In dark suit and conservative tie, he was a solemn stranger, enigmatic and unapproachable, somewhat frightening, totally fascinating.
Who was he, really? she wondered. It was a bit disheartening to realize that it didn’t matter, for by her own choice his role in her life could be only temporary.
Gabe looked up at the sound of her steps, then straightened to his full height, his eyes piercing her, golden as an eagle’s.
“Hi.”
She tried to smile. “Hello.”
He inspected her—the simple dress, her trembling hands, the upswept hairdo—and something hungry flared in his expression, then was gone. “You look nice.”
“Thanks. So do you.”
She knew her words were stiff, inane, and she closed her eyes briefly, praying for lucidity and composure. She had to get through this—after all, it was her idea! It’s just business, she recited like a mantra.
Reaching into her small clutch purse, she passed him a folded document. “Your deed. Everything’s filed at the courthouse.”
He shoved the paper inside his jacket without looking at it. “Thank you.”
“And here are the rings. I had to guess at the size.” With a tremulous laugh, she passed him a small box, and he shoved it into a pants pocket. “Lord, this is awkward, isn’t it?”
“Deception always is, Sarah.”
Stricken, she didn’t know what to say. Frowning, Gabe raised his hand and touched her face, running a thumb under her jawbone, gently fingering the pearl stud in her ear.
“I forget you’re a novice at this kind of thing,” he muttered. “Don’t worry, sweetheart, I’m an old hand at it. I’ll guide you through.”
The warmth of his skin stroking hers made her shiver. “Is that supposed to reassure me?”
A slow grin curled his mouth. “It should.”
“I’ll try to remember.”
“In the meantime…” Turning to the windowsill, he picked up a bundle, removed a layer of tissue and offered her a ribbon-wrapped bouquet of red roses. “Maybe you should hold on to these.”
Mystified, touched beyond words, she took the flowers, marveling at their velvety texture and inhaling their sweetness. “Oh, Gabe, they’re exquisite.”
“Just doing my part to keep up appearances.”
Like a dash of cold water, that jolted her from her haze. It’s just business. “Well, thank you. You shouldn’t have gone to the trouble.”
“Beulah cut them.”
Sarah Ann sucked in a breath. “You told her? About this?”
“What do you think I am—crazy? No, don’t answer that.” He shook his head, his brow wrinkling as if pondering a riddle. “But she left them on the table, and they looked right, so here they are. How she knew…sometimes I think she’s a witch.”
“At any rate, it’s a nice touch. You should have one, too.” She plucked a bud and stuck it in his lapel. “They’re really quite lovely.”
“Yeah.” He searched her face for a long moment, then tucked her hand into the crook of his arm. “Ready to get this over with?”
Drawing a breath for courage, she nodded. “Yes.”
Gabe pushed open the door and ushered her inside.
“There they are,” Gramps said in a hearty voice. “About time!”
Sarah Ann blinked, taken aback by the unexpected sea of smiling faces that greeted them. Gramps sat propped upright in his bed, clean-shaven and looking dapper and more cheerful than he had in weeks. Beside him stood his oldest friend, retired Judge Henry Holt, stout and graying, ing, but still vigorous at seventy-five. A fresh-faced young man wearing a rather shiny suit and holding a Bible stood before a makeshift bower of flowers and greenery, apparently the work of Lillian, the head nurse, and her staff, who waited to one side, white uniformed and dewy-eyed with expectation.
“My goodness.” Sarah Ann’s voice was faint. Beside her, Gabe breathed an expletive.
Lillian bustled up to them, all goodwill. “Now, don’t be upset with our little surprise, Sarah Ann. When Harlan told us your plans, we just couldn’t help getting into the spirit of things. I hope you don’t mind.”
“Oh, no, of course not.”
“I know how busy you’ve been, and of course, all the details, the blood tests—”
“Blood tests?” Sarah Ann echoed, shooting a wide-eyed glance at Gabe.
“Don’t tell me you forgot?” Lillian asked. Reading Sarah Ann’s dismay and totally misinterpreting it, she took charge. “Well, we can take care of that right now! Charlotte, hand me that tray.”
Before they had a chance to protest, Lillian pricked their fingers, prepared slides and sent the tray off to the lab.
“There, all done. A whirlwind courtship, wasn’t it? It’s so romantic,” the nurse said with a sigh. She patted Gabe’s arm. “Congratulations, young man. You’re getting a mighty fine gal.”
Gabe cleared his throat. “Thank you, ma’am.”
“Come here, girlie, and give your old Gramps a hug,” Harlan ordered from the bed. Sarah Ann obliged. When she released him, Harlan offered his hand to Gabe, shook it soundly. “I want to welcome you to the family, son. You’re both making me a mighty happy man today.”
Gabe cleared his throat again. “Thank you, sir.”
“I’m glad you’re happy, Gramps.” Tears prickled behind Sarah Ann’s lids.
“Now, none of that,” he chided, then turned to his old friend. “Tell her, Henry. It’s a happy time.”
“Good gracious, yes!” the judge agreed. “And this is your intended?”
He pumped Gabe’s hand, beaming. “Harlan asked me to be a witness. Flat tickled me, I don’t mind telling you. Got all the necessary paperwork right here.” He patted his jacket pocket. “I knew you wouldn’t mind, so I’ve taken care of everything. I still have some pull down at the courthouse. Got you one of their gold-embossed licenses. Made it real special.”
“Ah, Sarah and I appreciate it,” Gabe said, his words strangled.
“Are we ready to get started?” the young man with the Bible asked hopefully.
“Absolutely!” Gabe took Sarah Ann’s arm and positioned them in front of the bower, evoking a titter of indulgent laughter from the witnesses at his apparent eagerness.
Only Sarah Ann knew that it was really his desperation to have this charade behind them, and it matched her own. She’d had no idea it would
