Fic: Day of anticipation - 3/3 - The Doctor Blake Mysteries
Title: Day of anticipation
Chapter: 3/3 - The long awaited day
Fandom: The Doctor Blake Mysteries
Characters: Mattie, