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Lily’s foot jittered under the table. Almost eight already and still no sight of Benjamin. The night had been another busy one for Childs’ Friday fish fry. But as soon as Celia and Emmett’s plates were empty, they dashed off, each giving an odd excuse. She didn’t mind spending more alone time with Anna, although they all seemed to be hiding something. A few times while they ate, she caught them glancing and grinning at each other like they knew something she didn’t. Then there was the whispering between Celia and Emmett on the way here. No sense in asking Anna what they were hiding, she assumed whatever it was had to be a secret.
“I wonder how much longer we’ll need to wait. It’s been about three hours since the bid was due. I’d hoped Benjamin would be here by now.”
“Emmett said Chicago is at least a two-hour trip.” Anna squeezed a wedge of lemon over her iced tea glass. “I’m sure he’ll be here soon.”
“I’ve got a whole list of places written down and things we can do tomorrow. I thought maybe we could go through them and all decide tonight what we should do.” Lily unfolded the paper. “See, there are so many places. But my vote is going to be for the festival at Mitchell Park. They have a wonderful sunken garden there you’d like.”
“Sounds delightful.” Anna took a sip. “The last celebration we were all together was at a park too.” She set her glass on a napkin. “Oh, I almost forgot to tell you. Remember that day you mentioned the church wouldn’t allow a marriage to someone who wasn’t Catholic?”
“I do, my mother told me.”
“Right, that’s what you said.” Anna laid her arms on the table and leaned forward. “I asked my mother why they had such a rule. And you know what she said?”
“What?”
“My mother had never heard of such a thing. Then she even named a local man who married a Presbyterian woman a few years ago.” Anna reached across and touched Lily’s hand. “The next Sunday after mass, I asked Father Toeller if a Catholic and a Presbyterian could marry.” She took a deep breath. “They can, but there are church decrees that must be followed and Benjamin would have to meet with Father Toeller too.”
“Mother lied to me?” Lily’s hand flew over the heaviness in her chest. “She told me I’d be excommunicated from the church. Why would she do that?”
“I don’t know. Maybe she completely misunderstood.”
“Malarkey!” Lily’s voice rose. “Mother just wanted to keep us apart. What if she hadn’t given Benjamin another chance when he came back to her? How could Mother manipulate her like this? I can’t believe it!”
“Perhaps your mother should speak with Father Toeller.” Anna’s voice faded to almost a whisper. “That way he’ll be able to answer any questions she may have and you won’t be caught in the middle.”
“I’m sorry. I know you’re trying to help, but I could have lost Benjamin forever if I believed Mother’s lie.” Lily rubbed at the throb in her temple. “Why didn’t she tell me the truth?”
“Surely you have every right to find out. But don’t you see the bright side?” Anna smiled. “Now you can marry the man you love.”
Lily tipped her head. “Is there something you know that I don’t know? Don’t think for one moment I didn’t notice how all of you were acting.” Her eyes narrowed on Anna. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”
“I can.”
Lily whirled around. “Benjamin!”
“I made it back as fast as I could.” He leaned over, placed a kiss on her cheek, and sat in the open chair next to Lily. “The traffic in Chicago was horrible.”
“Sorry to hear.” Lily fiddled with her necklace. “Don’t leave us in suspense, what happened?”
Benjamin scooted his chair forward. “I’ve never been through anything like that before in my life. I couldn’t stop my heart from pounding against my chest. Nor my palms from sweating. The only thing I could do to calm myself down was hum.” He crossed his arms on the table. “Robert was the epitome of a cool-headed big brother. I’m glad he let me know about the deal. And Joey, what can I say. He talks a lot with his hands and is a shrewd negotiator.”
“By the sounds of it, your evening must have been exciting.” Lily’s fingers quivered as she let her crucifix fall against her chest. “But, please tell me. Did you win the bid?”
A smile spread across Benjamin’s lips. “We did!”
Lily jumped up and threw her arms around his neck. “I’m thrilled for you and your family. You should be proud of yourself. I know, I sure am.”
