The three of them sat quietly and ate, the food was delicious and Bud knew this was where he was supposed to be. “Mrs. O’Toole, will ye excuse me, I need ta get back home. There is something I forgot.”
Lucy looked at him with a puzzled expression, what did he forget? She had all her items with her.
“Of course dear. Lucy, please see him out.”
The two of them left the table and walked to the front door. Standing in the foyer Lucy looked up to him with a questioning tone, “What’s going on?”
“Ahh, don’t ye worry lass, I’ll be back. But there is something I promised I would do for ya granddad one day and I’ve just remembered I needed to do it.”
Bud rushed out of the home and into his car where he drove off to his cottage. He remembered the day he made the promise to Lucy’s granddad about marriage but he never thought she would give him a chance. It’s now or never to him. This was the moment. Alastar knew one would present itself and Bud just needed some faith.
He made it to the cottage and walked into his bedroom and opened the safe he kept in his closet. Pulling out a soft black velvet bag he loosened the string and then poured the contents of the bag into his palm, his grand mum’s engagement ring. The center stone a full 1 ct. and the six surrounding stones .5 ct. each. The diamonds were set on a gold band with a pattern of vines etched into the gold. Bud returned the ring to the bag and left his cottage on his way back to Lucy’s.
He had been hesitant before last night’s date but now he knew this was right. His parents and grandparent’s relationships were predetermined and in the end they had more love than anyone else he’d seen. He knew this would work, and more importantly, he wanted this. Inside the car he drove and recited a little speech. His father had told him from a young age, “The O’Toole girl will be yours, our families made a pact long ago.” Then when she returned to take care of her granddad he came home one day beaming with excitement. “Did ya go see her? Back from the states and more lovely than could be. Ya will win her over and make her yours.”
He saw their cottage grow bigger as he drove closer. His heart was beating fast. He needed to maintain his courage to carry this out. Up the driveway and into park went his car. He marched up the front steps and before he could knock on the door Lucy opened it up for him. He walked inside and looked to Hannah with a smile. She gave him a nod, her blessing, and he turned to Lucy.
“Come sit down Lucy.” He motioned her to the stairs and waited until she was sitting.
“I don’t understand what all of this is about. What’s going on Bud?”
“When we were just babes our granddads made a pact, our families were to be united. At the time, the only way to do that was through marriage and since ya father and mine couldn’t marry for the obvious reasons, they promised ye and me to each other. Before ye granddad died he made me swear that I would fulfill the promise. I didn’t know if I wanted too, I’d heard of ya my whole life but didn’t know how ye would act or be like once we met. That’s why I kept coming to the tavern.”
“Are you trying to tell me..”
“Wait Lucy let me finish.”
Lucy bit back her thoughts; she wanted to let him talk but also wanted to scream. She looked at her grandmum who was smiling from the other side of the foyer. It was obvious she had known this whole time what he had been doing. “I wasn’t mad at him for making me promise after I met ya. Your voice, your skin and your smile, are everything that would make any man feel lucky. I most likely would have done this sooner but ya never would go out with me. I didn’t want to ask and tell ya about all of this till we had a proper date.”
Lucy couldn’t believe what she was hearing; would her granddad really bind her to someone, a stranger? Well he wasn’t a stranger anymore especially after last night. She felt her face blush at the thought of things they did while together.
Bud reached into his pocket and pulled out the black velvet bag, he opened it and pulled the ring from inside. Lucy’s heart stopped for a second when she saw how beautiful it was.
“Lucy, I know this is quick, unexpected and insane but sometimes ya have ta take a chance on love, on what our parents and grandparents felt when their fates were decided for them. So on this Christmas Eve’s day, would ya do me the honor of agreein’ to be my wife?”
Hannah smiled as she watched the two interact; she had been worried that this might never come to pass. She had known Bud’s family all of her life and knew this was meant to be. She took her hand and placed it over her heart and gave a loving smile and nod to Lucy. Lucy looked into her grand mum’s eyes and could tell this had been what it was about this whole time.
“Bud are you sure?”
“Aye Lucy, as sure as I’ll ever be about anything.”
Lucy looked to her grandmum for guidance one more time; all she saw was her encouraging smile and pure excitement and joy on her face.
“Yes Bud, but on one condition…”
“Anything lass, name it.”
“You must promise to love me and care for me all my life, just like my granddad did for my grandmum.”
Bud let out a bellow of a laugh as he slipped the ring onto her finger. Picking her up and kissing her deeply he simply said, “I do.”
Coming Winter 2013 – Bud’s Christmas Miracle
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ashley is married and lives in Houston with her husband and their dogs, Toto and Doogie. They have been together for over 8 years and he brings her more joy than she could ever imagine as a child.
Ashley finds her strength through her family, especially her parents. They always support her in life, they push her to strive for greatness. There once was a motto that Ashley heard in her youth through her Taekwondo life 'Reach for the Stars' and that is what Ashley has always done. It was through her upbringing that the values Ashley has and display's came from. With her Parents always cheering her on in life she was able to grow up having faith in herself and her ability to conquer the world.
You can contact Ashley at the following locations.
www.ashleynemer.com
www.facebook.com/ashleynemerauthor
https://ashleynemer.blogspot.com
[email protected] Dedication
In life, there are far too few people who know the real meaning of love and who are lucky enough to find that soul mate and discover their life’s journey together. I have two sets of grandparents who have done just that. I watched the four of them love, honor and cherish each other through richer or poorer, in sickness and in health. They are the light that everyone searches for when seeking true love. This short story is dedicated to them. May everyone be as lucky as they are and find true happiness with their spouses.
To Joe and Elaine, Pete and Marietta, thank you for the shining example of what love really is.
And for my late Grandpa Pete, I will always remember to “Pray for the Irish.”
Other Works By The Art of Safkhet
www.artofsafkhet.com
www.ashleynemer.com
www.stacyamoran.com
Maverick Touch: The Cat by Ashley Nemer
Blood Myth by Stacy A. Moran
Blood Purple by Ashley Nemer
Blood Yellow by Ashley Nemer
Whispers in the Dark by Ashley Nemer, Stacy A. Moran, Torie N. James
The Café ( Temptation Tuesday) by Niki Becker
After Hours & The Last Day (Temptation Tuesday) by Anabella Adrian
Fantasy Cruise (Temptation Tuesday) by Niki Becker
The Backyard (Temptation Tuesday) by Niki Becker
Sekhmet’s Revenge Volume 1 by Ashley Nemer & Stacy A. Moran
Sekhmet’s Revenge Volume 2 by Ashley Nemer & Stacy A. Moran
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