“Close enough.”
“If you think I’m just going to—”
“Yes,” she interrupted.
“Then I’ve got news for—” He stopped. “What did you say?”
She squared her shoulders. “When? Just now? I said yes.”
“What was the question?”
“Well,” she said, exhaling slowly, “I didn’t quite give you time to ask, but what I said was yes. Meaning I’ll marry you.”
Her answer appeared to confuse him further. He stared at her for the longest moment and, still unsure of his reaction, Justine said nothing. He started toward her, then halted, then walked directly past her. He’d gone four or five feet before he turned back. “Are you coming or not?” he asked impatiently.
“Where are we going?”
“To get a marriage license.”
“Now?”
He smiled then, the most wonderful smile she’d ever seen. “I don’t believe in long engagements.”
Justine threw back her head and laughed. “As it happens, neither do I.”
The front door of 16 Lighthouse Road was open. Olivia sat out on the porch with her needlepoint in her lap, the portable phone at her side. The wicker rocking chair had been her mother’s and she loved spending summer evenings right here, enjoying the view and watching the sun set over the Olympics.
The phone rang, disturbing her solitude, and Olivia answered without giving it a chance to ring again.
“Mom, it’s me—Justine,” her daughter said. “Okay, listen. I have some news and I don’t want you to be angry with me.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Well, because—”
Olivia heard someone arguing with her in the background. “Justine?”
“Mom,” her daughter cut in, “I’m married.”
The needlepoint project fell off Olivia’s lap as she bolted upright. “Married?” So Warren had finally worn her down. “Congratulations,” she said, doing her best to sound enthusiastic. She’d always said that if her daughter chose to marry Warren Saget, she’d smile and welcome him to the family.
“Here, talk to Seth.”
“Seth?”
“Oh, did I forget to mention that I married Seth Gunderson?”
For a moment, Olivia was too shocked to respond.
“Mrs. Lockhart, it’s Seth. I know you’re probably upset—”
“On the contrary, I couldn’t be more pleased. Where are you?”
“Reno.”
“Why Reno, for heaven’s sake?”
“I’ll let Justine explain.”
Her daughter got back on the phone. “Are you upset with us, Mom?”
“I’m surprised…but delighted.”
“Seth doesn’t believe in long engagements.”
“Nor in a long courtship, it appears.”
“No…what happened is this— We decided to get married and it just made sense that we get the license at the courthouse and have you or even Pastor Flemming marry us, but that would’ve taken three days.”
“That’s Washington State law,” Olivia reminded her.
“I know. It’s just that we didn’t have three days.”
This was getting more interesting by the minute. “And why not?”
“Seth has to be back in Alaska by Sunday night and he won’t be available for almost five weeks, and it was either now or wait.”
“And you didn’t want to do that?”
“I couldn’t, Mom! I just couldn’t. He didn’t want to wait, either. I know this is probably the most impulsive thing I’ve ever done, but I know marrying Seth is the right thing. I’m sure of it. Oh, Mom, I love him so much and please don’t be upset with us. We can have a second ceremony with you and Grandma and Dad later on, can’t we?”
“Of course. Oh, Justine, I’m so happy for you and Seth.”
“You like him, don’t you?”
“You know I think the world of Seth.”
“Me, too. I have to go now. We’re phoning Seth’s father next. And then Dad. After that, we’ve only got about twenty hours before we have to drive back. I’m happy, Mom, happier than I’ve been in my entire life.” She paused. “Oh, would you call Grandma for me?”
Olivia swallowed the lump that had formed in her throat. “I’m happy for you, too,” she said again. “And of course I’ll call your grandmother.”
They ended the conversation, and Olivia walked inside in a daze. She went into the bedroom and sat on the edge of her bed. She needed a few minutes to absorb what she’d just learned. Her daughter was married. To Seth Gunderson. Oh, this was wonderful, wonderful news!
Her first instinct was to phone Stan, but she decided against it. Justine would tell her father, and he’d call once he’d heard. So, both of their children had chosen to marry without either parent there. She wondered if that meant anything.
She phoned Charlotte, who wasn’t home; she left a message, saying simply, “Call me when you get in.”
Then she returned to her needlepoint project. Feet propped up on the porch railing, she continued her stitching, grinning every now and then. Who would’ve believed Justine would do something so spontaneous?