Benjamin embraced her. “I couldn’t have done it without my brother.” He gazed at her as she let go. “There are a lot more details about what happened tonight. However, I’d rather fill you in later.”
Lily eased back into the chair. “All right. We could decide which places to go tomorrow. I wish Emmett and Celia were here though.”
Benjamin glanced across the table at Anna.
“I know where they are.” Anna got up. “Why don’t you follow me?”
Lily’s eyes darted between Anna and Benjamin. Both of them stood while she remained seated. “Where are they?”
Benjamin held out his hand toward her. “It’s a surprise, Darling.” He bent down and kissed behind her knuckles. “You do like surprises, don’t you?” He peered down her arm and into her eyes.
Lily’s knees were weak as she firmly gripped his hand and stood. The enthusiasm in his voice bubbled on the air between them. Her heart fluttered. “I don’t even get a hint?”
“No, nothing.” He grinned and tucked her hand around his arm. “You’re just going to have to trust me. Do you think you can do that?”
“Most definitely.” Lily let him lead her into the lobby of the Miller Hotel. She searched the faces in the wide-open area. Neither Celia nor Emmett were anywhere. Not standing around any of the pillars or sitting on any of the seats.
Anna handed Benjamin a long, narrow black cloth.
“What is that for?” Lily pinched her brows tight.
“It’s part of the mystery.” Benjamin walked behind Lily and held the fabric in front of her eyes. He leaned in next to her ear. “Will you allow me to blindfold you?”
The warm breath against her exposed neck sent a chill, shivering her body. “I...” She sucked in a quick breath. “I suppose.”
He laid the material over her eyes, gently making a knot behind her head. “Can you see anything?”
“No, it’s pitch-dark.” Lily inhaled a deep breath, hitching momentarily on the exhale. “Could each of you please take hold and walk alongside?” She raised her unsteady hands. What did they have in store for her? Benjamin and Anna grabbed her hands, slowly moving forward.
“Let us know if we’re going too fast.” Anna squeezed her hand.
“All right.” Lily’s feet shuffled across the tiled floor. “How long have all of you been planning this?” She trudged a few more steps, but no one spoke. “I’m not even getting one small clue.”
Benjamin chuckled. “You’ll find out soon enough.”
Lily let her mind wander while they guided her to some unknown place. The only thing that made any sense was he planned to show her something. Otherwise, the blindfold wouldn’t be necessary. They must have headed in the opposite direction of the front of the hotel or they would have been outside by now. All she could do was rely on her senses.
“We’ll stop here.” Benjamin touched her shoulder.
Lily turned toward him. “That was a short trip.”
“We still have a little way to go, but soon we’ll have help.”
Chains rattled, a screeching metallic sound scraped, and a buzz of whispers passed by her. She couldn’t be fooled too easily since she’d ridden the elevator at least twice every day. A touch on her back ushered her forward.
“Everything all right with you, Miss Lily?”
“Yes, Otis.” She smiled. A situation like this wouldn’t be something an elevator operator saw every day. Hands pressed on her shoulders, turning her halfway around. The elevator rose but came to an abrupt stop. Chains jangled beneath her feet. They could have only gone one or two floors at the most. Eek! The noise must have been the door opening. Benjamin pulled her into his side.
“Oh, dear! We need to call the police,” a woman’s voice shrieked.
“No, no, no.” Lily raised her hands in the air. “I’m fine, they’re just trying to surprise me. They’re friends of mine.”
“Go ahead.” The woman’s voice sounded calmer. “I’m going to take the stairs instead.”
The door squealed and the elevator rose again. She hadn’t heard Benjamin or Anna tell Otis what floor, so they must have used a hand signal. The ride she took every day from the eighth floor without stopping was under thirty seconds. And with only nine floors in the hotel, they wouldn’t be in here too much longer.
Benjamin’s robust arm held her tight and stable. The scent of his pipe smoke and earthy muskiness drifted in the confined air. She breathed in the intense essence of him. Never before had she blindly accepted such a plea for trust from a man. But with him, all her inhibitions were gone.
