My First Book--Scene Nineteen

Instead of giving a long list of links for you to read the previous scenes in my book, might I point you to the "Categories" at the left? Mosey down to "my first book--scenes", click there and scroll down to wherever you have to start.

Go on. We'll wait for you.

Back? Okay. Without further ado, I give you Scene Nineteen.

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Once again acquainting myself with the feeling of having a ring on my left hand might take a little time, but I intended to enjoy it. I waited in Dan’s office while he tended to his last two patients of the day. As we left for home, he told me the only way he got through lancing and draining a boil on the back of a hairy man’s thigh and removing stitches from the brow of a young boy who had recently tried to fly from the loft of his father’s barn was remembering the smile on my face when he slid the ring onto my finger.

We walked over to Knutson’s grocery so I could pick up a few items for our supper. Meatloaf played a starring role in the menu plans—hearty, filling, and one of Dan’s (and Ruth’s) favorites. We wanted to break the news of our engagement to Ruth before we told anyone else, and I just didn’t trust myself not to blab.

Dan walked in with Ruth draped across his shoulder—she had fallen asleep in his arms halfway home. He waved me off when I offered to take her, instead putting her to bed himself.

“It smells great,” he said, walking back into the kitchen.

While I chopped onion, garlic, tomatoes, and a green bell pepper, Dan leaned against the counter and watched. “Have you given any thought to when we might tie the knot?” he asked.

I peeled and cut up the potatoes and then mixed the meat loaf. “How ‘bout this Saturday?” I replied, patting the mixture into a loaf pan and edging it with potatoes. “I know the doctor ‘round here. I bet we could get him to look the other way about the blood test.” I smiled. With my fear of needles, I had once kidded that a blood test would be a deal-breaker.

He took the pan from me and slid it into the oven. Grinning smugly, he said, “I bet you’re right. That shouldn’t be a problem.”

“That way, all we’d need to do is get the license and make sure the church is free.” I washed my hands and blotted them with a towel.

He took my hands in his, lightly stroking my knuckles. His look turned serious. “Are you sure about all this?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Too late. You’re stuck with us now.”

“No, no, no. That’s not what I meant. I just want to make sure that you’re ready. That’s all.” He led me to the living room, and we sat together on the couch.

I sighed. “Dan, I’ve thought about this for a long time. If I wasn’t ready to marry you, I would have told you that before you proposed. Don’t worry.”

His eyes softened, the worry erased. “Okay.”

“Besides, there’s no use in waiting too long to get married. We’re not young kids planning a big wedding. I figured it’d just be a small church ceremony.” Already, this wedding would have more planning than my first.

“Will there be a reception?” he asked.

“More to the point, will there be a honeymoon?”

He smiled, cradling the base of my skull with one large hand. “My, my. How quickly our mind turns to matters of physical pleasure.” His other arm wound behind my waist and pulled me close to him.

I batted him away, only half-seriously. “Daniel, that’s not what I was thinking about. I asked because—”

He loomed over me, his weight pushing me deep into the cushions and his mouth finding mine. “Maybe you weren’t thinking about it, but I was,” he said as he held my lower lip ever so gently between his teeth.

I surrendered to his kisses, tasting him, feeling how badly he wanted me. Much as I wanted to surrender to him, right there on the couch without wasting the time to walk to the bedroom, I heard Ruth stirring in her bedroom. I knew from experience that she would come wandering into the living room in the next few minutes.

“Dan, we’ve got to stop,” I said.

“We’re just getting started,” he whispered as he nibbled my earlobe. One of his hands caressed my breast with the lightest of touches.

I groaned. “Dan, Ruth’s up. She’ll be in here any minute.” I pulled away from him. “Please.”

He sighed and sat up, rubbing his lips. “I don’t hear anything,” he said. “Do I not keep your concentration?

I sat up and smoothed my dress. “That’s hardly true.” Trying to explain a mother’s sense of hearing was useless. The fact that Ruth walked in just then, Herman tucked under her arm, might have convinced him.

“Hi, Mama,” she said walking over and climbing into my lap.

I kissed her head, and Dan patted her knee. “Hey there, sweetie pie. Did you have a nice nap?”

She nodded but snuggled against me, still shaking the sleep from her system.

I hugged her and then deposited her on the couch. “Why don’t you help Dr. Dan set the table, and I’ll get our supper, hmm?” I said.

Ruth grabbed my hand before I could walk away. “Mama, what’s that?” she asked, pointing to the ring on my finger.

