Sheriff ✔

Chapter 19

I had been fighting William and fighting myself but surrendering to his unexpected proposal shot a lightness through me that I hadn't felt in a while. Everything became real all at once, but I trembled inwardly with excitement and eager anticipation, not with dread, as I had feared would happen.

I had made the right decision, and everything within me confirmed that.

Glancing at his flushed, beaming profile as we drove back to Gram's house, I couldn't help the grin spread across my face. William glanced at me, catching my adoring gaze, which I quickly averted, embarrassed.

"What is it, betrothed?" he asked, moving his eyes back to the road.

I chuckled as my face heated up. "Nothing much – I just...love you a lot William. I just really love you." I repeated it, revealing the truth to myself as much as him. I felt so unguarded and feminine as I let those words roll off my tongue. In the safety of his love and this moment in the car, I didn't need to protect, defend, or restrain myself. William was 100% for me, and I could be at peace knowing that.

My fiancé – how strange and delicious to say – took my hand in his and kissed it lightly. He grazed his lips over the beautiful stone on my ring finger. "I love you too, Evalyn. You are the best thing that's happened to me."

Much too soon, William pulled up to Gram's house. We had decided pretty quickly earlier that I would break the news to her, and William would be present to answer any of Gram's questions and – hopefully - allay her fears.

I prayed for a peaceful conversation as we mounted the porch and entered the house. Much to my surprise and deep annoyance, Charles sat in the living room with Gram, turning to us when we entered.

I saw a flash of possessive anger rip across his face before he composed himself.

"Eva, it's been too long. I'm glad to see you're ok." He rose from the couch and came to me. With horror, I realized he was going in for a hug and kiss.

"Charles, I - ," I fumbled, as I felt his hand come around my waist.

William swiftly inserted himself between us.

"Evalyn is an engaged woman now, Charles, so watch how you carry yourself around her." William's voice was too smug to be harsh.

I saw Charles' eyes flash to my hand.

"What's the meaning of this?" Gram called from the living room.

"Come along, doll," William nudged, taking my hand and guiding me to sit across from my grandmother. Charles stiffly sat next to Gram, and I stopped myself from rolling my eyes. He's over here acting like he's relevant to this conversation.

Sensing my jumbled state, William took the lead and began talking. I sighed appreciatively.

"Mrs. Johnston, though we weren't expecting an audience," he glared pointedly at Charles, "we'd like to have this conversation now if you have time."

Gram nodded for him to continue.

"Today I asked Evalyn to marry me, and she said yes."

Charles scoffed loudly, and we all turned to look at him.

"Mrs. Johnston, have you heard such a foolish thing?"

"Hush for now Charles."

He huffed and shifted tensely to the edge of the couch.

"I love your granddaughter with all my heart, Mrs. Johnston. I hope you see that my affections are sincere by this proposal. She is the best thing that has happened to me, and she loves me too."

William looked to me at this point. I cleared my throat. 

"I do love him, Gram," I began, ignoring the negative emotions enveloping the room. Charles' presence was suffocating.

"Though we had a rocky start, he has proven over and over to me that he loves me wholeheartedly. I trust him completely and can't imaging a life without him. He is so worth all the hardships we're likely to face as a mixed-raced couple."

Charles jumped to his feet, his voice nearly a snarl. "He's brainwashed her, Mrs. Johnston, or has threatened her!"

"Charles - ."

"Evalyn, baby, you're better than this. I won't allow it."

"Charles, you need - ."

I could tell Gram was getting close to her boiling point. She didn't care much for Charles, though she had never explicitly told me so, and the look on her face told me she may be very explicit with her dislike posthaste.

"You sick cracker. I swear I will shoot you dead if you don't release Evalyn from this sham 'engagement'. I cannot and will not - ."

"You wool-headed Neanderthal – if you don't leave this house immediately, I will shoot you dead." Gram's voice boomed out, the icy seriousness halting all talk and movement in the room.

"Mrs. Johnston, I - ."

"Charles, I swear I can't stand your ass. Never could. You've overstayed your welcome, and I think it would be wonderful if you high-tailed your welcome-overstayin' ass out of here."

The rebuked man looked like someone had just snatched the breath out of his lungs. I fought the smile threatening to make its appearance on my face. I glanced at William and almost lost it when I surveyed his poorly-concealed grin.

"I don't know what's gotten into you. He's the enemy." Charles bounced his gaze between Gram and I but was met with blank stares on both accounts.

"Fuck you, William," Charles spat as he stalked to the door.

"Ain't nobody need to go doing all that. And for the record, I would take Officer Davis for my Evalyn ten out of ten times over you."

Gram sealed the nail in Charles' coffin as he walked out. When the door slammed shut, we all began splitting our sides in laughter. The flood of relief I felt only further confirmed to me that my relationship with Charles had not been the healthiest.

"Wooo weee! I've been waiting for too long to say all that," Gram was crying at this point, and I was sure William couldn't get any redder.

"It definitely needed to be said. Thank you," William chimed in as he tried to catch his breath.

"It was my absolute pleasure, Officer Davis."

"Please, call me William." We all quieted a bit.

"And call me Gram," she responded meaningfully. She knew what she said.

I flew up and crushed her in my embrace. I felt William's warmth as he circled both of us in his arms, threatening to tip us all back onto the couch.

"All right, all right – I don't want to be squeezed to death on such a happy occasion."

Half the battle had been won. The other half – the rest of my family – would not be so easy, I knew. 

Author's Note

We are over halfway done accompanying Evalyn and William on this portion of their journey! Thank you so very much for reading, voting, and commenting. It really makes my day and pushes me to try and craft as good a story as I can. 

I have a couple books in the working, so be on the lookout for those :-)