The Demure Bride(30)

Chapter Thirteen





The congratulations from Michael's family members were genuine, and Mary  even had tears of happiness in her pretty eyes as she kissed Molly and  told her she was very happy to have her for a daughter-in-law to be!

"When do you plan to get married?" Kathleen's eldest asked.

Michael just grinned and said, "The lady just said 'yes', honey. Molly and I will have to talk about a date."

"I want to come to the wedding!" the child persisted, and Molly assured  her that she was invited, which satisfied her, and when another nephew  spoke up, Molly nodded and said that everyone, even the smallest babies,  would all be invited. She didn't know it, but she forever etched  herself in Seamus' heart with those words. He loved his family and was  proud of them, and to him, children belonged at weddings, too. Molly  would be the perfect wife for Michael.

The rest of Christmas was a blur for Molly. She remembered helping with  the dinner, and receiving so many hugs, and words of advice on living  with Michael, which he hotly claimed was mostly slander and harassment!  Laughter filled the air, and most of the family stayed late into the  evening, playing games and just having a fun day of family.

The moment Molly went into work on Monday morning, Liz spotted her  engagement ring and jumped up from her seat behind the high desk and  came running to give Molly a big hug. "Oh, Molly! This is so wonderful!  Your ring is simply beautiful!" she whispered, awed. Then she looked at  Molly. "Do you like it?"

"I love it; Michael chose it for me," she explained, and then smiled and added, "I truly love it, though."

One of the other legal secretaries joined them and exclaimed over the  heart shaped diamond. "If there is one thing I know, it is diamonds, and  that man of yours loves you big bucks, girl!" she informed Molly. "That  is one expensive ring!"

"What is going on?" Drake Bridges asked with a smile as he walked in and saw the group gathered around Molly.

"Molly is engaged, Mr. Bridges," Liz told him. "We are admiring her ring; it's so beautiful."

"Now that is wonderful news," Drake said sincerely, taking Molly's hand  in his so he could see her ring. Michael has good taste, in women and in  rings," he stated. He then gave Molly a hug. "Do you have a date set  yet?" he asked.

"Not yet. We haven't had a minute alone to discuss a wedding," Molly admitted.

"Oh, that will all come in time!" Liz told her. "My sisters set dates  several times before they actually found one that would work for  everyone they wanted to be there."

"No need to rush things," Drake said softly. "But, I think we have a  client or two coming in soon, so we should get busy, hmmmm?" The woman  all agreed, and immediately wished each other a good day and hurried to  do what needed to be done while Molly followed Drake to their offices  upstairs.

Molly was grateful to be rescued by her boss. She wasn't used to being  the center of attention, and while the attention was the good kind, it  kind of bothered her to have her engagement ring scrutinized for value.  Michael gave it to her with love, and she would value it even if it came  out of a Cracker Jack box. She promised herself to tell Michael that at  the first opportunity.

"Why so grim looking, Molly?" Drake asked, clearly puzzled. "You aren't having second thoughts, are you?"

"No," she quickly replied. "I know I'm being silly, but I don't need an  expensive ring to know that Michael loves me. I don't want anyone to  think that I'm marrying Michael for monetary reasons."

"Kasey, right?" Drake asked knowingly. "Don't let her upset you, Molly.  She is a bit of a cynic when it comes to marriage, but she would be the  first to tell everyone that you love Michael. And, I don't want you  worrying about your wedding, either. We're all going to be there, Molly,  filling up your side of the church. We are family, and I meant what I  said about paying for your dress and cake. I'm claiming that privilege,  and my feelings will be very hurt if you don't allow me to do this for  you."         

     



 

"Thank you so much," Molly said with a tearful smile. The telephone on  her desk rang, and she moved to answer it, and then said, "Mr. McGill is  here, Mr. Bridges. I think we'd better get to work!" She touched his  arm when he started toward his office, and when he stopped to look at  her, she said, "Thank you so much. I can't tell you how good it feels to  know you care so much about me."

"You are special to our family, Molly. We cared about you before you put  your life in danger to save mine... But, believe me, my wife and my dad  would give you the world if you asked. I know you aren't the type of  woman who would consider that, and it makes you even more special to us.  I want you to promise me you'll come to me if you need anything at all,  Molly. Not just for the wedding. And not just now... I mean any time."  To her surprise, he leaned down and kissed her on the cheek just as Mr.  McGill entered the office, and the client's eyes grew large.

"Good morning, Mr. McGill," Molly said with a smile. "Would you like to  congratulate me, too?" she asked, showing him her ring. "My finance and I  are now officially engaged."

"That's a pretty ring, Molly," the elderly man said with a smile. "I  sure hope you aren't going to quit working once you get married...?" he  asked.

"No! Molly is not permitted to quit work. She is the best secretary I've  ever had, and I'll raise her salary to keep her!" Drake answered  immediately and Molly couldn't help giggling at the uncustomary raised  voice he used.

"I am not planning to quit work. Michael would never ask that of me," she said, reassuring her boss.

"Now, honey, you missed your chance to get a raise!" Mr. McGill teased.

"I think a raise is a good idea," Drake stated matter-of-factly. "We'll  discuss that later, Molly." He invited his client into his office, and  Molly hurried to make coffee to take to them. She didn't feel it was  demeaning to make coffee because Drake took a turn, too. Once she took  them their coffee, Molly listened to the messages left over the long  weekend, and made the call backs she could take care of on her own. She  also made a list of the ones that Drake would have to make himself.

Molly seldom had a slow day, and this day was no exception. Still, when  Michael came to take her out to lunch, she made sure that Drake didn't  need anything of her, and then she left with Michael.

"You have something you want to tell me, Molly?" Michael asked. She was  very preoccupied, and he was already trying to figure out what she'd  done that she didn't want to share with him. Certainly she hadn't been  caught speeding again...?

Molly nodded, and shyly said, "I want to say this and I don't want you  to take it all wrong. I really, really, really love my ring..."

"But...?" he asked patiently.

"I would have said yes even if you didn't give me a ring," she said so earnestly that he knew something or someone upset her.

"I know that, Molly. I wanted to give you a ring you would love, and  when I saw this one, it had your name on it. You have such a sweet  heart, and yellow gold is what all your other jewelry is made of. I've  never seen you wear white gold. I picked it because it seemed perfect  for you."

"Thank you. I really do love it, but I'm marrying you because I love  you... not for what you can buy for me. I don't think the price of a  ring indicates how much I am loved."

"I don't either," he agreed, and then asked, "Now, which one of the  ladies you work with made a comment about the cost of your ring?"

"It was Kasey. She said you must love me a lot because this ring is expensive."

"I do love you a lot or I wouldn't have asked you to marry me, Molly.  Pop didn't give Ma an expensive ring, but he loved her plenty, just as I  love you... forever. Okay?"

"Yes. I just wanted you to know how I feel."

"Thank you," Michael said solemnly, doing his best not to smile. Molly was perfectly serious.

"I've been getting a lot of well-meaning advice this morning on the subject of our wedding."

"It is our wedding. We will plan it to suit us, Molly."

"I agree. I do want to tell you that Mr. Bridges is insisting on paying  for my dress and the cake. He really wants to do this and said he would  be hurt if I refused."

"He wouldn't offer if he didn't want to do it, Molly. I think you should accept."

"Good, because I did." She grinned then. "Could we just elope and spare  ourselves all the good intentions and well-meaning suggestions of how we  should do things?"

"Nope. We're going to do the church wedding. I called about some dates,  and the first date the church is open is March 26. I would like to  reserve that day, Molly. I'm impatient to make you mine."