Free Love Rising: Spring (Mandrake Falls Series Romance Book 4) by Catherine Lloyd Page B

grunted Walter, surprising them
all. “That house is either haunted or in need of new plumbing. The sounds
coming from the walls are not of this world. But the little boys sleep right
through it so if it is old Grady, he doesn’t trouble the babies. Grady is a
fine name. Walt and Grady Rutherford-Dean.” Walter
shook his head and smiled. “Who would have thought it?”
    “Everyone thought it, dear. You were the only one surprised
when Scout and Ryder announced they were in love. And now we have Jeremy and
Jocelyn. To be fair, you two did take us by surprise. I pride myself on being
fairly astute in these matters but you gave us no indication whatsoever! The last
time I saw you together, you were at the opening night party for The Gift
of the Magi. Gosh, that seems like ages ago, so much has happened. Come to
think of it— Letitia Murdoch hinted something was up.”
    Jeremy glanced at Jocelyn. “What do you mean?”
    “Well, I’m on the theatrical board as you know. The night of
the party, Letitia told me she was going to offer you
a contract, which seemed sensible and I made some reply to that effect. Then
she said it might help you out when the time came to pop the question. Of course,
I thought she meant in the abstract sense of getting married one day, but now I
see she meant that you wanted to marry Jocelyn and having a steady job would
help. Letitia is such a romantic.”
    “I’m sorry—what?” Walter looked at his wife, aghast. “ Letitia Murdoch is a battle axe with nary a romantic bone
in her body. Don’t go spreading rumors, Lydie . Not
everyone has your penchant for seeing folks hitched.”
    Lydia smiled blissfully at Jeremy and Jocelyn and carried on
as if her husband hadn’t spoken. “But now that I see the two of you together, I
can see what Letitia must have seen during
rehearsals. Look, Walter. Aren’t they perfect together? It’s the height. Jeremy
is tall—he needs a tall girl like Jocelyn so he doesn’t stand out like a
beanpole. Show him, kids. Move closer together.”
    Lydia gave them a little push and Jocelyn crowded next to
Jeremy. The top of her head reached his shoulder. It was true. Jeremy was the
perfect height for her. She didn’t have to slouch or round her shoulders to
stand comfortably beside him.
    “Closer,” Lydia commanded. “Come on, you are about to be
married! Don’t be shy. Jeremy put your arm around her.”
    Jeremy wound an arm around her waist and Jocelyn squished up
against his side. He was warm and he smelled nice. They stood side-by-side
stiff as boards, blinking at Lydia and Walter Rutherford like a couple of
obedient children posing for a family portrait.
    “Oh, what a beautiful couple you make,” Lydia sighed damply.
“With his dark coloring and her blonde hair and that height, they are a picture.
I see it now; the love that you two have. It’s beyond me how young people keep
a thing like that under wraps but I’ve always said that love will have its way,
haven’t I Walter?”
    “You have.” Walter nodded. “And now that we’ve got that
settled, let’s let ‘ em get back to their shopping. Congratulations to the both of you. Good luck with the
plumbing job, Jeremy. I wish I could tell you home improvement gets easier with
time but it doesn’t. Pace yourself, son.” He caught his wife by the hand and
dragged her down the aisle and out of sight.
    Jeremy and Jocelyn turned to each other and spoke at the
same time.
    “What just happened?”
    “I couldn’t contradict her,” Jocelyn said with awe. “I
always get tongue-tied around old people. Then she said she’d buy my whole baby
line as a wedding present and I couldn’t speak. My entire line of baby products, Jeremy! That’s like five hundred bucks.
We just stood there like fools letting her push us together. What’s the matter
with us?”
    “I don’t know. It’s like a reflex to do what grown-ups tell
me to do.” Jeremy frowned. “What Lydia said about Mrs. Murdoch was