Page 57 of Stronger Than Blood

Chapter fifty-one

Rory

Ihadn’t planned to ask Mick like I did. I’d totally screwed up the moment. Not that Mick seemed to mind. He just rolled with it like he always did. Something I’d learned to love about him.

Very few things flustered my handsome, generous, and loving man. However, I couldn’t for the life of me fall asleep even after Mick’s breathing slowed with the telltale signs of sleep.

I had bought the ring months ago. In fact, right before Kalinda warned us that Mrs. Ida’s time was coming soon. I had given the ring to Elias for safekeeping, knowing that if I kept it at the house, Mick would find it during his frequent weekly cleanups.

So, knowing Brenda was still an early riser, I’d gotten up and called them as soon as the sun rose. Of course, they were ecstatic that I’d asked him and wanted all the details, meaning I didn’t get home before he was out of bed.

Brenda had been the one to suggest hiding it in one of the baked goods from the restaurant, which would totally throw him off the scent. That’d been a good call, and even better, once Mick said yes, we had something to go with our coffee.

That left another surprise. Kalinda had told me she and Jonah were going to ask Mick to purchase the home. Jonah had called Kalinda, all excited about it when Mick had told him he was selling. The house was as perfect for them, as the Victorian across the street was for him… well, for us.

I had spoken to my financial advisor and verified that I had plenty of my inheritance left to combine with Mick’s proceeds from the sale of Mrs. Ida’s home, ensuring we had the money to purchase the home outright.

That meant no debt on our business or home. We were starting our relationship on the right footing, something I knew my grandparents and Mrs. Ida would approve of.

“So, um… well, I have some news,” I said after we finished off the Danishes and coffee. “I would like to purchase the Victorian with you. Make it our home.”

Mick’s eyes grew large. “Rory, that would take all your money.”

I laughed. “And what do you think will be used if you buy it?”

He smiled and nodded. “Okay, fair point. I… well, I guess in a way that would make it even more perfect—the money our families left us setting us up for our futures.”

I pulled him into my arms and held him before we went to sit under the plum trees in the back. It couldn’t be more perfect if we’d planned it that way.

***

The sale of the Victorian went through with no problems whatsoever. Moving Mrs. Ida’s things from one house to the other was another thing altogether. Mick struggled with letting her stuff go even though most of her belongings didn’t fit our style.

In the end, it was the Methodist pastor who came to the rescue. She had several needy families who were desperate for quality furniture, and Mick, knowing Mrs. Ida would definitely approve, was able to part with the items that held no heirloom significance.

The antiques that were significant fit into our new home beautifully, though. Of course, the fact that many of them had originally been in her parents’ house, ours now, made the move even easier.

Brenda and Joann also brought items over that they said they’d inherited from their parents. Some of Joann’s things had even beein in our home at one time. That included an amazing wind-up clock, which Joann called a “kitchen” clock.

Brenda brought a beautiful buffet and table that belonged to her side of the family.

She said she wanted it to be her and Elias’ house warming for our new property.

“They supposedly bought these from Paris and had them shipped over,” Brenda told us as soon as they were put in pride of place in the room.

I knew having his cousins contribute to our new home helped Mick feel even happier about our move.

***

The wedding took place the following October—one year after losing Mrs. Ida. We hadn’t planned it to be the anniversary of her death, but that’s how things worked out.

Dupris agreed to be our officiant, which, of course, we were beyond honored about. Kalinda and Elias stood next to me, and Brenda and Joann stood next to Mick.

“Would you like to share your vows?” Dupris asked me.

I nodded and turned to Mick. “A short time ago, I believed I would spend my life on this earth alone. Then I met you and your wonderful, crazy, and beautiful great-grandmother. She forced me to till her garden, shell peas, and pick beans, but through all that, not only did the garden grow, but so did my heart. I knew I loved you within weeks of meeting you. I also knew I wouldn’t be spending many more days wandering through life alone; at least, I hoped you would feel the same way I did and allow me to be a part of your life.

You are the love of my life, Mick, and nothing, no bad men, ghosts, or negative entities, will ever take that away. ”

Dupris turned toward Mick, who was smiling through silent tears.

“I, too, thought I would be living life alone. Who would be crazy enough to move to the backside of nowhere, after all?”

The audience laughed, as did I since I could have argued that anyone who said I’d settle here in Piston Creek was nuts.

Mick’s face grew serious. “When I met you, I was on the verge of losing everything. My job, my family… everything that meant anything to me. Then you came stumbling into my world, bringing the elegant Madam Bellamy with you. You and Kalinda stepped up and helped me keep my sweet Granny at home for well over a year before she transitioned. I wouldn’t have been able to do that without you. ”

He glanced over my shoulder and winked, I suspected toward her.

“Then, when I wasn’t expecting it,” he said, looking back at me, “you both swept my heart up into your lives. No longer was I jobless or facing a life without family. You embraced me and saved me in more ways than one. I have no words to express how much I love you, Rory, nor how happy I am that I get to spend my life with you. Thanks for all you’ve brought to my life. ”

I wiped a tear from my cheek, Mick’s words hitting me squarely in all the feels.

“Then, by the power vested in me by the beauty of the Universe, I now pronounce you husbands. May you live a life of happiness and abundance.”

Dupris had no more finished her blessing than Mick was in my arms, taking my lips with his. There were whistles from the crowd, but neither of us cared. At that moment, the only thing that mattered was him and me and the future we were beginning together.