Perilous Assurance

  Chapter XIV

  "That's the second time I've had lobster this week." Mattie blinked her eyes softly as she sat on the side of the bed and pulled off the prosthetic. "Is there such a thing as lobster-drunk, because that's how I feel right now. To think that it's so inexpensive up here is just amazing."

  "It's a lot cheaper than in the states, that's for sure." Clay laughed at her phrase as he pulled down the covers on his side of the bed. "Do you want to keep the window open tonight?"

  "Yes, please." The night air was warmer now that it was mid-June, but she loved the sound of the ocean. She looked around at their bedroom, happy with the transformation. The peach walls had been painted over with a pale blue-gray tone that made her feel as if the room were part of the sky and ocean beyond. They'd painted the bathroom in a slightly deeper shade of the same blue-gray. After a week of searching, they'd found two inexpensive Oriental rugs, one in rust and tan for the living room, and the other in a soft, ochre pattern for the bedroom. They'd finally gotten around to hanging soft, white curtains at every window in the house, and she loved seeing them billow into the room with the ocean breeze.

  She sighed as she set the prosthetic against the oak nightstand, and slid under the crisp white sheet and white coverlet. She turned to face him, and plump her pillow and was surprised to see him propped up on his elbow, his brows knit, watching her seriously. She lowered her brows. He'd given her that same enigmatic look several times the past week. "What?" Her voice was soft as she searched his eyes. She propped up on her elbow, and eyed him, a little perplexed by his silence, as he continued to gaze at her. "Is everything all right?"

  "Yes, everything is fine...more than fine." He shook his head and his lips slid into a soft smile. "Everything is perfect, Mattie." He reached over and took her hand, rubbing it with his thumb, as he kept his eyes on hers. "You know I love you..." She nodded and felt her heart begin to race. "We both knew when we met that we wanted to be together." He looked down at her hand now. "But we've never discussed specifics."

  "That's true," she whispered, knowing that he had more to say. She saw him take a deep breath and gaze at her, and he suddenly seemed to relax, and he blinked slowly. He propped up a little more, and let go of her hand, reaching under his pillow, and she saw him withdraw a ring, and turn back to her, his dark eyes luminous in the dim light.

  "Mattie O'Keeffe Shaw, will you marry me?" His deep voice was soft as he searched her eyes.

  Her eyes widened in wonder at the simplicity and beauty of his proposal and she gazed into his warm eyes. She knew she never wanted to be without him.

  "Yes, I'll marry you," she whispered to him. He slid the ring on her finger as they smiled at each other, and he gently wiped away the tear that had begun to slide down her cheek. He held her jaw lightly as he kissed her, and they snuggled down together under the covers, their faces close as they contemplated their joyous decision.