The elevator shuddered to a stop and she proceeded forward with Benjamin at her side. Anna’s heels clicked in front of them as they curved slightly to the left. A door creaked on rusty hinges, the familiar sound from a heavy metal door at the end of the hall.
“We’re going up some stairs, so we’ll go slow.” Benjamin rested one hand on Lily’s waist while the other he held above the crook of her arm. “The first step is directly in front of you and the railing is on your right.”
“All right.” She grabbed hold of the bar, raised her foot, and stepped up.
“Good, there are five more until we reach the top.”
Lily had an idea where they might be going, but she didn’t want to spoil his surprise. They climbed another step. “You sure are going to a lot of trouble.” She placed her foot forward and went up. “This must be quite an event.”
“Well, I can’t take all the credit.”
“Just as I suspected, my sister and our friends were involved.” She rose another stair. They had to be close now. “How spontaneous was this plan?” And up another.
“Patience.” Benjamin laughed. “One last step and we’ll go through the exit.”
The click of Anna’s footfalls ceased and a door opened. A gust of air rushed over her. “Can I take off the blindfold?”
“Here, let me take you a little farther.” He moved a few more paces forward. “I’ll untie this for you.”
The cloth dropped from her eyes. She blinked rapidly. Strings of lights hung overhead crisscrossing atop a small table covered with a white cloth, a place setting for two, and an unlit pair of candles next to a bouquet of red roses. The overhead lighting illuminated the dim sky sparkling like stars above the rooftop. “This place looks gorgeous. How did you know I liked coming up here?”
“I have my ways.” He smiled. “And the best assistants anyone could ask for.”
Lily beamed at her friends and sister standing off to the side. “Thank you for helping Benjamin make this surprise special for me.”
Celia walked over and hugged Lily. “Our pleasure. We’ll leave you two to the romantic setting.” And she went toward the door.
Anna kissed her cheek. “Have a great night.” She grinned. “You can tell me all the details tomorrow.”
“You’ve got a good fella.” Emmett rubbed her shoulder and followed the ladies out the door.
Benjamin escorted her to the table, pulling out the chair. “Please, have a seat.” He went around to the other side and sat facing her. “I’m hoping this will be a night you’ll remember for a long time.” From the pocket of his jacket, he pulled out a lighter, setting the flame to both candles. “There is a tasty dessert made just for you under that silver cover. Why don’t you take a look?”
Lily removed the lid. “Oh, my! Red velvet cake. One of my favorites. Is the frosting cream cheese?” She slid her fork through the piece and slipped a morsel into her mouth. “Mmm. Yes, it’s cream cheese.”
“You’re looking exceptionally beautiful under the moonlight.” He smiled. “I must say there isn't another person in the world I notice as much.”
“I think I might be blushing.”
“You’re right. Your cheeks are a gorgeous rosy pink.” Benjamin cut his fork into the cake. “Maybe if I keep up the sweet-talk, you’ll turn as red as this cake.” He chuckled. “On the day we met, I remember the frilly yellow dress you wore. And when you looked at me with those beautiful blue eyes, I fell hard.”
“Oh, is that so? And how about the next time we met?” She dangled a cake piece on her fork. “Do you remember then?”
“That’s a tricky question. You were covered in a slicker.”
“Ah, no. I was covered in water.” She laughed.
“After that clumsy mishap, I’m astonished you even agreed to go out with me.”
“If you recall, it took some convincing but I’m glad I eventually did.” Lily dabbed a napkin on her lips. “I’ll let you in on a little secret. You are the one who physically met my dreams of a tall, dark, handsome man. However, you are so much more.” She placed her palm over the drumming of her heart. “The day we met I knew you were someone special. Although I was led to believe we didn’t belong together by most of the world, I’m glad I didn’t listen.” A tightness nipped at her throat. “I could have lost you forever.” She blinked away tears. “I’ve grown to love you more now than I ever could have imagined. All of this is possible because you’ve made me worthy of your love.”
