“No. That is ... not all of it. Here are the words that I wasable to decipher.” The frail man slid a piece of paper across to him. “That’s all I can do.” He licked his lips. “Please, may I have a glass of water now?”
He walked across the room and grabbed a glass and the pitcher. He poured the water into the cup in front of the dirty little man at the table and then threw it in his face.
“Next time, I expect answers.”
Amsterdam, Netherlands
After being gone most of the day yesterday and into the night, Rick wasn’t prepared to be woken up at six in the morning by the butler urging him to get dressed and go see Celestia.
But here he was, with gritty eyes, mussed hair, and dressed at ten past six knocking on Celestia’s door. He suppressed a yawn.
Chaisley opened the door looking fresh and clean and ... happy. She was beautiful. It was a good thing she couldn’t see his state. “Good morning.”
“Good morning.” He leaned in and kissed her cheek.
“I see Grandmother had you summoned first thing.” She giggled. “She called for you yesterday, but we found out you were away from the manor.” Chaisley leaned closer and whispered. “She’s not the best at patience.”
“Come here, young man. We have much to discuss.” Celestia coughed and waved her hand at him.
He did as he was told.
“Now. I’m not going to mince words because talking too much makes me cough. You love my granddaughter, don’t you?”
He swallowed as he met her compassionate stare and nodded. There was no denying it. “I do.” He shifted his gaze to Chaisley and watched for her reaction.
Pink swept into her cheeks, the corners of her lips turned up, and her eyes sparkled.
Rick couldn’t tear his eyes away from her face. Dare he believe that she felt the same?
“Chaisley, my dear, Rick is staring at you like a lovesick schoolboy.” Celestia coughed again and then continued. “You better tell him.”
Chaisley beamed at him. “I love you, too.”
In two quick strides, he was by her side, pulling her into his arms. No other words were needed. Her hands roamed his face as his lips found hers.
All the horrors of the world around them melted away as he kissed the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. No matter how much time God granted him, he wanted it to be with Chaisley.
Lost in each other’s arms.
“Ahem.”
Rick chuckled against Chaisley’s lips and pulled back a few inches.
Celestia shifted in her bed. “Now that that is settled, I’d like to set a wedding date. Our work won’t wait for such a thing, so I think it should be a simple ceremony. And soon.”
“Yes,” Chaisley agreed. “Very soon.”
chapter
Seventeen
Amsterdam, Netherlands—Tuesday, November 1, 1938
Rick smiled as he watched Melanie hold another swatch of fabric out to Chaisley. The ivory satin glowed in the warm firelight.
“This one looks lovely with your skin tone.” Melanie had taken charge of all things wedding and glowed almost as much as his bride-to-be.
The grin that split his fiancée’s face was a sight to behold. How had he become so blessed? The most wonderful woman in the world was going to be his wife. And to have her grandmother’s blessingandencouragement was more than Rick had thought possible.
