Page 79 of New Day at the Beach House

He looked like he had more on his mind, so she didn’t say anything, just let him be.

He put his coffee cup on the table. “I know you remember that I asked you to marry me when I thought you were going to be without a place to live.”

She nodded. “I do. It was one of the kindest things anyone has ever offered to do for me.”

He took a deep breath as he kept his gaze on the fire. “I cannot stop thinking about it. About what might have been.”

She stayed quiet, looking at him, but wondering if maybe she shouldn’t. She didn’t know what to say. She wasn’t sure what he was saying, actually. She thought she might have an idea, but she didn’t want to assume.

He glanced at her. “Have you thought about it?”

“Of course.”

“I love you, Willie. I know we’ve only known each other a short while, but does that mean my feelings are wrong? At my age, if I don’t act quickly, I may not get to act. How much time does either of us have left? We can’t know. But what I do know is I want us to spend that time together.”

“We are together.”

He shook his head. “I mean as husband and wife. Officially, before God and everyone.” He bowed his head slightly. “I know that you have become a very wealthy woman recently. I want none of that money and I’ll sign paperwork promising not to touch a cent of it. All I want is you.”

Her mouth opened. “Are you asking me to marry you?”

“Not yet. When I do that, you will know. Right now, I am telling you how I feel and asking if you feel the same. If there is a reason for me to plan a special night to ask a more serious question. Be honest with me, Willie. I am heartsick over you.”

She smiled. “Miguel, you are the sweetest man. You take such good care of me.” He was right about neither of them knowing how much time they had left. It frightened her to think that way sometimes, but mostly she was at peace with it. She had lived a very good life. And now, her daughter and granddaughter would be taken care of long after she was gone.

So why shouldn’t she also be taken care of? “I think I love you, too.”

He looked up. “You do?”

She nodded. “I’ve been in love enough times to know my feelings.” A sixth husband. Was she insane? Maybe. Love did that to a person. “It doesn’t bother you that I’ve been married so many times?”

He shook his head. “The only thing that bothers me is that you are not currently married to me.”

She laughed, reaching out across the table for his hand. He took it and she wrapped her fingers around his. “I can’t think of anything I’d like to do more than spend the rest of my days with you. Plan your special evening, Miguel.”

His eyes sparkled, throwing back the fire’s light. “You mean that?”

“I do.”

He grinned and said something in Spanish she didn’t quite catch before leaning down to kiss her knuckles. “You have made me a very happy man. What kind of a ring do you want, my darling? I will buy you anything. Just tell me.”

She glanced at her hand. At her slightly gnarled fingers and spotted skin. “I don’t need anything fancy.”

“Yes, you do. You are my queen. I won’t have people thinking I didn’t buy you the kind of ring you deserve.”

He was so cute. And obviously not going to rest until she gave him an answer. “In that case, I’d like a nice sapphire set in yellow gold. A real pretty blue one with a couple of diamonds around it. Doesn’t have to be big, doesn’t need a lot of diamonds, but that’s what I want.”

He nodded. “I can do that.”

She narrowed her eyes a bit. “Does Danny know what you’re doing?”

“Do you mean will my son be upset?”

“Well, I guess. I just want to know if he knows. I want to know how much of a surprise this is going to be to your family.”

“You aren’t concerned with what your family will think?”

“Honey, I’ve already been married five times. I don’t think a sixth is going to throw them for that much of a loop.”

---