1022 Evergreen Place - Debbie Macomber [100]
“I believe we’re all having fish,” Roy said. “So I suggest a white wine.”
“We’ll take a bottle of your best champagne,” Mack told the waiter, ignoring his father’s advice. “It isn’t every day a man gets engaged.”
At his announcement, Corrie nearly flew out of her seat. “I knew it! I just knew it.” Grinning, Mary Jo raised her left hand, and Corrie shrieked with delight. “Oh, Mack, I’m thrilled. And the ring’s beautiful.” She took Mary Jo by the shoulders and hugged her close. “This is absolutely perfect. One day we’re longing to be grandparents and then suddenly we discover we’re going to have three.”
“Three?” Mack said, looking bewildered. “Is Linnette having twins?”
Roy, as usual, got straight to the point. “It’s Gloria,” he said.
“Gloria,” Mack repeated, frowning. “I didn’t even know she was seeing anyone.”
“We didn’t, either,” Corrie told him. “We only just heard the news ourselves…. I probably should’ve let her tell you herself.”
“I’m glad you said something,” Mack said, concern in his voice.
“Let’s get back to you and Mary Jo,” Corrie said eagerly. “Have you set a date?”
“Not yet,” Mary Jo said.
“But soon,” Mack insisted.
She nodded as they locked eyes.
“I’m thinking August,” Mack said next.
“August?” Mary Jo and Corrie chimed in simultaneously.
“Mack,” Corrie said, pressing her hand over her heart. “That’s next month!”
Mack looked from his mother to Mary Jo. “Is that a problem?”
Mary Jo didn’t know how to answer. “I… We haven’t discussed what kind of wedding we’re going to have.” Between Mack’s schedule and her own, they hadn’t had time to go over the details of their engagement. Nor had they given any thought at all to the wedding itself or a honeymoon or anything else.
“Do you want a church wedding?” Roy asked.
“I do,” Mary Jo answered.
“I guess,” was Mack’s reply.
“You guess?” Mary Jo muttered, and rolled her eyes.
“Okay, okay,” Mack said, recovering quickly, “I definitely want a church wedding.”
“What about a reception?”
Mary Jo and Mack both nodded.
“Would you two want a dinner with the reception?” Corrie asked.
Mary Jo hadn’t considered that. It sounded more expensive than they’d be able to afford. “Would a cake, maybe some mixed nuts and those colorful mints be enough?”
“That’s fine,” Corrie assured her.
“If Mary Jo wants a dinner, that’s okay by me,” Mack said decisively.
Corrie smiled at her son. “Serving a dinner might mean postponing the wedding by a month or two,” she explained. “These things take time and planning.”
Mack shook his head. “Then we can do without the meal.”
Mary Jo couldn’t hold back a laugh. Mack’s eagerness to marry her was endearing—and it also sent a chill of excitement through her. Excitement about the days and nights ahead….
The champagne arrived and they ordered their meals. Once their flutes were filled, Roy offered a lovely toast. Mack’s normally succinct father was downright lyrical and his kind words brought tears to her eyes.
For most of the meal they discussed wedding plans, to the point that Mary Jo’s head started to spin. She’d only drunk half a glass of champagne or she might’ve thought the alcohol was affecting her.
Watching Mack with his parents, seeing how close he was to Linnette, she recognized once again that this was a man she could trust. Mack had been brought up with the same values she had. Knowing Ben, she realized David had been raised that way, too, but at some point, years before, he’d abandoned those values for his own selfish purposes.
Their dinners were served and Mary Jo’s halibut was every bit as good as she’d imagined. Better. Perhaps it was because of the occasion; she couldn’t tell. Mack’s family had welcomed her, accepting her and Noelle without question, without voicing a single doubt. How fortunate she was to marry into a family like this!
As they ordered coffee, Mack returned to the subject of the letters. “Dad, you mentioned Jacob Dennison when you first got here.”
“I did. Your mother and I had a small wager going.”
“And I won,” Corrie said, looking pleased with herself. “Your father assumed your dinner