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“If I could find someone to teach me, I could practice while he’s playing basketball. Then I could surprise him.”
“I’m sure Steven could teach you. And maybe even Josh... I wondered... Have you seen him lately? Josh, I mean? I was just curious.”
Emily smiled to herself. So Charlie had some feelings for Josh after all. “No. None of us have seen him lately. Brad told Grace that Josh has dropped all of his old friends, and he doesn’t go out at all anymore. He used to hang around with Brad and Grace, but now he spends all of his spare time, such as it is, volunteering at the free clinic.”
“Oh. So that part, at least, was true. But I still can’t trust him.”
“Brad said he’s totally sworn off women.”
“I’m sure that won’t last.”
“Well, I’d argue with you, but you could be right. I know even Spencer will eventually move on to someone else.”
“Sister, Spencer is nothing like Josh. Believe me. He only wants to be with you.” Emily knew her sister had a blind spot where Spencer was concerned. She was almost as bad as Grace.
“I thought I asked for sympathy, too.”
“Nope, you didn’t ever specify. So I gave you advice.”
“Thanks a lot,” Emily said sarcastically.
“That’s what sisters are for.”
*****
Spencer went to the men’s room one more time before riding up to the Gherring’s apartment. Everything was proceeding according to plan. He’d saved enough money to buy a ring. Well, enough to pay probably two-thirds of the cost and pay the rest off before they got married. Next, he was planning to call Charlie and find out about ring styles, but first he had to ask for permission from her parents. He was so nervous he was tempted to go back down the elevator to the men’s room again.
Would they think it was too soon? Would they agree to an engagement before he’d finished grad school? Would they believe he could support her before he’d even applied for a job?
He rang the doorbell with a vague hope no one would answer.
“Spencer. Come in.” Gherring stepped back from the open door, gesturing with his hand. “We were just having ice cream. Would you like a bowl? Actually, Anne was having ice cream. She had a craving for chocolate chip mint ice cream, so I had to go buy some.”
“Uhmm, no thank you.” he mumbled, shuffling through the door.
“Is something wrong? You seem upset.”
“No, uhmm... No sir. Everything’s fine. But I wanted to talk to you.”
“Come in. Have a seat.” Gherring guided him to a chair near the couch and sat beside Anne.
When Spencer finally looked up, both were staring at him with wide expectant eyes. He tried to speak, but discovered his tongue was sticking to the roof of his mouth.
“Eh-hem. Excuse me,” he croaked. “Could I get a glass of water?”
“Sure.” Gherring disappeared, returning quickly with the promised water.
He gulped down a few swallows, looking everywhere in the room but at the Gherrings.
“I... uhmm... I wanted to ask Emily... I mean... I wanted to ask you if I could ask Emily... to... uhmm... to marry me.” He closed his eyes and cringed. He felt the blood pounding in his head. That was awful. Were they laughing at him? He couldn’t even bring himself to look.
Suddenly, he heard Anne make a funny sound. He looked up and she was giggling with her hand over her mouth. “Steven, was it that hard for you when you asked my dad?”
“Ten times worse,” he admitted with a grin. “And your father grilled me before he gave me an answer.”
They really were laughing at him. Did that mean they were turning him down? Gherring walked over to shake his hand. “I’m sorry, Spencer. We shouldn’t tease you. We’ve been hoping for this, son. You already have our blessing.”
“Really?” He stood up, feeling a weight lifted from his shoulders.
