Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 79587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 79587 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 398(@200wpm)___ 318(@250wpm)___ 265(@300wpm)
“Yes—we do,” Grath told him honestly.
“Good—then just do that.” Madeline’s father smiled at him. “But if you have to get me something to go under the tree, I wouldn’t say no to a nice bottle of cologne. Which, incidentally, is what I’ll probably be getting for you.”
Ethan laughed as he watched this exchange.
“That’s Dad—he tells it like it is.”
Madeline’s father shrugged comically.
“Guilty as charged. I’m not much for surprises. See you two later—I hear that nap calling my name,” he added. And with a little wave, he walked off down the street, leaving Grath and Ethan alone.
“He’s a great father-in-law,” Ethan remarked, looking after the older male fondly. “As long as you treat his daughter right, he’ll be like your own dad.”
The thought gave Grath pause. His own Sire had died when he was younger and he had never thought of having another to take his place—especially not a short, human male. But he liked the older male’s forthrightness and practicality as well as his demand that his daughters be treated with respect.
Come to that, he liked the other members of Madeline’s family too. Her mother was sweet and thoughtful and her sister was clearly supportive of Madeline. Even her ancient grandmother was adorable in her way. Several times she had patted Grath on the arm and remarked on what a “big, strong boy” he was, which was slightly irritating but also amusing.
It would be something to be truly part of this family, not as a pretense but for real, he couldn’t help thinking. If he was, he and Madeline could come and spend every holiday season here with them in the big domicile on the snow-covered hill. They could take walks in the cold air and Madeline could enter the Bake-off contest and her mother would make them delicious meals and they would buy each other gifts and—
“Well, here we are!”
Ethan’s cheerful voice broke his train of thought and Grath realized that while he had been thinking, they had been walking. And now they had come to a stop in front of a small storefront which had jewelry inside. Sparkling jewels were set in gold and silver and displayed on plush black velvet in the front window.
“Why are we here?” Grath asked, confused. Did all of Madeline’s family require jewelry as gifts? He’d been sure that her father wanted some kind of scent spray, which the humans wore. It was much too strong for his sharp Kindred senses, but the humans with their dull senses really seemed to like it.
But Ethan’s next words clarified everything.
“We’re here so you can pick Mattie an engagement ring, of course,” he said, gripping Grath by the shoulder, though he had to reach up to do it. “You’re going to ask her to marry you while the two of you are here, aren’t you?”
“Oh…um…” Grath wasn’t sure what to say. Madeline had specifically told him that they shouldn’t say he was her fiancé because she didn’t want to raise her family’s expectations too high. But now it seemed that their expectations were already raised.
“Come on—you are going to ask her, aren’t you?” Ethan demanded. “Look, Anna and I only got married this last year but we dated for a while before that and I’ve never seen Mattie so happy and relaxed with anyone as she is with you. And you fit right into the family!”
“I do?” Grath asked, surprised. He had just been thinking how much he liked Madeline’s family, but he hadn’t known how they felt about him.
“Yes, you do!” Ethan said laughing. “Everybody loves you! I heard Dad and Mom Porter talking and they were saying they couldn’t wait until you join the family for good. In fact, I think they’re going to wonder what’s going on if you don’t propose.”
Grath frowned. This was an unforeseen development—now it appeared that that if he didn’t make a proposal of Joining or marriage to Madeline, her family would be suspicious. And above all, they wanted to avoid that.
“Well…all right,” he said, nodding. “When should I, er, propose? Tonight at dinner? Or afterwards when we hang baubles and lights on the Christmas tree?”
“No, no, no!” Ethan exclaimed, shaking his head. “You have to do it right—propose at the Yule Ball tomorrow night, when you’re both all dressed up and everyone is watching. It’s the only way to ask a woman to marry you here in Christmasville.”
“Are you certain about that?” Grath asked. “What if Madeline says no? What if she refuses to Join with me?”
“Are you kidding? I’ve seen the way she looks at you—she’s head-over-heels in love with you, dude!” Ethan exclaimed. “She’s going to say yes—no question. So come on—you’ve got to get the perfect ring before you get down on your knee and propose.”
“But I don’t know her ring size,” Grath protested, trying one last time to get out of this.