Dearest Lois (Christian Romance)

CHAPTER TWO.

Angel's gaze slid to the little woman seated next to his father and could see that she was shocked by the rings. He watched her hands slowly sneak to cover her midsection meaningfully, in appearance of a makeshift shield.

"Is it to your taste, my lady?"

Lois eyes flew from the rings to him in alarm, not believing that he was directly speaking to her. She gaped at him for a moment, her hands falling to her sides as she stared at Angel absentmindedly.

Angel felt his ears turn red from the stare contest Lois seemed to engage him in without warning. Her mouth was opened a little and her stormy blue, doe eyes were wide in wonder as she stared at him. It only lasted for a few seconds but he didn't like being stared at very much.

"Lois..?"

Her eyes widened significantly at his gentle mention of her name. She sputtered in surprise, jerking out of her dazed state and eventually finding her voice.

"Y-yes, sir? Mr Miller, sir? I'm so s-sorry. It's..expensive-looking..?"

Angel reeled back at her formality. He hadn't really expected that she call him by name as she seemed very reserved and determined to keep respectable distance, he however couldn't help the discomfort he felt as he watched her fumble with what name to call him in front of the Pastor. They hadn't really spoken much before deciding to get married and sadly, hadn't decided how to address each other yet.

He sighed silently and made a final attempt to save their estranged marriage from falling to dust anymore than it already had, in front of the Pastor. "Angel."

Her eyes snapped up to meet him in surprise and her brows furrowed in confusion as she struggled to make sense of his statement.

"My name is Angel, my lady. Not Mr Miller. Not sir."

Her eyes lowered as she nodded.

Was she afraid of him?

His brows furrowed too as his gaze slid to the rings. Her face was as plain as blank canvas, he could seem to read every emotion. Yet, as obvious as she seemed, she still confused him. Did she not like them? Her ring was made of real diamonds. Perhaps she wasn't impressed? He really didn't know how to impress women, he had never really tried before.

"Do you not like the rings, Miss Lois?"

Her eyes widened in distress at the question and she shot up from the seat she had occupied since they entered the office, to explain herself to the pastor who quietly inquired.

"Oh, no!!! I-They are beautiful! I just have never seen such expensive rings before..? I love them. I was just surprised.." Her eyes continued to roam to the ring and back to the pastor's face in embarrassment as she spoke, her face slowly turning red.

Angel leaned back against his seat to study her. Perhaps she seemed to startle quick..? Is that what it was? Or was she easily embarrassed..?

The pastor nodded and leaned forward, his arms coming to rest on his desk once more as he glanced from him to Lois.

"Since that is settled, Let's get on with it then."

Lois slowly sat down and folded her hands in her lap, waiting for him to proceed. Angel briefly shut his eyes to gather his courage before leaning towards the pastor, signifying that he was ready to go on.

"Earlier, I asked if you both were ready for this commitment.." He looked from Lois to Angel and continued as if he was minimally satisfied with what he saw.

"You affirmed. And since a guardian is here as witness, I take it that this was thought out and accepted by both families?" Angel's father smiled and the pastor continued again. "Any special vows written then..?"