Free Across the Creek by Jeremy Asher Page B

be?”
    Kevin pulled her to the bay window and away from the crowd. “I have some good news.”
    Sarah had no idea what kind of news he was talking about. Whatever it was, it couldn’t be as shocking as the day he proposed to her. They had gone out for dinner when he had become ill. She took him back to his place and stayed up with him. The next day she had run out for some chicken noodle soup and when she returned she found him sitting on the edge of his bed, weathered from the illness, tears in his eyes.
    What’s the matter? she asked.
    He didn’t respond. He grabbed her and drew her tightly into him. No one has ever taken care of me. He looked into her eyes. I heard you talking to Rachael the other day. You were crying and you said that your father would never be able to walk you down the aisle.
    Kevin, it’s okay.
    No, it’s not. He grabbed her left hand and held it against his chest. Sarah, would you do me the honor of being my wife?
    She looked into his eyes, impatient to hear his news.
    “Well, am I going to have to torture it out of you?”
    Kevin placed a finger to his chin. “Hmm. I kind of like the sound of that.”
    She flashed him a come-on-already look and he said, “All right. All right.” Then he grabbed her hands and looked her in the eye. “I have the money for the greenhouse.”
    Stunned, Sarah stared in disbelief.
    “Did you hear me?” he asked.
    She blinked and then swallowed. “I’m not sure. It sounded as though you said that you had the money for the greenhouse.”
    The corners of his lips curved into a smile and he nodded.
    Sarah didn’t know what to say. The plant nursery and the greenhouse had always been the dream that she shared with her father. She placed a hand on her stomach. “You can’t do that.”
    “What do you mean? It’s done.”
    His gesture of kindness felt more like trespassing. “But the banks haven’t gotten back with me yet. I know one of them will see the dream my father and I have and invest in us.”
    Kevin closed the distance between them and grabbed her hands. “Don’t you see? You don’t have to wait for the banks. You can break ground on Monday if you want.”
    Still dumbfounded, Sarah tried to figure out what had just happened. The dream she had shared with her father had now become part of Kevin’s, her fiancé and future husband. It makes sense. This is what happens when you get married , she rationalized. But a piece of her wanted to accomplish this on her own. To do something that everyone else told her couldn’t be done. And here stood Kevin, proving that they were right. It couldn’t be done, at least not without the help of a wealthy boyfriend.
    “Did you hear me? You can break ground on Monday.”
    Sarah forced a smile. “It’s great.”
    “Really? Because it sure doesn’t look great.” He pulled back.
    “No,” she said, grabbing his hands. “It’s so sweet of you to do this. And I can’t wait to get started on the greenhouse. It’s just that I—” She looked into his eyes and watched as the glee started to fade. He meant well. “It’s just that I have to make so many phone calls tomorrow to get everything moving along.”
    “Are you sure you’re okay with it?”
    “Of course I am. Are you kidding me? I’ll be weeks ahead this way.”
    He pulled her into a hug. “I’m so glad you’re happy.”
    “How did you come up with that kind of money?”
    “My father.”
    She pulled back, leaving her hands on his shoulder. “Your father?” Mr. Eugene Dawson wasn’t known for being charitable. In fact, he hadn’t exactly been all that excited about their relationship. Sarah didn’t exactly have the right—what was the word he had used?—“pedigree” for his son. If he had agreed to finance the greenhouse, then there had to be a catch.
    “Don’t worry,” Kevin said. “I talked to him about it last night and he agreed. Everything’s going to work out.”
    Sarah hugged Kevin one more time. “Thank you,” she said.