arm. "I hate making you drive to Pasco for PT, but it’s the best way to combat the gossip mongers and preserve my reputation as a physical therapist."
She angled her head to look at him. "It's okay, I'll do it. I can put up with Toa or Gary if it means we can be together."
"If Dr. Stoker insists you do PT there, I will insist he fit you into his schedule."
"Will you call or at least text me after you talk to him tomorrow? So I know how it went."
"Yes." He caressed her cheek. "I'd like to come see you tomorrow evening, but I usually spend Tuesday and Thursday evenings with my mom."
"I'll come to Richland on Tuesdays and Thursdays, if you’ll spend an hour or two after work on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays with me."
"I hate asking you to do that."
"You say that like it's a sacrifice." She put a hand on his cheek. "It's not, Gabe. I would do anything for you and your mother. In fact, whether we get Dr. Stoker's approval or not, I want to set a wedding date soon. With a short engagement.”
"Paige, as much as I would like to have my mother in attendance on my wedding day, I don’t want to rush to get married. I only want to do what's right for us."
She pushed up on her elbow and leaned in to press her lips to his. Cupping her head, he quickly took control of the kiss. Before long, her blood pumped a little faster, and her body temperature rose.
She sucked in a deep breath when the kiss ended. "Still think a long engagement is a good idea?"
"Nope. The sooner we get married, the better."
Laughter bubbled out of her. She couldn't remember ever feeling this blissfully happy.
Hello, happily ever after.