Page 30 of Improper Proposal
“They all insisted on coming.”
“I don’t understand,” she says as she’s passed around, everyone hugging and kissing her and welcoming her back into the family. When she reaches my mom and dad, I do the introductions, and from the look on my parents’ faces, it’s clear they’re going to love Harper as much as the rest of us.
When she reaches George, she freezes. “I’m really sorry, George.”
“It’s okay,” he says with an easy shrug.
“Why don’t you tell her what your real surprise was,” Will says.
“Just that I was getting of the military and going to law school.”
Her eyes widened. “That’s wonderful. I’m so happy for you.”
“And, also, that I met someone,” George says.
“Oh, who is she?”
“Rupert Walker. I’m gay, Harper.”
“That was the real surprise,” I say, laughing as I pat my cousin on the back. “And I kicked his ass for keeping it from me for so long.”
“Oh,” Harper says, chuckling along with me. “When do we get to meet him?”
“Soon enough.”
Harper has a little grin on her face when she lifts her head, her eyes meeting mine. “Did you test him the way you tested me, Will? You know, to see if he was a gold digger?”
It takes a second for the meaning to register, then I laugh, and everyone joins in. “George is on his own this time, but I’m pretty sure he found a good one.”
Harper blushes and lowers her head. “I’m so sorry, everyone.”
“Nonsense, child,” Aunt Claire says. “We all understand.”
“In a way, it’s sort of Gramps’s fault,” Harper says, a sparkle in her eye.
“What’s that?” Charles says and pushes through the crowd.
“Well, you did think I was George’s surprise, and assumed I was his girl.”
“Best mistake I ever made, child,” he says, and Harper beams as he pulls her in for another hug.
She sniffs, and Charles puts his hands on her shoulders. “What are the tears for?”
“You have all been so nice to me, and I…I love you all.”
“Well, you’re family, child,” Gramps says.
“Technically, she’s not,” I say. “She hasn’t answered my question yet.”
I step toward her, and everyone moves back to give us space and privacy. I go down on my knee again and ask, “So what do you say, Harper. Will you marry m
e?” She opens her mouth, but I hold my hand up to stop her. “Before you answer, you have to know…” I pause to jerk my thumb over my shoulder. “These guys all come with me.”
She lets out a big hiccupping cry. “Yes,” she says, and before I can slide the ring on her finger, we’re both bombarded with hugs and congratulations.
When the fuss dies down, I finally put the ring on her and say, “I can’t decide.”
She blinks up at me, the huge smile on her face warming my heart. “Oh? And what can’t you decide?”
