Page 100 of The Twelve Months of Christmas
But Molly was pleasantly surprised when they went to the Bremerton Marina and he stopped them in front of a well-maintained, good-sized fishing boat, complete with a cabin.
“She’s no speed boat, but she gets me where I want to go,” he said.
Just like his car, only this boat looked newer. It was easy to see where Reggie put his priorities. He climbed onboard, set down his mini cooler of drinks, then held out a hand to help Molly and her crew on board.
“As long as it has a bathroom,” Molly said.
“That’s called a head, Mom,” Ava corrected her.
“It does,” Reggie assured her. “We got to untie her so we can get underway. Want to help me, Paisley?”
“Yes!” Paisley replied, looking like a kid who’d won a trip to Disneyland.
“Okay, I’ll show you how it’s done.”
“I don’t think you have to worry about Reggie being broke,” Molly said to Ava as he and Paisley got busy untying the moorings.
Ava shrugged. “I guess you’re right. But, Mom, he’s still too old for you. You know what they say about men over a certain age—they’re either looking for a nurse or a purse.”
Molly frowned at her. “You really think that applies to Reggie?”
“It could,” Ava said stubbornly.
“Well, we know he doesn’t need a purse, and he’s in pretty darn good shape so I’m probably safe on both counts.”
He and Paisley were back on the boat, so that ended the conversation. As far as Molly was concerned, the subject of Reggie’s suitability was permanently closed. Ava was going to have to come to grips with the fact that Reggie was going to be part of their lives because Molly and Reggie were serious. And then some.
They slowly made their way out of the marina, and then joined the growing population of bobbing boats, all anchored within sight of the Manette Bridge, which would be the site of the fireworks display. Reggie produced soda for Paisley and wine coolers for Molly and Ava.
“This is my idea of the perfect night—out on my boat with three lovely ladies,” he said, and raised his can of Coke to them all.
“It’s really sweet of you to take us out on it,” Molly said.
“I hope we’ll get to do a lot of that this summer. You know, going to Blake Island makes a great day trip. We could go over there and have lunch on a Sunday afternoon. Would that suit you, Ava?” he asked with a smile.
“If I can work it into my schedule,” Ava said.
She did have a full social schedule, and her words came across as condescending. It was all Molly could do not to give her a motherly kick in the shins.
Still, the fireworks show was enjoyable, and Paisley was beaming when they left the boat at the end of the evening. “What do you say to Mr. Washington?” Ava prompted when they got back to the house.
“Thank you!” Paisley cried, and gave him a hug.
“You’re welcome, and it’s Reggie.”
“Thanks for including us,” Ava said to him, the picture of politeness.
Of course, she was. Molly had raised her right. She just wished her daughter’s proper reply could have held a little more warmth.
If Reggie noticed, he didn’t let on. “That’s what I call a perfect day,” he said.
Yes, it was, and Molly wasn’t going to let her daughter’s disapproval ruin it.
The next day she decided they needed to have another talk, so she called Ava. “There’s something you need to know.”
“Oh, no. Mother, what have you done?” Ava asked, her voice filled with apprehension.
“Nothing yet. But Reggie’s asked me to marry him.”
