Page 42 of Spilling the Tea

Now, it was Reverend Lee who lifted a brow. “You’ve asked her to be your bride.”

“No, sir. She knows how I feel about her, but I would never ask her before getting a blessing to do so from you.”

Reverend Lee nodded. “I can’t give you my marriage blessing yet, young man. However, I will permit you to visit her in the fall. My wife and I want to get to know you better. You also need to meet Fee’s sisters.”

“Yes, sir, and I look forward to doing that.” Milton felt a huge weight had been lifted off his back. This first meeting wasan important one. One wrong word, one pompous action, and he could have lost the opportunity to make Felicia Laverne a permanent part of his life.

“I want you to meet Mrs. Lee. And I believe Fee mentioned your parents are here. We met them last year and would love to see them again,” Reverend Lee said. “Of course, we’ve met Victoria. Mrs. Lee and I think she’s such a lovely girl. We’re glad Fee chose her as a best friend.”

Milton was glad, too. Otherwise, he and Felicia Laverne would not have met.

Chapter Twelve

Atlanta. Six months later…

“The flowers were pretty, Milton,” Felicia Laverne said as they strolled through her parents’ rose garden. “And I know my parents appreciate yet another cooler filled with smoked beef straight from your parents’ ranch.”

He grinned at her. “I’m glad the flowers lasted as long as it took me to drive here. Mama had assured me they would, but I will admit to getting worried for a minute.”

“I would have loved them even if they’d been all wilted because they’d come from you.”

She had meant every word. She loved him so much, and over the past six months, her love had grown even more. They continued to write to each other when they were apart, and she was glad to see him whenever he visited Atlanta. More than anything, she appreciated him for making the road trip from Texas to see her. And he would come bearing gifts for her parents and sisters.

Her family had gotten to know Milton, and she truly believedthey loved him, too. They saw him as an honest, God-fearing man who stood up for what he believed in. She knew her father had admired his determination to win him over by spending both Thanksgiving and Christmas with them. He’d even attended church with them whenever he visited. News had gotten around the congregation that he was her beau.

When Milton left to return to Texas after spending Christmas with them, he had promised to return to Atlanta to visit her on Valentine’s Day. Now he was here, and she was glad to see him. He had asked her father’s permission to talk with her privately. Anticipation was rushing through her at what that might mean.

“Let’s sit here on the bench,” he suggested. After she eased into the seat, he sat down beside her.

She turned to face him, and he said, “On Christmas Day, your father blessed my plan to ask you to marry me, Fee.”

She smiled. He’d gotten used to calling her Fee as her family did. “Yes, I know. Pa told me.”

Milton stood and knelt on a knee in front of her. He then pulled a ring from his jacket and stared up at her. “I love you, Felicia Laverne Lee. I promise to love you for as long as there is breath in my body. I will continue to love you in death. I will love all the babies you give me, and I will make a home for them and for you. I will take care of you as a husband should and never lose sight of the fact that you are a gift to me from heaven. Will you marry me?”

Felicia Laverne swiped away the tears his words had caused. They had been touching and beautiful. “Yes, Milton Jantzen Madaris. I would be honored to be your wife.”

He slid the ring onto her finger and stood while gently pulling her up from her seat. She didn’t care if her parents or sisters were peeking out the window. It was not their first kiss. Unlike the others, this one wouldn’t be a stolen kiss. It would be one of intense joy.

And it was.

Victoria leaned onto her horse as she sprinted across the open plains. She loved it when she could give Magic a good workout. To her, there was nothing more beautiful than Whispering Pines. There was no doubt in her mind that Felicia Laverne would love it here after she and Milton married. To everybody’s happiness, the two had gotten engaged last month on Valentine’s Day.

Milton wanted a June wedding, but that would barely give Felicia Laverne time to pack up after graduating from high school for her move to Houston. Therefore, they decided on an August wedding at her father’s church in Atlanta.

For starters, they would convert a section of the Madaris family home into their private quarters. Within a year, Milton would have finished building their home on Whispering Pines land gifted to them in the south pastures.

Milton had left a few days ago, heading once again to Atlanta. Saturday was Felicia Laverne’s parents’ twenty-fifth wedding anniversary, and the church would host a special dinner in their honor. Victoria and her parents were also invited. However, she didn’t want to miss any days of school to make the road trip. And the thought of being away from Houston, especially away from Waylon, was another reason she wasn’t anxious to go. Her mother had gone with Milton to Atlanta, and Victoria and her father had stayed behind.

Things were also progressing well for her and Waylon. Her parents had allowed her to ride home from summer camp with him in Milton’s truck. Although they’d given her strict orders to sit in the middle and closer to her brother than Waylon, the two had held hands the entire trip home.

He had told her how the cabin he was building for them was coming along, and when she’d finally arrived home and had gone with him, her parents, and her brother to see it, she’d gotten misty-eyed knowing he had spent his entire summerbuilding it for them. She figured seeing it had affected her father as well. From that day on, he gave her and Waylon more breathing space. Although they hadn’t gone out on a date yet, Waylon was allowed to visit her on the weekends so as not to interfere with her schoolwork during the week.

Victoria had been given an engagement ring from Waylon for Christmas. Although she wouldn’t get married until finishing nursing school, it was wonderful that she and Felicia Laverne were now engaged young ladies. Their wishes had come true. Best friends would be marrying best friends. Just the thought of it made her feel happy inside.

Ms. Penny’s sister, who lived in Denver, got ill and passed away at the end of February. As Waylon’s fiancée and best friend, she and Milton traveled to Denver to attend the funeral services. During that time, Waylon mentioned to other family members after the repast that he had given Victoria an engagement ring for Christmas, officially making her his fiancée. He also announced that Milton had gotten engaged to Victoria’s best friend from Atlanta on Valentine’s Day and would get married over the summer.

Everybody was so busy congratulating Victoria, Waylon, and Milton, that nobody noticed the angry look that appeared on Charlotte’s face with the announcement about Milton’s engagement.

---