Chapter 50: Happily Ever After

Rachel decided to work a double shift on the day Arthur was due back in Clovelly after the test. She did not want it to seem like she was sitting around pining for him. She did not want it to seem like she didn’t care one way or the other, either. Plus, working in the bakery all day would keep her mind occupied.

What Rachel did not know, but Faye and Beatrice did, was that Arthur had taken an earlier flight and was going to surprise her.

“It’s been pretty slow today, Faye. Sorry more people weren’t around to taste your amazing zucchini-chocolate chip bread, Beatrice. I think I’ll get a head start on the inventory. Those items aren’t going to count themselves, you know.”

She politely excused herself and went to the back, leaving Faye and Beatrice free to chat with each other.

“I think he wanted to make sure she’d be here at the bakery all day so that he could prepare a romantic ambiance at the cottage,” Beatrice suggested.

“I couldn’t be more excited or happier for them. I feel like it’s me that he’s going to ask,” Faye giggled girlishly.

“Are we sure that she’ll say yes?” Beatrice wondered.

“No, but she probably will,” Faye stated confidently.

“That’s what the American Teddy Bear King thought, too, according to the tabloids,” Beatrice reported.

“OOOHH. Why can’t he get here already?” Faye said impatiently.

“He’ll be here, he’ll be here. He just wants everything to be exactly perfect for them. We just have to wait and keep her here as long as possible until we get the text,” Beatrice responded.

“Oh. Oh. Oh. She’s coming out. Shhh. Be quiet and act normal,” Faye ordered.

“It’s not normal to ‘act normal’ on command,” Beatrice commented.

“You know what I mean,” Faye’s feathers were getting a little bit ruffled and her sensitive ego was getting bruised.

“You’ve been like this for years! All the way back to the first grade,” Beatrice reminded her.

“What’s going on, ladies?” Rachel interrupted. “I’ve never seen you two this quiet.”

“Nothing,” they both chimed in.

“Okay,” Rachel said, with her brows in a frown, then returned to the back.

“See, she’s suspicious now all because you couldn’t act normal in the first place,” Faye mouthed her words silently.

“Some of us don’t have a ‘normal’ that we can default to,” Beatrice countered, referring to her lifelong friend.

“Oh you said it now, Beatrice,” Faye said, “I was just trying to keep things light.”

“It’s been a while. Should I call him?” Beatrice wondered.

“Absolutely not,” Faye held firm, “We were told to wait and wait we will do.”

The two sat in silence together. Then came the buzz of the much anticipated text.

“He’s coming! He’s coming to pick her up now. He’ll be here in about ten to fifteen minutes” Beatrice announced to Faye.

“Does she even expect to be picked up?” Faye said.

“She doesn’t even know he’s here!!! Now shut your pie hole and let’s just nod and smile cordially until he arrives, then it’s showtime!” Beatrice reiterated.

“Aren’t you a regular, little Miss Bossy Pants,” Faye stated.

“I’m just trying to keep up with you, Dear.”

Rachel came back out. “I’m too tired to do my best with the inventory. I’ll head back to the bed and breakfast, get a good night’s sleep, then give it another try bright and early in the morning. Good night, ladies.”

“Well, you don’t have to go rushing off right away, do you? Come. Sit and chat with us. You just got back. We could catch up,” Beatrice offered, trying to buy more time and be charming at the same time.

“I’ll have to pass. Sorry ladies, but I worked a double shift and my lower back is killing me. I just want to find something to eat, take a long, hot shower, and go to bed,” Rachel explained.

They had to keep her there and keep her talking until he showed up. But she was right. She must’ve been tired after the nature of the trip to New York, its unexpected outcome, and the time change alone, any ‘normal’ person would be beat. Throw in a double shift on your feet and add an extra level of fatigue.

“Shouldn’t you two be headed home yourselves? It’s late and dark out,” Rachel inquired, “Even my night vision isn’t what it used to be. I’ll see you tomorrow and we’ll talk more then.”

Exasperated and about to admit defeat, Arthur appeared at the shop door with a finger over his lips, wanting them to be quiet so he could surprise Rachel, who had her back facing the front door.

He walked in and was announced by the door’s jingle bells before he ever had the opportunity to sneak up on Rachel from behind. As she was turning around to see who came in after closing, Arthur boomed, “Don’t I get a kiss, Miss Lady?”

With her eyes already filled with tears, Rachel ran over to him and hugged him. He pulled her in for a kiss and then remembered that his grandma and godmother were sitting among them, so he stepped back and switched his fantasy greeting from an adults only rating for one special lady, to a family friendly gentle kiss on the cheek for each of the women.

“Arthur!” Rachel exclaimed.

“Why don’t we hook that bicycle onto the back of my car and we’ll drop everyone and everything off, ending with Grandma. Do you mind being my guest at the cottage tonight? I’ll take the sofa in the living room if that would make you more comfortable?” he asked Rachel.

“That would be fantastic.”

# # #

Upon arriving at the cottage with Arthur, Rachel was the suspicious one this time. It was too quiet and too dark. “What’s going on, Arthur?” Rachel asked.

“Trust me,” he promised, nervously kissing her hand.

When he opened the door to the solarium, clear lights came on and she heard the music of a string quartet. She could smell food and thought she heard voices.

“What’s going on, Arthur?” she asked him again.

They paused in the greenery and he got down on one knee.

“Rachel,” he said, his voice starting to quiver, “Let’s build a strong, honest foundation and move forward in life together. I love you and I would be honored and happy if you would be my wife.”

She screamed an excited ‘yes’ after he proposed, and he slipped a sizable diamond engagement ring on her left ring finger.

Then he asked, “Would you marry me now, if you had the chance?”

“Of course,” she responded, overcome with the joy of someone who had been engaged for a full minute.

“Then let’s do it. Right. Now!!! I think we have enough witnesses.”

At that very moment, all of the house lights came on revealing Beatrice, Faye, the bakery volunteers and supporters, well-wishers from the community, huge wedding cake, and a justice of the peace.

One minute they were recently reunited boyfriend and girlfriend, committed to love each other until they were cruelly separated by an ocean; the next they became husband and wife, promising never to be separated by anyone or anything ever again.