CHAPTER SIX #2
He reached up and rubbed away her tears with his fingers. “If anything, last night showed me what I’d lost. Maybe I should have been more open about what I wanted, but I honestly didn’t know. For the first time in my life I can say that.”
She hiccupped and he smiled.
“You deserve to be happy Tammy.” He shifted and took her hand.
Then she felt him slip something back on her finger. It was the ring she’d left by the sink of his bathroom. Her eyes met his in stunned silence.
“I deserve to be happy too,” he added.
Her other hand covered her mouth and she sobbed.
“I also never gave you permission to take off the ring.”
Her sight became blurry with tears as she tried her best to see if he was serious.
“So, what do you say?”
She nodded, tears pouring down her face.
He embraced her tightly and kissed her ear.
“You love me?” she sobbed.
“Oh baby, I do. I really do. I couldn’t possibly settle for anyone less genuine than you are.” he answered deeply. Then he moved her back cupping her shoulders. “First, you need to understand a few things.”
She nodded too overwhelmed and choked up to speak.
“You know I like control—structure in my life.”
“Alpha male.” She softly repeated his words back to him. He’d told her that when they first came to New York together. Trust me Tam, I can see another alpha male a mile away
His eyes glittered. “Very. Now, no more of these work schedules that you insist on.” She started to protest and he held up his hand. “Do you understand? I will not come second in your life, Tammy. The only time that will happen is when our children are born.”
She smiled widely. Children! What a wonderful feeling that caused. All her protests were lost at the mention of children.
“Secondly, we will be making regular visits here so you can be with your family more often. Family is important, and you will not be avoiding them anymore.”
“Okay Lance.”
“Third, I promise—” he swallowed hard. “I promise to make you happy Tam.”
She flew into his arms sobbing.
He held her tight lowering his face in her hair. “Finally, and most importantly…honesty from now on.”
She nodded not able to produce words anymore.
He held her for a long time until the tears had stopped and she just dry heaved.
“This was probably not a good time to propose.”
She lifted away from him and shook her head rapidly. “Don’t you ever say that Lance. This was the best time. I was at one of the worst moments of my life where I thought nothing could make me happy again. You are everything to me.”
He smiled, bent his head and kissed her.
“I’m all wet-faced.”
“I don’t care,” he murmured against her mouth. “I still think you’re beautiful.”
His phone buzzed. “Shit.”
“It’s okay.”
“It’s probably Royce.” He pulled it out saw the number and nodded. He answered it. His eyes went to Tammy. “We can be there under an hour. “Really? I’ll tell her.” He hung up.
“How’s mom?”
“Your brother said she’s doing really well. She is actually talking about making the funeral arrangements herself. She got up early and called the lawyer, and the funeral home already. Royce said she even had breakfast by the time he and Anne found her. That’s a good sign Tammy.”
“It is. Apparently my mother is stronger than I’ve given her credit for.”
“Maybe you get that from her.”
Maybe she did. She never thought about what characteristics she inherited.
“Your father’s humility and your mother’s strength. The best of both of them.”
She smiled. He may be right about that. She just never thought of it that way.
“He still wants us there though.”
“Of course.”
“Go wash your face. Mavis has some breakfast for you, and I want you to eat too.”
“Okay.”
He kissed her again before he got up and left the room.
***
Royce greeted his sister and Lance at the door. He gave her a hug. “I want to thank you for keeping your cool last night. I think it inspired our mother.”
“I wouldn’t know about that, but honestly Royce, it’s what I do best in that situation. And you’d probably take that back if you saw me this morning.”
He gave a questioning worried look to Lance. Tammy knew he was wondering if something else was going on. Lance enlightened him.
“Two days, two plane trips, a death and no sleep,” he said as if it explained everything.
“Yeah, I guess that sums it up better than anything.” He turned his attention back to his sister. “You’re okay though?” he asked with concern.
“Better, much better.” She smiled slightly. She felt as strong as an ox emotionally after Lance had proposed for real.
“Mother is in the sitting room with old Ed Brackman.”
“He’s our parents’ lawyer,” Tammy explained to Lance.
“Yes, their lawyer since the dawn of the dinosaurs. Jesus, I keep thinking he’s going to stroke whenever he moves. He should have retired twenty years ago, but still works, and is still sharp as a tack.”
