Molly's Cop (19 page)

"No, thanks. I'm going home and get some sleep. But Michael couldn't sleep and he wondered if he'd ruined things with Molly. He picked up his cell phone to call her just as it rang. He expected to be called in on a case, but instead it was Molly.

"I'm sorry, Michael," she tearfully proclaimed. "I ruined our evening. I should have told you about the speeding myself. I did it all wrong... And, I feel stupid; I thought it was thirty-five through there. I promise I will do better. Please forgive me?" she asked

"I forgave you hours ago," he answered. "Do you forgive me for ruining your plans for tonight?" he asked.

"I'm mad at myself, Michael; not you."

"Will you spend tomorrow with me?" he asked.

"I'll fix breakfast for you... Gram's waffles with raspberry sauce and whipped cream!"

"I'll be there early."

* * *

Seamus did his best to give Michael some assistance, and while Michael realized what his Pop was up to, he knew that Molly was getting frustrated that they seldom had even five minutes alone. He wasn't happy either, but short of kidnapping Molly and eloping with her, there was no way to thwart his Pop.

Christmas Eve finally arrived and Molly was thrilled to go to Midnight Mass with Michael and all of his family. It was always a magical service, and all the hymns before and during Mass made it special, especially since Molly loved to hear Michael sing. The family all said goodbye on the church steps and promised to meet at the O'Keefe house the next day.

Molly felt the excitement and anticipation of Christmas when she woke up. The smell of cinnamon rolls baking woke her, and she dressed for the day in pretty red slacks and a sweater that was decorated for the occasion. She didn't know when Michael would be here, but she didn't want to miss a minute of the special day with him. To her surprise, he was in the kitchen, helping Mary take the rolls from the oven. Bridget was making hot chocolate and Seamus was smiling happily at everyone. They enjoyed their breakfast, and one by one all of the other family members arrived. "When can we open presents, Grandpa?" one of the little ones asked and Seamus picked him up and said, "Right now!"

Molly laughed as the children tore at the paper and then ooohed and ahhhed over each gift. She felt loved as she opened so many gifts it was overwhelming. Michael gave her several gifts, all nice, and he loved the things she picked out for him. Finally, the last gift was given and Molly noticed the room was quiet and everyone was looking at her expectantly. Michael stood, and then got down on one knee beside her and took out a small blue box and opened it. Molly felt tears fill her eyes as she realized Michael was about to propose!

"Molly, I love you with all my heart and my soul. I want to live with you forever, love you, protect you, cherish you, and give you my children. Will you marry me, honey, and make this the happiest Christmas of my life?"

"Oh, yes, Michael! Yes!" Molly answered, and tried to stop her hand from shaking as he slid the absolutely perfect engagement ring on her finger. "It's so beautiful! Thank you, darling! Oh, I love you, too, and this truly is the happiest Christmas of my life!"

Chapter Thirteen

The congratulations from Michael's family members were genuine, and Mary even had tears of happiness in her pretty eyes as she kissed Molly and told her she was very happy to have her for a daughter-in-law to be!

"When do you plan to get married?" Kathleen's eldest asked.

Michael just grinned and said, "The lady just said 'yes', honey. Molly and I will have to talk about a date."

"I want to come to the wedding!" the child persisted, and Molly assured her that she was invited, which satisfied her, and when another nephew spoke up, Molly nodded and said that everyone, even the smallest babies, would all be invited. She didn't know it, but she forever etched herself in Seamus' heart with those words. He loved his family and was proud of them, and to him, children belonged at weddings, too. Molly would be the perfect wife for Michael.

The rest of Christmas was a blur for Molly. She remembered helping with the dinner, and receiving so many hugs, and words of advice on living with Michael, which he hotly claimed was mostly slander and harassment! Laughter filled the air, and most of the family stayed late into the evening, playing games and just having a fun day of family.

The moment Molly went into work on Monday morning, Liz spotted her engagement ring and jumped up from her seat behind the high desk and came running to give Molly a big hug. "Oh, Molly! This is so wonderful! Your ring is simply beautiful!" she whispered, awed. Then she looked at Molly. "Do you like it?"

