smiled at this and nodded, even as Natalie bit back a laugh.
"Oh, I shouldn't have said that. Please, forget that I said that," Rachel sighed. "Because, Brian, Micah is just about the most wonderful man in the whole world, honestly. I'm so sorry that... I'm just sorry."
"Nothing to apologize for," Brian said. "And I gathered that he was a great guy, given how he's opened your home up to everyone. And not just for tonight but for a long time after that."
And as if on cue, they heard some serious squeals come from the west side of the house, where the Morales family was sequestered and answering barks from the east side of the house where Joy and Taylor were keeping the puppy in their bathroom.
"Yeah," Rachel sighed again. "That doesn't seem like the smartest idea right now, though, does it?"
"It'll be fine," Natalie assured her.
"First things first, though," Rachel smiled. "Let me get everything set up for you two --"
"Rachel," Natalie said, "I can take care of everything. Jacob brought by some extra clothes for Brian, and I've got what Joy gave me, so all that's left are new linens on the beds, right?"
"Already done," Rachel smiled. "Always keep these rooms ready, just in case. I have some spare toothbrushes that I need to get out of the bathroom for you two, though, and towels, too."
"You're a good homemaker, Rachel," Natalie said appreciatively. "I know you make this house a home. Not just for Micah and the girls, but..."
For Joy and Taylor. For their whole family. For her. And now for the man she was going to marry.
"For all the crazy people we keep inviting in, yes," she laughed. "And on that note, Brian, you're totally welcome here. Despite all of..." And here, she motioned in Micah's general direction.
God bless Rachel. God had been doing them all a big favor when He brought her into their family.
"I appreciate it," Brian answered, smiling at her, even as she gave a small wave and left them alone.
Alone. Finally.
"Thank you," Natalie said, as Brian wrapped his arms around her and leaned down to kiss her. "Thank you for putting up with... him."
"Please," Brian murmured, "he doesn't scare me. I'm old enough to be his stepfather, after all."
She smiled at the word, fighting back the laugh that threatened to come out loudly, loud enough that Micah would hear from a few doors down, would imagine the worst, and would come to the room, angry eyes on and all.
"You really think this weekend is the right time to tell them about the engagement?," she asked, thinking about the ring that was tucked away in her purse, its absence around her finger felt after just one day of it being off.
"I do," Brian said, smiling at her. "But they're your children, and the decision needs to be yours. Of course, it'll be easier for them to find out now instead of next month when we have the wedding."
"We weren't even going to have a wedding," she sighed, thinking of how they'd discussed marriage together, how they'd reached this decision, how they were just going to have a simple covenant ceremony during the Sunday service of church, and how it wasn't going to be an ordeal.
Until she met his daughters. Oh, his daughters. Katherine, Ruth, and Elizabeth, such strong names for such strong women, all three of whom had embraced her instantly without reservation. They loved their father, and they loved seeing him happy. They'd paraded their children right over to Natalie, telling them this was their Gammy, insisting that Natalie join them when they all met up after Christmas, telling her to bring her children for them to meet, and asking for details about the wedding.
It had escalated from there, from a simple covenant ceremony to a family event. But now...
"You sure you want to get in on all of this?," she asked him warily, knowing the answer but wanting to hear it anyway.
"I'm
"Oh, I shouldn't have said that. Please, forget that I said that," Rachel sighed. "Because, Brian, Micah is just about the most wonderful man in the whole world, honestly. I'm so sorry that... I'm just sorry."
"Nothing to apologize for," Brian said. "And I gathered that he was a great guy, given how he's opened your home up to everyone. And not just for tonight but for a long time after that."
And as if on cue, they heard some serious squeals come from the west side of the house, where the Morales family was sequestered and answering barks from the east side of the house where Joy and Taylor were keeping the puppy in their bathroom.
"Yeah," Rachel sighed again. "That doesn't seem like the smartest idea right now, though, does it?"
"It'll be fine," Natalie assured her.
"First things first, though," Rachel smiled. "Let me get everything set up for you two --"
"Rachel," Natalie said, "I can take care of everything. Jacob brought by some extra clothes for Brian, and I've got what Joy gave me, so all that's left are new linens on the beds, right?"
"Already done," Rachel smiled. "Always keep these rooms ready, just in case. I have some spare toothbrushes that I need to get out of the bathroom for you two, though, and towels, too."
"You're a good homemaker, Rachel," Natalie said appreciatively. "I know you make this house a home. Not just for Micah and the girls, but..."
For Joy and Taylor. For their whole family. For her. And now for the man she was going to marry.
"For all the crazy people we keep inviting in, yes," she laughed. "And on that note, Brian, you're totally welcome here. Despite all of..." And here, she motioned in Micah's general direction.
God bless Rachel. God had been doing them all a big favor when He brought her into their family.
"I appreciate it," Brian answered, smiling at her, even as she gave a small wave and left them alone.
Alone. Finally.
"Thank you," Natalie said, as Brian wrapped his arms around her and leaned down to kiss her. "Thank you for putting up with... him."
"Please," Brian murmured, "he doesn't scare me. I'm old enough to be his stepfather, after all."
She smiled at the word, fighting back the laugh that threatened to come out loudly, loud enough that Micah would hear from a few doors down, would imagine the worst, and would come to the room, angry eyes on and all.
"You really think this weekend is the right time to tell them about the engagement?," she asked, thinking about the ring that was tucked away in her purse, its absence around her finger felt after just one day of it being off.
"I do," Brian said, smiling at her. "But they're your children, and the decision needs to be yours. Of course, it'll be easier for them to find out now instead of next month when we have the wedding."
"We weren't even going to have a wedding," she sighed, thinking of how they'd discussed marriage together, how they'd reached this decision, how they were just going to have a simple covenant ceremony during the Sunday service of church, and how it wasn't going to be an ordeal.
Until she met his daughters. Oh, his daughters. Katherine, Ruth, and Elizabeth, such strong names for such strong women, all three of whom had embraced her instantly without reservation. They loved their father, and they loved seeing him happy. They'd paraded their children right over to Natalie, telling them this was their Gammy, insisting that Natalie join them when they all met up after Christmas, telling her to bring her children for them to meet, and asking for details about the wedding.
It had escalated from there, from a simple covenant ceremony to a family event. But now...
"You sure you want to get in on all of this?," she asked him warily, knowing the answer but wanting to hear it anyway.
"I'm
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