“You deserve nothing less from me. We’ve both endured so much to be together. I can only hope the rest of our moments will always be as happy as right now.” Benjamin stood, moving toward Lily. He smiled and lowered one knee, facing her. “I’ve realized with you how valuable love is and how much stronger we are together.” He wiped the tear from the corner of her eye. “I’ll admit I took much too long arranging my life properly. I’m truly sorry for the heartache you’ve experienced because of me. If you’ll allow me, I want to make it up to you for the rest of my life. Will you give me the honor of being my wife?” He drew a small, silver box from his jacket pocket.
A warm rush of adrenaline awakened her senses. He offered her a new life. A life of endless possibilities with him by her side.
His fingers fumbled while pulling the ring from the purple velvet. “My darling, I love you.” He presented the ring. “Lily Rose, please say you’ll marry me.”
Oh, Benjamin! Why did you have to ask this now? Her stomach sunk. “No, I can’t.” She shielded her mouth under her hands.
Benjamin guffawed. “You know, that’s not funny.”
Lily slid her hands from her face. She was going to hurt him, but it had to be said, and it had to be said now. “It wasn’t meant to be.”
“You’re serious? But why?” Benjamin’s expression pained, and his backside collapsed onto his heels.
Lily folded her hands prayerfully, asking for strength and hope he would understand. She sighed. “It’s easy for you to feel everything is resolved. But for me, it’s not. You’ve protected Ebbe and secured your career.” She pushed her shoulders back. “What about me? My life is still in shambles. I can’t live in Hub City without being vindicated. And more importantly, we’ve never discussed whether you’d be willing to marry me according to my church guidelines.”
Benjamin exhaled while his gaze looked upward at her. He returned into a kneeling position, and his face seemed to shine with a new plan. “You’re right. I was so wrapped up in my good news all I wanted to do was get you alone and tell you how much I love you.” He glanced at her, at the ring, and back at her. “We’ll clear your name and I will seek guidance with your priest. Come back with me Sunday. We’ll devise a strategy to fix everything.” He extended his hand, offering the ring. “Let’s make a new promise. Please accept this ring knowing you can hold me to my word now and forever.”
An overwhelming joy ignited inside like a flower bud blooming under the fiery sun. “I most definitely, positively, absolutely will hold you to your word. And yes, I want to be your wife.” She held out a shaky hand.
Benjamin slid the ring onto her finger.
She recognized now more than ever they were meant for each other. In others’ eyes, they might be wrongly suited. In hers, they were imperfectly perfect. A peacefulness settled her soul and she laced her fingers through his.
A glimmer of candlelight sparkled through Benjamin’s eyes. He nudged her gently from the chair. In one swift move, he rose and whisked her into the safety of his arms like a bride being carried over a threshold.
She tossed her head back and lightly laughed.
He twirled her.
The more she laughed, the more he whirled around the rooftop.
Benjamin’s breathing quickened while his pace slowed and he teetered slightly on his feet. “I’d better sit down.” He carried her to the chair and she rested across his lap.
“I have just the cure for your dizziness.” She pierced a sliver of cake with her fork and held it toward his lips. “Sugar’s the perfect remedy.”
“Is that so?” He panted. “What if I don’t like cream cheese? Then what will the future Mrs. Benjamin Claussen do?”
Lily grinned. “Have it your way.” She tilted her head, inching closer. “Trust me. I’m only doing this for your own good.” The cake piece clung to the tines between their lips. “Open up.”
His eyes and mouth widened simultaneously.
She fed him, sliding the fork out, and covering his mouth with hers. The flavor on his silky, sweet lips sent layer after layer of sensations right to her core. And her skin tingled all the way down to her curling toes. If this was any taste of his affection, she would surely get used to it.
He ran his hands up her back and into her hair. Holding her head and guiding her lips, as he kissed every inch of her mouth.
She melted like icing on a hot cake in his arms. Nothing existed but them. And at that moment, her heart and breath were stolen away in unison.
“You sure are a sweet diversion,” Benjamin whispered breathlessly. “But you may need to feed me some more. I’m still a bit dizzy.”