Jay had always known this day would come, but he’d imagined it would be one day far in the future. He’d also always imagined that he would have the right words to say. And, well, that he would be more prepared.
Therefore, he clung to Ben’s last words like the lifeline that they were. “You can’t believe it?” he asked hesitantly. “Does that mean you didn’t intend to ask Tricia to marry you?”
“Not at all. Tricia and I were sitting together, talking about her aunt Beverly. Then, next thing I know I’m telling her that I love her. Then she says that she loves me, too. And then . . .”
“And then . . . what?” Mark asked, leaning forward.
“And then I did it.”
Mark’s mouth was undoubtedly letting in flies, it was hanging so far open.
Jay could sympathize with him. It was something of a shock. But as he stared at his eldest, he saw something new in his expression. A contented happiness. And peace, too. He was happy about this. Really happy. “This is certainly big news,” he said at last, because Ben was staring at him, likely waiting for his father to say something of worth.
“Daed, that’s it? That’s all you’re going to say?”
“Nee. I’m simply trying to come up with the right words.” Jay was also wondering how much to react . . . or if Ben and Tricia had gotten so wrapped up in their romance that they had let the moment get to them.
But then he remembered how he’d just been asking for Evelyn for guidance and realized exactly how she would have reacted. She would have put Ben’s feelings first. Always, she put the boys’ needs first.
It was time he did the same.
“Congratulations, Ben. I’m so happy for you,” he said at last. “This is wonderful. Wunderbaar.” Standing up, he gave Ben a hug. “I love you and I hope you will be happy together. From what I know of Tricia, I think she’s a fine girl.”
“Danke,” Ben said.
“We’ll talk more in the morning, but for now I think it’s time I went to bed. Mark, move the chair out of the way.”
Mark silently did as he was asked. Then, just as Jay was halfway up the stairs, he heard the words he’d been waiting for from his middle son.
“I’m happy for ya,” Mark said. “Tricia’s really nice. And really pretty.”
“Jah. She is. Danke.”
Jay smiled to himself and as he climbed into bed he said a couple of prayers. Then, finally, he whispered into the dark, “You would have been mighty happy tonight, Evelyn. Our eldest is happy. God is very good.”
TRICIA WAS RELIEVED TO discover that the inn was quiet when she slipped in the back door. The last thing she wanted to do was discuss what had happened with Beverly. Or worse, discuss it within the hearing of one of the guests. Although she wasn’t eager to discuss what had happened earlier with Beverly, she couldn’t resist continually reliving every moment that she’d spent with Ben.
He loved her. He wanted to marry her.
He’d asked her to marry him!
And just as important, she’d wanted those things, too! In the span of a few hours she’d gone from unsure of her future to being engaged to a wonderful man.
The difference was truly miraculous.
She knew she was going to be spending quite a few hours that evening in prayer. She had so much to be thankful for. God had led her to Sarasota, to working at the inn instead of turning tail and running back home. He had brought Ben and his family to the inn, too.
He had given her so many blessings, in fact, that it was difficult to remember just how forlorn she’d felt when she’d first climbed on the Pioneer Trails bus. She’d truly thought that God had forgotten about her. Now she was ashamed that she’d had so little faith in His plan. But perhaps that was what she was supposed to learn—that sometimes she needed to remember that with faith, all things were possible.
After taking off her shoes and setting them by the back door, she filled a glass with water and headed to her room. Then stopped when she saw a light shining under her aunt’s door. Though she was tempted to tiptoe by, Tricia knew that her aunt deserved better than that. She’d taken her in when Tricia thought she’d had nobody. That overruled any hurt feelings she might have about Beverly not completely supporting her relationship with Ben.
With that in mind, she tapped lightly on the door. “Aunt Bev, I’m home.”
Almost immediately, the door opened. “Tricia, I’m so glad you stopped to tell me you were back,” she said as she reached out and gave her a warm hug. “I feared you were upset with me.”
“I was upset, but I’m better now.”