Ruby squealed with delight
when her father finally gave his blessing. She got up and ran around the table to
hug him. She hadn’t done that since she was nine years old and discovered that
she’d gotten everything on her wish-list when she opened her presents on
Christmas morning. She missed hugging her father. Did he miss her hugs?
“Thank you, Papa.” Ruby hugged
him tightly and planted a warm kiss on his right cheek for good measure.
Papa Hudson smiled for a few
brief moments, relishing her genuine affection, before returning to his somber
ways. “You just remember to be a good wife to your husband. Wait on him hand
and foot and don’t give him any reason to ever doubt your love,” he said in a stern
tone that lacked its usual punch.
“Don’t worry, Papa. I’ll treat
Vinny like a king,” Ruby replied, returning to her seat on lighter legs and
with a lighter heart.
“And I will treat her like the
queen that she is,” Gavin inserted. “No disrespect, sir, but I’m not looking
for a maid. I already have one of those at my other home and don’t need
another.”
Ruby felt her eyes glisten at
those words. Such a sweet man! She scooted closer to him at the table
just to be near all that sugarcane goodness.
Mama Hudson beamed with joy.
Happy tears gathered in her eyes and flowed down her cheeks.
To Ruby’s surprise, Gavin
leaned over and planted a kiss on her lips right there in front of everyone. The
tip of his tongue darted out and tasted her.
Ruby momentarily forgot where
she was as she parted her lips and instantly deepened the kiss. She couldn’t stop
herself. She didn’t want to stop
herself. Not after all that he’d done for her. Plus she just liked kissing
those brown lips of his.
Papa Hudson cleared his throat
loudly when their first smack was followed by simultaneous moans. “Save that
for the honeymoon,” he scolded, though he couldn’t seem to wipe the big grin
from his face. He looked pleased to see a man genuinely excited about her. A good,
respectable man at that. He even
chuckled with a bit of glee.
Gavin and Ruby broke apart at
Papa Hudson’s lighthearted reprimand and laughter. They and the rest of the
adults at the table joined him in mirth.
The kids ran back into the
room to investigate why the Hudsons’ normally somber dining room was now
bursting with laughter. They started to laugh, too, though they had no idea
what was so funny.
While everyone was present,
Gavin got down on one knee and formally proposed to Ruby with the big diamond
ring from his office safe.
Mama Hudson cried even more
happy tears as the ring was firmly slid in place.
(c) 2014 by Mi'Chelle Dodson/Suprina Frazier
(c) 2014 by Mi'Chelle Dodson/Suprina Frazier
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