Free The Proposal by Diane Craver Page B

have a great bedside manner.”
    “I do, don't I? You
aren't fooling me. I know you're trying to get a bigger birthday
present from me by complimenting my skills.”
    Her cell phone rang and
she glanced at the caller ID. “It's Brad.”
    “I'm going to check
my messages while you chat with Brad. I’ll be back in a few
minutes.”
    She nodded at Tyler and
said to Brad, “Hi, Honey. I miss you. Tyler and I were just talking
about you.”
    “How is Tyler? I've
been busy and haven't called my old buddy.”
    “He's doing fine. We
were talking about my birthday.” And other things, she
thought. But, of course, she didn't want to mention the ring
discussion. She could wait and see what kind of ring Brad bought for
her. What else could his surprise be? It had to be an engagement
ring.
    “Oh yeah, about your
birthday. We'll have to celebrate it a few days late. I have too much
work to get done before Thanksgiving. Sorry, babe. I'll make it up to
you. We'll have a romantic dinner the evening before Thanksgiving.”
    Suddenly all pleasure
left her. She shouldn't have gotten her hopes up that she'd actually
see her boyfriend for a major event in her life. It seemed to happen
frequently. Why did he have to have an important corporate job? And
one that involved constant travel.
    “Will I see the
surprise on Thanksgiving?” Getting a ring on this day would be
special and, heck, her birthday was only a week before the holiday
this year.
    He laughed. “That's
what I love about you. You're such a kid at times and love surprises.
You'll see it on Wednesday night when I get to Indiana. Alex is going
to appreciate my surprise too. It cost enough, that's for sure.”
    What did Brad's
surprise have to do with Alex? She thought for a moment. Of
course, dummy. Alex would benefit when they got married. She bet
Brad wanted to help support her brother. Her parents had only saved
enough money for Alex's first year of college. She couldn't afford to
pay for Alex's education on a social worker's salary. Brad had
mentioned it before that Alex would need financial assistance. What a
wonderful guy Brad was…to think about the needs of her
fifteen-year-old brother.
    “Hey, are you still
there?”
    “I'm here. Sorry. I'm
disappointed you won't be home for my birthday, but glad you'll be
here for Thanksgiving.”
    “I have to get back
to work. I love you, Jacqueline. Bye.”
    She glanced at her
watch. In another twenty minutes, she needed to pick up Alex from
football practice. Her mother and father never signed Alex up for the
midget league as a child, because they felt he'd get burned out if he
played too much football while younger. However, her parents gave
their approval for him to play his freshman year, and he loved
playing. When he asked to play his sophomore year, she signed the
permission slip. She enjoyed going to his games and many times Tyler
went with her. She hoped he could go to Alex's last game of the
season this Friday. It was like old times going to their high school
turf together.
    As Tyler entered the
living room, he said, “What's wrong? You don't look too happy.”
    “Brad's not going to
be able to make it for my birthday. He has to work. He said that we
can celebrate it when he comes for Thanksgiving.”
    “I'm sorry.”
    “Do you realize I
haven't seen Brad for three weeks? Maybe I'm wrong about him
proposing. He apparently can go a long time without seeing me.
Thanksgiving is another two weeks away.”
    Tyler sat beside her
and squeezed her shoulder. “He did want you to visit him when he
had a business conference in Portland. You've never been to Oregon.
Brad thought you'd enjoy the vacation.”
    “I didn't want to
leave Alex. I know he's a good kid, but he is a teenager. I thought
about having Grandma stay here but she wasn't feeling well at the
time.”
    “And I already had
plans to go to the Ohio State football game. The next time Alex can
stay with me.”
    She leaned her head
against Tyler's chest. What would