In which Herb's player, having fallen for his daughter, does all he can to receive Herb's blessing for her hand.
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Something Borrowed, Someone Blue
The way Patti giggled was Herb's favorite sound. She was a model woman, wife, and mother. She was marked by such maturity and grace. But when she giggled, it was the sound of a schoolgirl. It never failed to make Herb smile at how innocent she really was.
He knew he should have been preparing for the game, maybe that's why the interruption annoyed him so much. But he'd spent enough time without his wife, and he so enjoyed listening to her giggle. All it took was one little tickle of his finger, and her face would light up with joy.
So when someone knocked - ever urgently - at the door, Herb was not keen to be interrupted. He was even more annoyed when the knocking never stopped. There were brief pauses, but the precious moment was ruined by the knocker's incessancy.
Herb was even more annoyed when he'd finally gotten up to find it was Billy Baker on the other side of the door. He loved Billy like a son, but the disarray of his appearance and the anxiety on his face gave rise to a tense irritation in Herb's chest.
"Yes?"
Billy invites himself into Herb's room without a word, pacing along the carpeted floor. Herb shuts the door, his exasperation giving way to surprise.
Billy is a well-mannered guy. His mama raised him with just a hint of Southern gentleman. To invite himself in and not greet Mrs. Brooks was out of character for him. Herb watches as he mumbles to himself. As he marches back and forth, trying to come up with the words to say.
Finally, he stops, looking at Herb - whose hand is still resting on the door knob. He opens his mouth, blubs like a fish for a long moment, then turns to go back to pacing.
"Bill," Herb mutters, rubbing his forehead. "What is it you want? I was in the middle of-"
"I wanna marry your daughter."
Patti gasps with surprise, her face lighting up again. In her anticipation of Herb's response, she kneels on the bed, the fabric of her nightgown bunched beneath her knees - nearly as white as the bed sheets.
Herb, who wasn't sure he heard him correctly, raises an eyebrow.
Billy looks nearly as shocked as them that he'd managed to say it.
"You want what?"
"To, uh," Herb watches as Billy wrings his hands - as if he just realized the gravity of what he was asking. "To marry your daughter, sir. If that's okay with you." He gushes. Then, he seems to rethink his last statement. "I mean, I guess that's why I'm here is to ask your permission, which you probably already got by me-"
