Two Weeks Later
The Meeting House was packed. Nearly everyone from town had turned out for Thanksgiving dinner, dressed in their “special occasion” clothes. After they all ate, the tables would be cleared away and the projection screen would be lowered from the ceiling so those who wanted to could spend the rest of the afternoon napping in front of a football game.
Matthias put his arm on the back of Frannie’s chair. Without breaking her conversation with Nadia Marie and Andra, who sat across the table, she leaned into his side. He looked around at people finishing up their meal.
Izzy sat beside Sofia, more subdued than anyone was used to. Diego was at the other end of the table, making a point not to look at Izzy once. It wasn’t obvious she was pregnant, but she did look pale, and he’d noticed her go a bit green at the sight of all the food.
Mimi was gone, having transferred out of Sanctuary days before. Matthias didn’t know if she’d gotten her wish to go to Miami, but prayed John and Grant had put safeguards in place to prevent her from putting anyone’s lives in danger by revealing the whereabouts of Sanctuary. He wasn’t convinced making her sign an amended confidentiality agreement would do it.
John stood, tapping a butter knife on the side of his glass. No one paid him any attention, so he set them down and stuck his fingers in his mouth. The whistle was ear-piercing, but after the reactions died down, there was quiet.
“Since the mayor isn’t here today, it falls to me to tell you all thank you for coming.” John glanced around the room, his gaze taking in every person. He set his hand on his son’s shoulder. “Since Pat and I arrived, we’ve felt like this was the place we’re supposed to be.” He smiled. “Okay, so I’m not good at eloquent speeches. But we consider each of you to be our family, and we’re blessed to spend this day with all of you. Since today is a day for giving thanks, I would like to say thank you to each of you. We’ve had our ups and downs.”
Andra snorted. John smiled, and she reached and grabbed his hand, holding it in hers.
“But I’m praying the worst of it is over. And we’re looking forward to many years of peace and safety in this town. Thank you for making Sanctuary a wonderful place to live.”
Frannie leaned her head against Matthias’s shoulder while everyone clapped. He squeezed her shoulders and turned to whisper in her ear. “Come with me?”
Frannie shifted so he could see the question in her eyes. He held out his hand, and she put hers in it. Matthias walked her outside to his truck.
“Where are we going?”
He smiled at her. “I want to show you something.”
At the ranch, he saddled his horse and pulled her up behind him. Frannie’s arms settled around his waist, the warmth of her pressed against his back. He touched her hands, linked on his stomach and felt how cold they were.
“Where are your gloves?”
He felt her laughter. “Where are yours?”
“My hands are warm.” The horse took the trail easily, winding through the trees until they reached the hot springs where he’d brought Frannie on their first date. It seemed like weeks ago now, given so much had happened since.
Frannie walked immediately to the area of grass at the far side of the clearing. Stakes dotted the ground, tied together with pink string that marked where walls of the structure would be built.
She glanced back, frowning. “What is it?”
Matthias just stood for a moment, watching her there in the place he was carving out for her. “Tomorrow we’re going to break ground on a vacation house. Not a tiny cabin, but not a big house either. Room enough for two, with a sitting room and a decent size kitchen. Maybe some bunk beds, if someone has kids. You can make it whatever you want. Rent it out, so couples or even small families have somewhere to get away from town.”
Frannie rushed at him, jumped into his arms and kissed all the thoughts from his head. She leaned back, both hands on his face so that he was holding her up. “Can we live here sometimes?”
“Depends.”
She cocked her head to one side. “On what?”
Matthias set her down then, drawing the tiny box from his pocket. Frannie gasped even before he got down on one knee in the cold grass.
“Will you marry me?”
Frannie hiccupped a sob but smiled at him. Matthias returned the smile, unable to believe it was possible he could be this happy.
Frannie said, “Absolutely yes.”