"I love it; Michael chose it for me," she explained, and then smiled and added, "I truly love it, though."

One of the other legal secretaries joined them and exclaimed over the heart shaped diamond. "If there is one thing I know, it is diamonds, and that man of yours loves you big bucks, girl!" she informed Molly. "That is one expensive ring!"

"What is going on?" Drake Bridges asked with a smile as he walked in and saw the group gathered around Molly.

"Molly is engaged, Mr. Bridges," Liz told him. "We are admiring her ring; it's so beautiful."

"Now that is wonderful news," Drake said sincerely, taking Molly's hand in his so he could see her ring. Michael has good taste, in women and in rings," he stated. He then gave Molly a hug. "Do you have a date set yet?" he asked.

"Not yet. We haven't had a minute alone to discuss a wedding," Molly admitted.

"Oh, that will all come in time!" Liz told her. "My sisters set dates several times before they actually found one that would work for everyone they wanted to be there."

"No need to rush things," Drake said softly. "But, I think we have a client or two coming in soon, so we should get busy, hmmmm?" The woman all agreed, and immediately wished each other a good day and hurried to do what needed to be done while Molly followed Drake to their offices upstairs.

Molly was grateful to be rescued by her boss. She wasn't used to being the center of attention, and while the attention was the good kind, it kind of bothered her to have her engagement ring scrutinized for value. Michael gave it to her with love, and she would value it even if it came out of a Cracker Jack box. She promised herself to tell Michael that at the first opportunity.

"Why so grim looking, Molly?" Drake asked, clearly puzzled. "You aren't having second thoughts, are you?"

"No," she quickly replied. "I know I'm being silly, but I don't need an expensive ring to know that Michael loves me. I don't want anyone to think that I'm marrying Michael for monetary reasons."

"Kasey, right?" Drake asked knowingly. "Don't let her upset you, Molly. She is a bit of a cynic when it comes to marriage, but she would be the first to tell everyone that you love Michael. And, I don't want you worrying about your wedding, either. We're all going to be there, Molly, filling up your side of the church. We are family, and I meant what I said about paying for your dress and cake. I'm claiming that privilege, and my feelings will be very hurt if you don't allow me to do this for you."

"Thank you so much," Molly said with a tearful smile. The telephone on her desk rang, and she moved to answer it, and then said, "Mr. McGill is here, Mr. Bridges. I think we'd better get to work!" She touched his arm when he started toward his office, and when he stopped to look at her, she said, "Thank you so much. I can't tell you how good it feels to know you care so much about me."

"You are special to our family, Molly. We cared about you before you put your life in danger to save mine... But, believe me, my wife and my dad would give you the world if you asked. I know you aren't the type of woman who would consider that, and it makes you even more special to us. I want you to promise me you'll come to me if you need anything at all, Molly. Not just for the wedding. And not just now... I mean any time." To her surprise, he leaned down and kissed her on the cheek just as Mr. McGill entered the office, and the client's eyes grew large.

"Good morning, Mr. McGill," Molly said with a smile. "Would you like to congratulate me, too?" she asked, showing him her ring. "My finance and I are now officially engaged."

"That's a pretty ring, Molly," the elderly man said with a smile. "I sure hope you aren't going to quit working once you get married...?" he asked.

"No! Molly is not permitted to quit work. She is the best secretary I've ever had, and I'll raise her salary to keep her!" Drake answered immediately and Molly couldn't help giggling at the uncustomary raised voice he used.

"I am not planning to quit work. Michael would never ask that of me," she said, reassuring her boss.

"Now, honey, you missed your chance to get a raise!" Mr. McGill teased.

"I think a raise is a good idea," Drake stated matter-of-factly. "We'll discuss that later, Molly." He invited his client into his office, and Molly hurried to make coffee to take to them. She didn't feel it was demeaning to make coffee because Drake took a turn, too. Once she took them their coffee, Molly listened to the messages left over the long weekend, and made the call backs she could take care of on her own. She also made a list of the ones that Drake would have to make himself.