“Well,” I said, kneeling in front of her, “Do you remember you asked if I was gonna marry Dr. Dan? What would you think if I decided to do that? Would you like that?”

She jumped off the couch and bounced around in front of me. “Yes! Please, Mama!” She turned to Dan, her glee barely contained. “Are you gonna marry my mama, Dr. Dan?”

He wrapped an arm around my shoulder. “Yes, your mama and I are going to get married,” Dan said.

“He gave me this ring and asked me to marry him. I said yes.”

Ruth held my ring finger in her tiny hands, twisting it gently to and fro as the light sparkled in the diamond. “Wow! Mama, that’s a pretty ring,” she finally said in a breathless whisper.

Dan beamed.

“When are we getting married?” Ruth asked.

“Saturday,” I said.

Ruth squealed.

“That’s exactly how I felt,” Dan said.

After supper, we went for a stroll through town. Ruth walked between us, holding hands with us both. We walked past the train depot on the way to the downtown square. As we approached it, Ruth announced, “That’s where my daddy worked before he went to the war. He worked on the big trains.”

“He sure did,” Dan said.

Ruth looked quizzically at him. “Did you know my daddy?” she asked.

“No, princess, I wasn’t here then.”

“Oh.” She thought for a minute. “Where were you?”

“I was still studying to be a doctor.”

“Did they have trains where you were?”

He laughed. “Yeah, they have trains there.”

After less than twenty minutes into our walk, Ruth pooped out and begged Dan to carry her. She continued her non-stop, one-sided conversation about whatever topic crossed her mind, but she laid her head on his shoulder as she talked. I motioned to Dan that we should head for home, knowing full well what would happen should we miss her bedtime.

“You go put on your nightgown, and I’ll tell you a story about a long-ago princess named Ruth,” Dan said as he plopped Ruth onto the couch when we got home.

“That’s my name!” she said. She sprinted into her bedroom, and Dan scooted down the couch, where I had picked up a book.

“How about a kiss?” he whispered.

I leaned over and was instantly lost in the taste of his mouth.

Ruth changed clothes in record time, and she streaked back into the living room and said, “Ooh, Mama and Dr. Dan are kissing!”

Dan sat up quickly. I laid a hand over my mouth, keeping the feel of his lips on mine and hiding a smile.

“That was fast,” I said.

“Come on, kiddo. How ‘bout I tell you the story while I tuck you into bed,” Dan said.

“Un-uh. Mama tucks me in,” Ruth said. She folded her arms across her chest and sat on the floor, pouting.

I gave her the skunk eye. “Ruth, don’t be rude,” I said.

“But you do tuck me in.” She stuck out her lower lip just a little more for effect.

“Ruth Alice Turner, do not argue with me. Go to bed,” I said. Oh, joy. The day had gone so well. I should have seen it. I should have known the whole day couldn’t end up ideally. Attitude had to show up at some point.

She pouted and stomped into her bedroom.

“I didn’t mean to cause a problem,” Dan said as I stood and stretched my back.

“Don’t worry about it. It’s not you. She gets like this sometimes. She tries to push her limits. I just have to let her know where the line stops and what happens if she crosses it,” I said. “You’ll learn.”

Ruth reappeared with her hands balled on her hops. “You’re just mad ‘cause I saw you kiss Dr. Dan. Besides, I don’t want any stupid story!” She wheeled back into her room, slamming the door behind her.

I thought I knew perfectly well how I would handle a smart-mouthed teenager. That the mouth showed up ten years before I expected it caught me off guard. “Speaking of pushing the limits, she just did,” I said. I was absolutely fuming. “Forget the story tonight. Just stay right here. I’ll be back.” I marched into Ruth’s bedroom and shut the door.

Several minutes later, I walked back out to the living room.

“Everything okay?” Dan asked.

I stepped aside, and Ruth peeked out from behind my leg. “I sorry, Dr. Dan,” she said, wiping away a tear.

Dan masterfully hid a smile. “Thank you, Ruth. I accept your apology,” he said.

Ruth quickly retreated into her room, and I shut the door behind her.

“Guess the story’ll have to wait. Too bad. It was really good.”

I snuggled into his side. “Mmm. Another night.”

He wrapped his arms around me, holding me close. “Well, it’s getting late, and if I stay much longer, people might start to talk.”

In his arms, I felt safe, I felt secure, I felt loved. “I wish you didn’t have to go,” I said.

He unpinned my hair, and it cascaded over my shoulders. “Say the word, and I’ll stay, my love.”

I laid a hand on his chest. “Dan, you know we can’t.” We kissed goodnight, and I locked the door behind him.