Page 47 of Rory: His to Discipline

Driving downtown, Tess badgered him about their destination until he turned his stern gaze complete with the tell-tale eyebrow on her. Huffing in annoyance, she finally sat back against her seat and kept quiet. Rory pulled into the parking lot of a small but well-respected jeweler and shut off the car. Tess waited as he walked around to her door and helped her out.

“Rory …” she began.

“Hush, babe,” he instructed her as he led her into the building. An hour later they left the store, a gorgeous one carat diamond solitaire twinkling on her finger. The wedding bands were being sent away for engraving, but would be back in ten days, the clerk assured them. They had an early dinner at a quaint little Italian restaurant, ordering wine with their meal to toast their happiness.

Tess could not seem to take her eyes off her sparkling ring and Rory was amused, until she spoke.

“Really, Rory, you did not have to insist on such an expensive ring. We have so much to do to the house and .…”

Rory cut her off. She had tried this argument in the jewelers and he had slipped his hand down and patted her ass in warning.

“Tess, do you like the ring?” he asked quietly.

“It’s beautiful. I love it, but .…”

“Then shut up, babe! I’m not a pauper and I can certainly afford to buy my bride a nice engagement ring. I only plan on getting married once, Tess, and I want to do it right. I’ve waited a long time for you. Now, I don’t want to hear another word about the damn cost.”

“But .…”

Rory rolled his eyes and shot his napkin on the table. “If you say one more word about it, I swear to God I’ll .…”

Tess held up her hand and zipped an imaginary zipper across her mouth. Picking at her salad she gave herself a good talking to. Not everyone had to watch every penny like she’d had to do. Rory had planned this to surprise her and now she looked like an ungrateful miser. Tess loved him so very much, but she had disappointed him and ruined his surprise. Besides arguing with him in the store, she made him angry here with many more people around. Had she hurt his pride by implying he could not provide for her? Watching him from beneath her lashes, Tess could see the tic in his jaw. Raising her head, she looked at him sadly.

“Rory?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m sorry,” she whispered, a single tear sliding down her cheek.

“Aw hell,” he growled. Swiftly he stood and picked Tess up out of her chair, settling her on his lap. Pulling her to his chest he rocked her gently as she buried her face in his neck. Glancing around the room his fierce expression dared the other patrons to approach him. No one did.

“Tess, babe, please don’t cry. I’m sorry I scolded you. It’s just that I love you so and you question everything I do for you. I think we need to get married right away. I can see this whole thing is stressful for you. Do you want a big wedding? I know you have no family here, but I would be willing to fly your sister in from California, if that’s what you want. You have friends from school you can invite .…”

“No, I want a small wedding, very small,” Tess whispered, her body trembling as she fought the urge to start sobbing.

“We could go to the Justice of the Peace next week, or I could ask the Mayor to marry us? Whatever you want, babe,” Rory assured her, patting her back.

“I would not want to hurt the family, Rory,” Tess sighed, hiccupping. “Can we get married at your parents’ house?”

“When?” Rory asked reaching in his pocket for money.

Tess picked the first day that came to her mind. “Christmas Eve,” she whispered.

“Perfect,” Rory answered throwing some bills on the table and standing. “Let’s go home, Tess. We need a little privacy.” Setting Tess on her feet, he grabbed her coat. Rory dabbed her eyes with his handkerchief and wrapping his arm around her steered her firmly towards the door.

One brave elderly woman stopped him with a hand on his arm as she spoke to Tess.

“Is everything all right, dear?” she asked, concern evident in her wrinkled face. “Do you want me to call the police?” she continued, giving Rory a suspicious glare.

“He is the police,” Tess replied with a small watery smile. “We just got engaged,” she continued, giving the diamond on her hand a little wiggle to catch the light. The last thing in the world she wanted was for anyone to think badly of her future husband.

“Oh,” the woman replied smiling. “Well then, good luck to you, dear,” she continued, patting Rory’s arm in understanding. “I hope you’ll both be very happy.”

“Thank you,” Tess whispered as they went through the door.

Chapter Seventeen

Thanksgiving Day dawned crisp and clear. Maeve had the turkey in the oven before they went to Mass. Bridget, as always, volunteered to stay home and keep an eye on things. The rest of the family met at Church for the Mass. Maeve looked around at her family with pride. Rory and Tess were there as well as Maggie and Nick and the kids. Colleen, Noah and their children arrived a few minutes late, probably because Colleen was off sneaking a cigarette somewhere her husband couldn’t find her. Colleen thought she was pulling something over on them, but Maeve intended to put a little bug in Noah’s ear at some point today.