The Prodigal Daughter

The Prodigal Daughter - Chapter 13

Sorry Guys...I have been sick and so has my son, so I have not been writing. I like the way this chapter turned out. It is short, but sweet!

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Chapter 13

It had been a few weeks since Richard’s visit and although things came close, MaryBeth and Joey committed to not having sex until the day they got married, some distant day in the future. MaryBeth’s business for web based promotions and advertisements was paying off and she had several clients. Richard was always in the back of their mind ever since he was released from jail and went back to California until the trial after the first of the year. And they dreamed of a life together one day.

It was Thursday and a week before Thanksgiving when Joey called MaryBeth and asked her to have dinner with him. They normally saw each other every night, so this was not unusual. What was unusual was that there were specific plans. The weather for November in Florida is often mild. It is not uncommon for the temperatures to be in the upper sixties or seventies. So, as MaryBeth decided to wear a nice maturnity pantsuit with a light jacket. She rubbed her stomach as she looked in the mirror, “One more month baby. Just one more month.”

When the limo pulled up, MaryBeth didn’t know what to think. Was she under dressed for the night? Then when she saw Joey in a tux, she knew she was. “Um. Let me go change.”

“No.” Joey said grabbing her arm as she turned around. “You are perfect.”

“Joey, are you sure?”

“Yes.” He said as he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. “Perfect!”

Helping her into the limo, Joey handed her a single rose when she was settled. “I love you, you know that. I have loved you since fifth grade. This rose represents that love. My first love. My only love. You. This rose is for our past, something to cherish, the good, the bad, but it is ours no matter what. Something to learn from, something to culture and grow. Innocent and loving. Will you accept our past love with this rose?”

Tears were in MaryBeth’s eyes. “Yes.  I love you. I always have and I always will." She leaned over and kissed him. “Now, where are we going?”

“Shhh. It is a surprise.” He said as he placed his lips back on hers. The two melted together and enjoyed just being together. A few minutes later as they drove through town and the countryside they talked about their past. MaryBeth falling off the monkey bars in elementary school. The time Joey crashed his motorbike in the pasture that is now the Wal-Mart parking lot. The baseball games and softball games at Whispering Pines. Their first kiss at the movie theater. Without realizing it, the car stopped and the driver opened the back door.

Stepping out of the car, MaryBeth realized where they were. The beach. They had a lot of memories here. Bonfires, swimming all summer long, parties. Joey had his shoes off before he exited the car. He bent down on one knee to help MaryBeth with her shoes. When he dropped to one knee, MaryBeth thought, ‘Could it really be tonight?’ but then he smiled and took her hand and rose to his feet and walked her down the beach. In the distance MaryBeth saw a canopy with hundreds of lights twinkling. As she walked closer, she realized it was hundreds of candles and white Christmas lights that were draped over every part of the canopy.

“This is beautiful.” MaryBeth said.

“You are more beautiful.” Joey said as he took her hand and kissed it. “Are you hungry?”

“Starved.” Joey pulled out his chair and helped her sit at the table.

As Joey sat down, he handed her another rose. “Lizzie, this rose is for our present. Today. I love you more than you will ever know. I love you more today than yesterday. Our past is behind us and the love that we have right now it is a gift, the present. Will you accept this rose as a token of the love we share right now? Today? This moment?”

“Yes.” She said and then he kissed her hand.

The location on the beach was in front of one of their favorite nice restaurants. But, the menu had already been selected. Joey knew exactly what Lizzie would order, so it was placed in front of her moments after they sat down. Seafood Bisque with the freshest seafood. Followed by grilled shrimp with stuffed filet of sole. As they cleared away the dinner plates, a waiter brought a single red rose on a silver platter and presented it to Joey. Joey stood up and began, “This rose. This is a special rose.” Looking at MaryBeth, he took a deep breath and continued. “This rose represents what is to come. Our future. We don’t know what lies ahead, but as long as we are together we can handle it. This rose represents our love to come. But there is a string attached. Will you accept this rose as a token of the love that is to come, and all the strings that are attached?” With that, he handed MaryBeth the rose revealing a string that was tied to the rose and extended to his ring finger. Slowly a ring began sliding down the string as Joey dropped to one knee. “Mary Elizabeth Waters, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”

“Yes.” MaryBeth said and she began to cry, “Yes, I will marry you. Will you take everything and love everything that comes along?” She asked as she rubbed her stomach.

“I already do!” And he kissed her.

As they walked on the beach after dinner, they began talking about the future and the wedding. “I was thinking, what do you think about a Christmas Eve wedding?”

“That is soon. Or are you thinking next year?”

“No, this year. Something small. Unless you want something big. But, here is my thoughts, I want to start my life with you right now, as soon as possible. But, if we are married before the baby is born, you could put me down as the father and only if Richard demands a DNA test will anyone need to know down the road. I will be the baby’s father on record and in real life, only DNA will be different.”

“That is asking a lot of you.” MaryBeth said.

Joey stopped walking and turned her towards him. “I am offering, you are not asking. And, I want this. I want to raise this baby with you. Unless you have made up your mind to give the baby up for adoption.”

“I have thought about that a lot and I want to keep the baby. I decided a few days ago. But, I didn’t know how to tell you.”

“I love you and I will love this baby too. But, I just think the sooner we get married, the better.”

“Christmas Eve?”

“Christmas Eve.” Joey said. “My Christmas present.”

“Well, then we need to start making plans.” MaryBeth said with a smile. “I love you.”

“I love you too.” Joey said, spreading a blanket on the sand and helped her sit down. “Plans can wait until tomorrow, tonight is ours.”