Going Home

Part 142

Closing her eyes Grace waited for Josh’s response. She did not know what to expect. She really had no idea how he felt about marriage other than that he said it was fine with him if that was what she wanted. But that was not enough, she wanted him to want it too.

“What did you say?” Josh said in a quiet voice. He was certain that he must have miss heard her.

Opening her eyes Grace was worried but she bravely repeated her request “I want you to marry me.”

Josh was stunned but as her words sank in he was overwhelmed with emotion and unable to speak. So reaching out and pulling her into his arms he kissed her with an intensity that spoke volumes about how he was feeling.

Relieved beyond belief Grace wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him back just. After a few minutes Josh lifted his head but held her tight against his body. Holding him just as tightly Grace whispered “Merry Christmas.”

“Thanks.” Josh said but the simplicity of his reply belied the depth of his feeling and his arms tightened causing her to catch her breath and giving Grace an indication of the emotion at play within him.

“My pleasure Josh” Grace said with a sigh as the tension she was feeling seeped away.

Easing back Josh looked down at her, his expression worried. He never thought he would get married at all. It was not something that he ever considered before but with Grace everything different. She was everything to him and he wanted them to be tied together forever. So he needed to be certain that she was certain and searching her face he said “you’re sure?”

Smiling Grace said in an emphatic tone “absolutely, I want this more than anything.”

And pulling her close again Josh agreed “me too.”

Going Home

Part 141

That evening Grace and Josh chatted to many of the locals as people came and went. Some they had met on their last visit, some Josh remembered from when he lived here as a teenager. As the night progressed Grace was glad that she had that talk with Josh earlier because she noticed that more than once he was referred to as Brendan.

Margaret was also aware of this and was relieved that Grace sorted it out earlier. Otherwise she would have been on edge all night worrying that Josh would be upset about it.

Later much to Josh’s surprise it was Grace who suggested a walk. Smiling Josh got to his feet and followed her outside. But once they were out of earshot of the house Grace turned to Josh and said in a stern tone “we are not going to the shed Josh.”

Grinning Josh turned to look at her in the moon light “really?”

“No” Grace said quietly.

Laughing Josh conceded “okay even though it is a perfectly good opportunity wasted, no shed. So where are we going then?”

“Nowhere in particular, just for a walk. I want to give you your Christmas present.” Then an idea presenting itself she said, “what about we go back to the tree?”

Looking down at her Josh shrugged. He was wondering what she was up to and what she could possibly want to give him out there. But happy to do what she wanted he said “okay.”

As they walked along Grace was getting more and more nervous. She had a surprise for Josh but she was not sure what his reaction would be, so needing to get on with it, as soon as they reached the tree she turned to Josh and looked up at him. With a serious expression she said “you know I love you right?”

Frowning because he did not know what was coming, Josh just nodded.

“And you know how you said our relationship could go where ever we wanted it to go?”

“Yes” Josh replied in a tone as serious as her expression.

“And you know how we talked about having kids one day?”

Impatient for her to get to the point now because she was starting to worry him Josh said in a rough voice “yes Grace I know all of that and so do you so what’s all this about?”

Taking a deep breath Grace gathered her courage and needing to get it out fast to relieve some of the tension that she was feeling she said “I want us to get married.”

Poster p490

Going Home

Part 140

Later that afternoon, sitting under the tree where Josh had showed her the stars last time Grace and Josh enjoy some time alone before the evening festivities. After a few minutes silence Grace broached the subject she and Margaret had discussed earlier. Grace was sitting between Josh’s bent legs leaning back on his chest as he leaned against the tree trunk. Turning her head to look at him she said “hey?”

Looking down at her Josh said “yeah”

But Grace was not as confident of Josh’s reaction as she had made out to Margaret so she was hesitant to discuss this with him and turned back to look out over the paddock again before answering. There had been a good feeling between him and his parents lately and she did not want to ruin it but she knew that it may be worse if she did not warn him. So with caution she waded in. “I was talking to Margaret earlier.”

Josh was not sure what was coming but he could tell from Grace’s manner that he may not like it so when she had been silent for a few seconds, he said “and?”

“She’s a bit worried.”

He sighed with impatience when Grace paused again. Josh wanted to know what was going on. In a stern voice he prompted “about?”

Taking a deep breath Grace took the plunge. “About how you’ll react if your relatives call you Brendan instead of Josh” she said.

Josh was silent. He had not thought about this for a while and it took him a minute to figure out that really it did not matter anymore. As far as he was concerned he was Josh but the thought of being called Brendan did not have the devastating effect it once did.

Worried by his silence Grace turned around again to look at him. His expression was serious as he stared down into her eyes. “Will you be okay with it if it happens?” she said.

Without a change of expression Josh said “no doubt I’ll cope.”

But watching him Grace could sense the humor lurking behind his response and relieved she smiled and teased “so does that mean I can call you Brendan?”

Trying to maintain his serious expression Josh growled “no it doesn’t and let me warn you if you try it I’ll be forced to take action.”

Laughing Grace said in a playful tone “oh what sort of action?”

Grinning now Josh dared her “try it and you’ll find out.”

Smiling Grace said “ok….Brendan”

And before Grace knew what had hit her Josh had her lying on her back, holding her arms above her head as he pinned her to the ground with his body. In a slow movement he lowered his head and watched as she raised hers trying to tempt him to kiss her. But staying just out of reach he gave her a cheeky grin and said “this sort of action.”

Sighing as she realised that he was not going to give her what she wanted Grace relaxed back on the ground. Glaring at him she said “well that’s just mean.”

Josh laughed and allowed her to pull her arms out from under his hands.

 Grace pulled his head down towards her and said “and you know it hurts you as much as me.”

Smiling Josh raised an eyebrow and said “true” then added more firmly “so don’t make me do it again.”

Grace pulled his head down so that his mouth was close to hers and said “ok” but then smiling against his mouth she added “Brendan” and kissed him before he could react.