Page 142 of My Wife
I pout, offended on the dog’s behalf, but the warmth in his eyes shows so much affection I know he’s not truly annoyed.
“The kind only a mother could love. But fair point and noted. From now on they go in the basket. From now on, I’ll make the effort. For you and because I don’t want holey socks.”
“Thank you.”
He cuts the ignition and glances over at me. “Thanks for coming tonight.”
“Wouldn’t have missed it.”
“For the record, you fit right in.”
“They’re really nice women. Plus, Cara is my bestie and she’d fill their lockers with shaving cream if they picked on me.”
“You women and the cream—shaving cream, whipped cream …”
“I’m joking.”
“I’m not.”
“About what?” I ask.
His lips quirk and the little lines around his eyes smile. “You looked really pretty tonight.”
My little love and affection-starved heart eats up those words and they taste even better than cookies or cake.
38
LIAM
After spendingtime with the men I admire and with the little dude who won my heart, it’s time for some changes around here. Big ones. And they start with the truth.
I owe it to my family and the woman I love.
I may have done things backward and been a total toolbag, but that doesn’t mean I can’t fix it.
After a very long conversation with my parents, disclosing the truth about Jessica and my relationship, I ask about the engagement ring.
My mother is hesitant at first, but finally relents when I use the L-word and the P-word—love and please, respectively—and when Grannie Bell insists that she see it on Jessica’s finger next time we visit … or else.
I can hear her in the background hollering, “I knew she was the one!”
I should hope so, considering we got married. But I also lied about the marriage of convenience. After my confession and apology, I ask Dolly to come over while Jessica is out and tell her the story.
“I know,” she signs simply.
Relief followed by confusion rushes through me.
She mouths and signs, “Jessica may have mentioned it. But I could tell it was more than a matter of convenience by the way you looked at each other. It’s the same affection Dell had in his eyes.”
I assume she’s referring to her late husband.
My ASL is rough, but I say and sign, “It’s a bit backward, but I’m going to ask her to marry me.”
She signs, “We all have our own way of doing things. Now, let’s get baking before Jess gets back.” Dolly bustles into the kitchen, tying her apron. She signs to KJ and he climbs the stool, armed with a spatula and mixing bowl.
I wanted to do this myself, but also figured I’d screw it up so I called in the big guns.
Dolly signs and mouths, “How’d you get rid of her anyway and when will she be back?”
