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“I have no idea!”
Both grew silent as he grinned at her, moving to itch his cast on his arm… and pulled out a ring from the hard plaster over his palm.
“I had it tucked in there for safe keeping…” he smiled, his expression so full of love and warmth that she was at a loss for words. “I was going to ask you this morning, but you seemed so worried about something, that I chickened-out…”
“You were?” she choked out softly in disbelief.
“Yeah, see… it’s funny,” Kyle began, sinking to the floor beside her once again. “I’m crazy about you and can’t get you out of my mind. I picture you smiling, working behind the counter, see Yam crawling up your arm while we are sitting on the couch watching television, or find myself admiring the way your eyes light up when you look at me… and I can’t imagine my life without you, Reyna Mattingly.”
Stunned, she watched him take hold of her hand, using his left hand that had the cast on it as he tried to manage to hold it before him, using his right hand to slip a diamond ring onto her finger.
Kyle cleared his throat and she saw the pride, love, and tears in his eyes as he gazed at her, before taking a deep breath.
“Betty Jean,” he began – and Reyna felt a smile bloom in her soul as she realized what he was doing. He was switching out their names just like her mother had when they visited the nursing home. “Will you marry me, Joe, before your father fills my wretched hide with a muzzle full of lead?”
She laughed tearfully and heard him join in as he gazed at her with so much emotion.
“This is crazy, you know,” she began, feeling so loved and treasured, knowing that he would do anything to make her feel special – and she loved him all the more for it. “We’ve known each other for three weeks…”
“You are the best Christmas present that a boy could ask for – and I’ve been averygood boy,” he teased, grinning. “Marry me, Reyna… I love you and will always be good to you – and our sweet little Yam.”
“You’re serious,” she began, in wonder and disbelief. “You want to do this? To be a part of this chaos I’m going to try to tackle? There will be visits with my mother, possibly more vent cats in the future… and…”
“I’m in,” Kyle interrupted tenderly, gazing up at her. “I never imagined how much I could love coffee, sundaes as Joe, or vent cats… but I ‘Yam’wildly in love with everything that you bring to the table – and want so much more of it with you as my wife.”
“You do? You are?” she whispered tearfully, realizing that her whole world was falling into place in the most beautiful way imaginable – and she would have a partner to share in the happiness, the hard work, and unknown joys that were sure to come as they figured this all out, together.
“I ‘yam’…” Kyle chuckled tearfully.
She slid down out of the chair and threw her arms around his neck, sobbing, hugging, and kissing him with emphatic emotion before hugging him again – and tackling him to the floor, there in the middle of the café.
“I ‘yam’too…”
* * *
Kyle held onto his promise,pressing and encouraging Reyna in every way possible. He got everyone at the firehouse to help pass out flyers – including the chief, who was standing at the stop sign at the corner of Main Street, soliciting every single car that passed.
Dixie was making peppermint cake balls for the event. She also handed out flyers as well, only charging the cost of the goods to make the desserts in exchange for attending the event – along with passing out business cards.
‘Joe’ told her mother about how he was engaged to ‘Betty-Jean’ – and invited the entire nursing home to the café for Christmas carols and cocoa, and Bob was invited to bring a bingo card to hang on the wall to display.
Kyle then promptly introduced Reyna to Mrs. Kendall, who was sitting across the table from Bob, playing bingo with her newfound friend. The older woman was winking at Kyle playfully in a manner that caused Reyna’s eyes to nearly pop out of her head – only to hear Kyle inviting Mrs. Kendall as well to the cafe.
“I want you to meet my soon-to-be wife,” Kyle said boldly, and Reyna felt his hand tremble slightly as he held hers tightly. “Reyna, Mrs. Kendall has a bad habit of falling a lot and prefers that I be the firefighter to help her up.”
“He’s a brawny, strapping young lad…” the woman volunteered happily. “Isn’t he ladies? I mean, look at those pretty eyes, that sweet smile, and those muscles… and wait till he walks off? Those saucy little buns…”
“Oh gracious,” Reyna laughed as Kyle blushed wildly, taking it all in stride.
“Now Mrs. Kendall… you need to behave, and we’ve talked about this.”
“’Look and don’t touch’…” the older woman muttered in annoyance, rolling her eyes. “I know. I know – and I’m not touching anymore.”
“She was touching?” Reyna whispered.
“Yeah, it was really bad there for a while …” Kyle hissed back quietly. “Mrs. Kendall, I wanted you to meet my soon-to-be wife, because I didn’t want Reyna to misunderstand that we are just friends and help each other, right?”
“I’ve told you to repeatedly ‘help yourself’, but my sweet Kyle shoots me down every single time,” the older woman said, rubbing her décolletage – winking at Kyle. “You ain’t marriedyet, young man… and even if you were? You can still admire the menu, even if you aren’t hungry enough to order.”
