“We need to have a talk. How would you two feel about
Dori and Luther staying with us?”
“But they’re already with us,” Marshall said.
“No, I mean for always.”
Beep looked at Dori and then at the baby in her lap.
“Would ole Joe stay too?”
Dori nodded. “Yes, where I go, Joe goes.”
Marshall gave Johnny a long look and then glanced at Dori
the same way.
“Are you guys gonna get married or somethin’?”
“Yes, we’re going to get married tomorrow,” Johnny said.
Marshall smiled. “I told Beep you guys were in love, but
he didn’t believe me. I think
it’s a good idea.”
Dori glanced at Johnny, but he was staring intently at
the boys.
“Why did you think we were in love?” he asked.
“’Cause you guys watch each other when you think no one’s
looking. I know how that stuff
goes down.”
Johnny rolled his eyes. “Let me guess. You were watching
romantic movies at Miss Jane’s
too?”
“No, just the afternoon soaps. There’s lots of love stuff
going on in those shows.”
Dori saw the look on Johnny’s face and burst out
laughing, which made Luther laugh.
Beep wasn’t sure what was funny, but he was still so
relieved that he wasn’t in trouble
for breaking the night-light that he went ahead and
laughed too.
“What? What did I say?” Marshall said.
Johnny grinned. “So, Beep, how do you feel about me and
Dori getting married?”
“I like it. She likes us, and she makes good stuff to
eat, and she’s really, really nice.
And when ole Joe gets a little older, me and him can play
together.”
Marshall frowned. “What about me?”
Beep shrugged. “You’re gonna grow up and get a girlfriend
just like Johnny did. I’m gonna
need someone to play with, aren’t I?”
This time it was Johnny who laughed. “So how do you feel
about staying home from school
tomorrow and being my two best men at the wedding?”
“Yes! We feel like that’s a good deal,” Marshall said.
“Don’t we, Beep?”
Beep nodded. Anything that had to do with missing school
was fine with him. “Can we go
watch TV?” he asked.
“Yeah, sure,” Johnny said and then grinned at Dori as
they ran out of the kitchen. “I told
you they would be fine with this.”
Luther squawked because the boys left, and then poked his
thumb in his mouth and leaned
against Dori’s chest.
“Even ole Joe doesn’t seem to mind,” Johnny said.
Dori glanced down at the baby and then back up at Johnny.
They’d do whatever they had to
do to keep their boys where they belonged.
Johnny circled the table, then got down on one knee and
put his arms around the both of
them.
“I know you don’t love me, but maybe one day, if I’m
lucky, you’ll look up and realize you
can’t live without me. In the meantime, I can love you
enough for both of us.”
The declaration was so moving to Dori that, for a moment,
she was speechless. And then she
cupped his face with one hand and leaned forward until
their lips were only inches apart.
He could feel the warmth of her breath against his face,
and when he suddenly saw his
reflection in her eyes, it felt like she’d captured his
soul.
“I already see you, Johnny Pine, and if it’s just the
same with you, I’d rather live my
life beside you, not without you.”
He kissed her because he could no longer talk, and when
the baby grabbed his ear and then
his hair, he laughed.
