Free Bossy Bridegroom by Mary Connealy Page A

morning.”
    They were alone. The rest of the town was sprucing up their homes and streets to welcome the holiday crowds.
    Jeanie laughed. “I set a new record cleaning up after dinner.”
    Michael set her feet back on the ground, and they just held each other. Michael cherished every breath, every moment, every touch.
    Thank You, God. Thank You. Thank You
.
    “Are we going to stand here holding each other all day?” Jeanie asked.
    “How about until we die of old age?” Michael kissed the top of her head, her temple, her eyes.
    “I want to hold on to you for that long, Michael.”
    He kissed her soundly. “Good. Then we’re in total agreement.” He squeezed until her feet lifted off the ground and she squeaked. He set her down, laughing. “Now, what have we got left to do before the first renter arrives?”
    They worked companionably together for several hours, having fun making the cabins perfect.
    Then their first guest arrived. The day got hectic as Jeanie took the vacationers into the café to register and Michael helped with the luggage.
    Glynna arrived with her neat foil containers of hot savory roast beef and side dishes. The guests ate as fast as Glynna and Jeanie spooned the food, and the rustic cash register they had found abandoned in the building rang up sale after sale.
    It was early evening by the time there was a letup. The Buffalo Bus was ready, and rides had been scheduled for the morning. The cabins were full, Jeanie’s café-in-training was cleaned and set up for breakfast, and Jeanie and Michael made their way home, tired but overjoyed with the success of the day.
    They were a couple, Michael knew, in a way they’d never been before. Married in their hearts and souls and minds.
    Married in the way God intended.

    Jeanie ran nonstop the whole weekend.
    The activity was laced with joy as she watched Michael shine. He had a knack for bringing everyone along with him when he was enthusiastic.
    Glynna’s food sold out every meal. The Buffalo Bus was a huge hit, with people driving in for the day to ride it along with the people staying in the cabins.
    The senior citizens had a fund-raising dinner Saturday at noon that had Jeanie running back and forth between that building and her café. But with all the extra hands helping in both places, she kept up and had fun.
    On Sunday they had a community worship service in the park, and Monday morning featured the traditional Memorial Day program at the city auditorium. When the veterans marched in with the American flag, an army band Michael had arranged struck up
The Star-Spangled Banner
. Pride nearly vibrated the building.
    By the time everyone checked out of the cabins on Monday and the Buffalo Bus had made its last run, Jeanie was ready to collapse; but it was a good kind of exhaustion.
    Michael helped her lock up the café. “You’re a fantastic cook, Jeanie. Glynna did a great job, but I’d love some of your homemade bread on the menu. Do you think Glynna would maybe partner with you when we get the building up to specs? You’ll need waitresses and at least one more cook. By Independence Day I’d like to …”
    Jeanie listened with tired amusement as they walked through the darkened streets, trees sighing overhead in the cool May breeze. Nightingales setting their walk to music. The homes were mostly darkened, though an occasional window glowed with light.
    Michael drew energy from people and plans, and she remembered, years ago, that she’d been a social butterfly, too.
    “You keep planning and arranging, but tomorrow I go back to my normal life. I’ve got to work morning and afternoon. They let me off at the nursing home for the last two weeks, and I took time off from my other jobs, too. But people have been taking extra shifts to fill in.”
    Michael stopped so suddenly that Jeanie stumbled. He turned. “What other jobs?”
    “I help out at the library on Thursday nights and at the mini-mart two Saturdays a month.”
    “You haven’t