Violets in February (15 page)
“What about you?” she whispered, turning the phone over in her hand. The thought of not seeing him again tore her apart.
“What about me?”
“I⦔ She took his hand. “I kinda got used to having you around. You're kinda a bonzer bloke, ya know?”
He grinned. “Keep working on the slang, darl'.”
“I'm being serious.” She looked at him. “I love you. The thought of not seeing you again or for monthsâ¦it's breaking me.”
He cupped her face with his hand, and he kissed her gently. “I love you, too. Now ring them. If we are to have any kind of a future, you need to sort out your past first.”
“OK.”
“Goodo. Now, there's something I need to do. I'll be back.”
Lucy nodded as he stood. She took a deep breath and studied the phone. She dialed slowly and listened as it connected.
“Hello, Pastor Livingstone speaking.” Harold's voice echoed down the remarkably clear line. He could have been talking to her in the same room.
“Hi, Harold. It's Lucy.”
“I'll get your mother.”
“Wait,” she said quickly. “Can I talk to you first?”
~*~
Jed backed out of the room and closed the door. He glanced at Tim. “Is forcing her to go on leave really a good idea? The mission is her life. Four months away might just tip her over the edge.”
“She needs it,” Tim said firmly.
“Yeah, but even soâ”
“Take my eyes off you for one week and look at ya.” A familiar voice had him spinning around.
“Pete!” Jed hugged him, thumping him on the back. “What are you doing here?”
“Checking up on you as you haven't bothered to radio in. Again.”
He shrugged. “Been busy.”
“I noticed.” Pete jerked his head to the door. “How is she?”
“She's gonna be apples.” He slid his hand into his pocket.
“Good. Now it's time you took some leave. You're overdueâin fact, it's been stacking up.”
Jed looked at him, horrified. “Are you trying to give me the flick?”
Pete shook his head. “No. But you haven't had time off in months.”
He rolled his eyes. “Just had this convo with the sheila.”
“Then you know what's coming. Your ribs need time to heal. Broken, aren't they?”
“A couple, maybe,” he admitted grudgingly.
“Then it's settled. I will see you on July twenty-seventh. Not a day sooner.”
Jed sighed. “I assume that's not a coincidence Tim gave Lucy the same date?” He noticed the glance that passed between the two men. “Didn't think so.”
Pete held out a hand. “Give me the keys to your truck. Go home.”
Jed handed over the keys to the Ute. “I have no home remember. How do I get around this place? Where do I go?”
Pete nodded to the pot of violets. “You'll think of something. I'll get the truck fixed while you're away.”
“About time.” Jed looked at the flowers as Pete and Tim left. He never had told Lucy they were from him. He'd never been big on women and settling down, but he knew she was the woman for him. “Was this what you made us drive two hundred miles to find, God?” he asked. “To show me that not all women are the same? That this is the girl for me?”
He tugged off his signet ring and slid it over one of the violet buds. He studied the plant for a moment. Then drew in a deep breath.
“Nothing to lose and everything to gain. She's not mine until I ask her, right? Please, God, if You're listening, and if it's what You want, have her say yes.”
He opened the door, concern flooding him as he caught sight of the distraught figure lying in the bed, phone on the sheets beside her. Had he done the wrong thing insisting she call her parents?
Jed crossed the room in three long strides, set the flowers on the side and sat on the bed. He gathered Lucy into his arms, holding her as tightly as his broken ribs would allow. “I got you.” He rocked her gently, until the storm of sobs passed.
As she glanced up, he decided she was beautiful, even if her eyes were red, her cheeks puffy and swollen. “I'm OK,” she whispered. “Just wasn't expecting⦔
“What happened?” he asked.
“They want to see me.”
Relief poured through him. “That's bonzer, darl'. You gonna fly over there?”
Lucy nodded. “Yeah.”
“I'm on leave until the end of July, too. Pete took my Ute keys away.”
“Really?” She looked at him.
He wiped away the tears from her cheeks. “It seems you don't have the exclusive rights to not taking time off work.”
She leaned into him. “What will you do?”
“I have no idea. It kinda hinges on something.” He picked up the pot of violets and handed them to her.
“Are they the ones from the truck?”
He nodded. “Yeah, about that. I never told you who they were from, because they were from me.”
“Really?” Her eyes lit up in delight.
“I knew you liked them, âcause you'd said and that you never got real ones. I also noticed the lack of birthday cards and figured, kill two birds with one stone. Though they look a little sad now.”
“They're beautiful.” She ran her fingers over the leaves. Then she glanced up as she noticed the ring. “What's this?” She gently pulled it free and held it in her fingers. “Your ring.”
He held her gaze. “I love you. You gave me something wonderful, Luce. âCause of you, I found God in that jungle, and He's made the most amazing change in me.” He paused. “Sorry, not good at all this emotional stuff. Or with words.”
“Swearing excepted.” She smiled. “Only you don't swear now. I'd wondered why.”
He nodded. “Anyway. I was wondering if you'd do me the honor of being my wife, so that we can serve God together somehow. Either out here or back in England. Wherever you want, is fine with me, so long as I'm by your side.”
Her smile widened. “I'd love to marry you.”
“If you need time to think,” he continued, “that's fine. I can wait for an answer.”
She shook her head. “I don't need to think. Yes, yes, a hundred times yes. I'll marry you.”
“And⦔ he hesitated. “And maybe help me with my reading. I'd like to read the Bible for myself rather than you have to read it to me all the time, âcause then I can read it to you as well.”
Her hand touched his face. “Of course I'll teach you.”
He beamed and took her left hand, sliding the ring onto her finger. “I'll buy you another sparkly one⦔
“This one is perfect,” she whispered, looking at it. “I don't want another one.”
Jed raised her face to his, kissing her.
As he broke off, she smiled. “How about we spend our leave in England? You can meet my parents, we can get married, and come back here as man and wife.”
“Sounds perfect,” he said. He pulled her close and kissed her, complete for the first time in his life.
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