Molly seldom had a slow day, and this day was no exception. Still, when Michael came to take her out to lunch, she made sure that Drake didn't need anything of her, and then she left with Michael.

"You have something you want to tell me, Molly?" Michael asked. She was very preoccupied, and he was already trying to figure out what she'd done that she didn't want to share with him. Certainly she hadn't been caught speeding again...?

Molly nodded, and shyly said, "I want to say this and I don't want you to take it all wrong. I really, really, really love my ring..."

"But...?" he asked patiently.

"I would have said yes even if you didn't give me a ring," she said so earnestly that he knew something or someone upset her.

"I know that, Molly. I wanted to give you a ring you would love, and when I saw this one, it had your name on it. You have such a sweet heart, and yellow gold is what all your other jewelry is made of. I've never seen you wear white gold. I picked it because it seemed perfect for you."

"Thank you. I really do love it, but I'm marrying you because I love you... not for what you can buy for me. I don't think the price of a ring indicates how much I am loved."

"I don't either," he agreed, and then asked, "Now, which one of the ladies you work with made a comment about the cost of your ring?"

"It was Kasey. She said you must love me a lot because this ring is expensive."

"I do love you a lot or I wouldn't have asked you to marry me, Molly. Pop didn't give Ma an expensive ring, but he loved her plenty, just as I love you... forever. Okay?"

"Yes. I just wanted you to know how I feel."

"Thank you," Michael said solemnly, doing his best not to smile. Molly was perfectly serious.

"I've been getting a lot of well-meaning advice this morning on the subject of our wedding."

"It is our wedding. We will plan it to suit us, Molly."

"I agree. I do want to tell you that Mr. Bridges is insisting on paying for my dress and the cake. He really wants to do this and said he would be hurt if I refused."

"He wouldn't offer if he didn't want to do it, Molly. I think you should accept."

"Good, because I did." She grinned then. "Could we just elope and spare ourselves all the good intentions and well-meaning suggestions of how we should do things?"

"Nope. We're going to do the church wedding. I called about some dates, and the first date the church is open is March 26. I would like to reserve that day, Molly. I'm impatient to make you mine."

"That is three months from now!"

"I know. Do you think we can pull it off?"

"It depends on the kind of wedding you want, Michael. If you want a family style wedding, instead of a formal-formal wedding, then yes, we can."

"What do you mean by a family style wedding versus a formal-formal wedding?" he asked curiously, and then listened in surprise as Molly talked. It was easy for him to discern which type of wedding she preferred, and he was in agreement with her. "Family style it is," he stated firmly, and was rewarded when she clapped her hands. He called, reserved the church, and then winked at Molly when he called his mother. "Ma, will you call all the family and tell them to keep March 26 open on their calendars. That is when Molly and I are getting married. Tell them we'll be in touch because we are having a family style wedding." He listened, and then chuckled. "Yes, Ma. It was Molly's idea, and I'm all for it." He listened again, and then said, "Yes, ma'am. Ma wants to talk to you, honey."

"Hello, Mary," Molly dutifully took Michael's cell phone and greeted the other woman.

"Molly, is Michael rushing you, dear?" Mary came straight to the point.

"No, not at all, Mary. I know exactly what I want, and Michael is in agreement. Isn't that simply wonderful?"

"Well, yes, but the church..."

"Is already reserved, along with the hall. We'll do everything there."

"There is so much to do...!" Mary exclaimed.

"We'll handle it, and you'll be surprised at how quickly we accomplish everything."

* * *

Molly and Michael wasted no time in getting started with their plans. They sat down that night with a tablet and pen, made lists of everything that needed doing, and were surprised to realize that they agreed with almost everything concerning the wedding. Kathleen was asked to take care of the flowers, and to Bridget's shock, they asked her to do their wedding cake. Bridget was flustered and flattered, but both her parents were naturally worried at the idea of their youngest taking on such a huge responsibility.

"Michael and I are aware that Bridget is not a professional yet, but we know she'll do her very best, and that is all we want or expect of her," Molly said. "I know Bridget will practice and the cake will be beautiful, and we want to be able to tell everyone ten years from now that we were her first clients! We expect to pay you, Bridget."