Tammy was surprised. “He’s got to be near eighty. I remember him looking pretty old when I was a young girl.”
“A hundred and eighty,” Royce corrected leading them through the apartment toward the room.
She laughed again.
He opened the large double doors and motioned his arm for her and Lance to enter.
Ed stood up, albeit very slowly, when Tammy walked into the room. Her sister was already there.
There was another man, mid-sixties there also.
Royce introduced him as the funeral director Peter D’Amato.
He was balding with grey hair and bright blue eyes that made him seem younger than he was.
She first walked over to her mother and gave her a hug weather she wanted it or not.
Elizabeth surprised her by returning the embrace.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she added quietly.
“Miss Van Allen, I assume.” Peter stood and shook her hand before Lance’s.
Tammy didn’t correct him to Easler. Her mother didn’t need any more stress.
“How nice to see you Tamara. We were waiting for you to discuss his wishes,” Ed said in his shaking elderly voice. “Your father already had all of the arrangements made. He was a very organized man.”
Lance moved her to a small sofa in the room and sat beside her. Royce sat on the arm next to her.
Arrangements? “What did you say Ed?”
He gave her a look of sympathy. “Your father had a heart condition. He kept it from you three, but Elizabeth knew.”
Her mother nodded. “It was his wish that none of you found out so you wouldn’t have worried about him.”
Well, that did sound like him.
Anne came through the doors at that time carrying a tray of tea. She set it on a table against the wall and began pouring cups and handing them out. Tammy thought she really was a gem.
She took her cup and thanked her. Anne gave her a warm reassuring smile. Lance declined but thanked her also.
Over the next hour Ed and Peter discussed her father’s wishes.
Her mother was very particular about some things that she wanted and Peter said he would make it happen.
The service would be the day after tomorrow.
Her father wanted it quick and sweet, but her mother insisted that all his friends be notified.
Her uncle was away on business and couldn’t get home until tomorrow.
After Ed and Peter left, her mother took her aside. “You look tired.”
“So do you.” Tammy smiled.
She looked past her to Lance for a moment. “I’m fine Tamara. You should go home and get some rest.”
She knew her mother was addressing Lance so he would make sure.
“Okay.” She turned to leave when her mother said her name again.
“I wanted—I meant, I heard about Richard. I’m sorry Tamara. I didn’t know.” She studied her daughter’s cheek.
Tammy knew then she could see the faint outline of a bruise. She could see the shame in her mother’s expression. “Who told you?”
“Richard told Melanie. She told me. She’s really sorry. We all are.”
“It wasn’t that bad mother. He was remorseful.”
“It’s not just that Tamara. It’s when you were younger. I mean, I didn’t believe you and I should have. I never thought he was capable of such a thing because he was always so charming. He always reassured your father and I that he was deeply in love with you and would take care of you.”
“Some people are really good at acting. Richard was one of them.”
“Melanie is so ashamed of his behavior. She broke the engagement.”
Tammy instantly felt horrible for her sister. She never said a word through the entire discussion, and she just realized, wouldn’t even look in her direction.
“Tell her, I’m fine and the last person I could possibly be angry with is her.” Even though Melanie did some terrible things to her when she was younger, like sleeping with Richard when he was engaged to her, she was certain the pain she was feeling now didn’t need anything added to.
Elizabeth smiled. “I’ll do that.”
Tammy hugged her mother again before they said their goodbyes.
“How do you feel?” Lance asked once they were back in the car.
“Like a thousand pounds were lifted off my shoulders.” She smiled at him.
“Where to sir?” Vern asked from the front.
“225 Court Street.”
“Very good sir.” Vern smiled.
Tammy tilted her head at him. “Where?”
“You’ll see.”
The car pulled up in front of a quaint building. She leaned over and read the sign on the storefront. Her eyes went to Lance in question.
“I would like to get married in September when the leaves start to turn orange and gold. I would like for it to be at the ranch.”
She started weeping.
His eyes went over her face. “So, I was thinking we’d better choose the invitations and get them out as soon as possible.”
She launched herself at him and he held her tightly. He was making this a reality for her. They were sitting in front of a very posh wedding stationary store. “Are you sure?” she sobbed into his neck.
“Of course I am. I want children Tam, and I want them as soon as possible, but I want to make this legal before you have a baby.”
Baby! She couldn’t possibly love this man any more than she did at that moment.