“I’m talking about after our wedding.”
Was this about Paul again?
Doreen’s gaze drifted around the family room. Its fluffy mauve and white sofa, matching love seat and chair, its maple wood coffee table and hardwood trim. There were memories here, memories that fresh paint and new furniture couldn’t pack away.
“I understand why you don’t want to start our life in the home I shared with Paul.” Doreen held Alonzo’s troubled gaze. “If the situation were reversed, I wouldn’t want to live in the home you’d created with your deceased spouse, either. But if we move into your home, we’re going to have to redecorate. Your color scheme is too depressing.”
The twinkle returned to Alonzo’s eyes. “Deal.”
“Good. Then could we return to our wedding plans, please?”
“I don’t want to postpone our wedding.” His expression sobered.
“Alonzo, June twentieth is almost three months away.” Doreen gestured toward the wedding budget she’d returned to the coffee table. “Do you see the list of things we still have to do?”
“Mi amor, we’ll get it done.”
“You’re not going to get around me with your sexy Spanish endearments.” Doreen rose to her feet. “You haven’t even rented your tux.”
Alonzo stood, too. “I’ll do that tomorrow.”
“You’ve been saying that for weeks.”
He took her hands in his warm, strong, rough ones. “I promise. We’ll even get the rings.”
Doreen’s mad was righteous and justified. She didn’t want to let go of it. But the warmth of his body, the touch of his skin, his soap-and-shaving-cream scent battered against the stone facade of her temper.
She deepened her scowl. “If you don’t get your tuxedo and the rings tomorrow, I’m postponing the wedding.”
“Deal.”
Alonzo lowered his lips to hers. Doreen slid her arms up his shoulders. Her mad disintegrated beneath the passion of his kiss. Beyond their wedding plans and where they’d live after, this is what they were protecting. Alonzo deepened their kiss. Her body responded. She wouldn’t let anyone or anything come between them.
After church Sunday morning, Doreen enjoyed a cup of chai tea with her son in her kitchen. She considered the man Ean had become as he sat on the other side of the circular honey wood table. He looked so much more relaxed than he’d been when he’d first returned home almost two years ago. He’d been tense and out of sorts when he’d left his law firm in New York. Coming home to Trinity Falls had been good for him; so had Megan McCloud.
“When are you going to make me a grandmother?” Doreen battled back laughter as Ean nearly choked on his tea.
“Don’t you think Megan and I should get married first?” Ean answered between coughs.
“That would be my preference.” Doreen masked her excitement with a thoughtful tone. Ean obviously had been thinking of a future with Megan. Yes! “So when are you going to propose?”
“Mom, how about we get through one family wedding at a time?”
That seemed fair.
Doreen lowered her mug onto the table. Her pulse was jumping. Her nerves were on edge. As much as she dreaded making her announcement, she couldn’t put off the reason she’d asked Ean to stop by.
She gripped the warm, white porcelain mug between her palms and breathed in. “Speaking of what comes after marriage, Alonzo and I have been talking about where we’ll live once we’re married.”
“What have you decided?” A cautious look entered Ean’s eyes. He knew.
Doreen was swamped with guilt. Her gaze swept the kitchen. She loved this room with its natural light, cheery yellow walls, and bright white trim. She treasured the memories it kept, not just those of raising her family but of welcoming friends. Doreen’s lips curved in a soft smile. It had been in this room that Alonzo made his first romantic overture to her.
She tucked those images aside. “Alonzo and I have agreed to move into his house. I’m going to put our home on the market.”
“That’s sensible. Our house is paid off. The profit from the sale would all go to you.” Ean’s gaze roamed the room as though seeking his own memories. What did he find?
Yes, their decision made sense, but Doreen could feel Ean’s disappointment. “I’ll split the money from the sale with you. That’s what your father would’ve wanted.”