Page 32 of An Unexpected Love

“Uh… I’m going to be twenty-nine soon.” She managed to sound calm, although she felt anything but.

She was the biggest coward who ever lived. But what else could she do? Her mother had become nearly hysterical when Jill had told her about Jordan. Her own heart was filled with trepidation. On the one hand, there was Shelly, so confident Jordan was the man for Jill. On the other was her mother, adamant that Jill would be forever sorry if she got involved with a workaholic.

Jill was trapped in the middle, frightened and unsure.

Ralph relaxed against the red vinyl upholstery. The diner was his favorite place to eat, and he took her there every time they dined out. “So you think we should consider marriage?”

It was the subject Jill had been leading up to all evening, yet when Ralph posed the question directly, shehesitated. If only Jordan hadn’t kissed her. If only he hadn’t held her in his arms. And if only she hadn’t spoken to her mother…

“I missed you while you were away,” Ralph said, his gaze holding hers.

Jill knew this was about as close to romance as she was likely to get from Ralph. Romance was his weakest suit, dependability and steadiness his strongest. Ralph would always be there by his wife’s side. He’d make the kind of father who played catch in the backyard with his son. The kind of father who’d bring his wife and daughter pretty corsages on Easter morning. He was a rock, a fortress of permanence. She wished she could fall in love with him.

Jordan might have a talent for making millions, but all the money in the world couldn’t buy happiness.

“I missed you, too,” Jill said softly. She’d thought of Ralph, had wondered about him. A few times, anyway. Hadn’t she mailed him a postcard? Hadn’t she brought him a book on volcanoes?

“I’m glad to hear that,” Ralph said. Then, clearing his throat, he asked, “Jill Morrison, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

The question was out now, ready for her to answer. A proposal was what she’d been hinting at all evening. Now that Ralph had asked, Jill wasn’t sure what she felt. Relief? No, it wasn’t even close to that. Pleasure? Yes—in a way. But not a throw-open-the-windows-and-shout kind of joy.

Joy.The word hit her like an unexpected punch. Joy was what she’d experienced the first time Jordan had taken her in his arms. A free-flowing joy and the promise of so much more.

The promise she was rejecting.

Ralph might not be the love of her life, but he’d care for her and devote his life to her. It was enough.

“Jill?”

She tried to smile, tried to look happy and excited. Ralph deserved that much. “Yes,” she whispered, stretching her hand across the table. “Yes, I’ll marry you.”

* * *

“What do you mean you’re engaged to marry Ralph?” Shelly demanded. Her voice had risen to such a high pitch that Jill held the receiver away from her ear.

“He asked me tonight and I’ve accepted.”

“You can’tdothat!” her friend shrieked.

“Of course I can.”

“What about Jordan?” Shelly asked next.

“I’d already decided not to see him again.” Jill was able to keep her composure, although it wasn’t easy.

“If marrying Ralph is typical of your decisions, then I’d like to suggest you talk to a mental-health professional.”

Jill laughed despite herself. Her decision had been based on maintaining her sanity, not destroying it.

“I don’t know what’s so funny. I can’t believe you’d do something like this! What about Aunt Milly’s wedding dress? Doesn’t that mean anything to you? Don’t you care that Mark, Aunt Milly and I all felt the dress should go to you? You can’t ignore it. Something dreadful might happen.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I’m not,” Shelly said resolutely. “You can’t reject the man destiny has chosen for you without consequences.” Shelly’s voice was solemn.

“You don’t know that Jordan’s the man,” Jill said with far more conviction than she was feeling. “We both realize a wedding dress can’t dictate who I’ll marry. The choice is mine—and I’ve chosen Ralph.”

“You’re honestly choosing Ralph over Jordan?” The question had an incredulous quality.

---