Page 32 of Mercy

“I liked being surprised. Trust me, sweetheart, with this kind of news you can feel free to surprise me anytime.”

“You’re the best mate in the world.”

“And fiancé,” he added.

“Definitely.”

“When do you want to get married?” he asked.

“I don’t know. Before the baby comes, which I think will be in March. I want us to have the same last name.”

“Absolutely. And we should go on a honeymoon someplace fun. Where have you always wanted to go?”

“The beach. As long as I can have the sun, sand, and you, I’ll be happy.”

“Sounds perfect.”

When he didn’t walk up the front porch, but started toward the back of the house, she asked, “Where are you going?”

“I have a surprise of my own.”

“But you already asked me to marry you.”

“This is part two.”

“Oh.” She giggled in curiosity and walked with him around the side of the house, where he’d recently mulched flowerbeds she’d get to fill in the spring. A sheet was hanging from a tree in their backyard as if it were covering something.

Barron stopped a few feet away from the sheet and faced her.

“A while back, we were talking about our future. Where you’d work, where we’d live, what our lives might be like. It got me to thinking, that I wanted to make a place for you to do what you love. I wanted it to be a surprise, so I built it at Hemi’s house, and he and a few other males brought it here while we were dancing and set it up.”

“You built what?” she asked, eyeing the sheet.

He reached over and grasped the edge of the sheet, holding it toward her. “Give it a tug, sweetheart. You’ll see.”

She looked up at the top of the sheet that had been attached to a rope strung between two trees. It took only a quick tug and the sheet fell to the ground. Barron pressed something on his phone and the area was lit with lamps that surrounded the small building.

It was a bright yellow shed with a white door and shutters. A sign hanging over the door read, “Mercy’s Salon.”

She took a step forward, her vision blurring a little with fresh tears as she realized what Barron had done. She turned her head and looked at him. “You built me a salon?”

He nodded with a smile. “Of course, sweetheart. Didn’t I tell you that I’d do anything to make you happy?”

“Well yeah, but I kind of thought at the time you were talking about sex.”

He barked out a laugh. “I will always, always strive to make you happy in bed, baby, but this is about our future. You said you’d love to have a place of your own someday, and the pride doesn’t have a salon anywhere nearby. Open the door.”

She twisted the handle and pushed the door open. Barron reached in and flicked a light switch. Overhead lights illuminated the interior space. The floor was black-and-white tile, and a single salon chair sat in front of an ornate mirror, with a supply cabinet underneath. A curtained area held a sink and chair, and three yellow cushioned chairs sat at the front of the space by a coffee table spread with hairstyle magazines.

Mercy turned in a slow circle to take it all in.

She was overwhelmed.

She ran to him, throwing herself into his arms with tears and laughter. “Thank you! No one’s ever done something so nice for me!”

“You like it?” He smiled down at her, brushing the tears from her cheeks.

“I love it.”

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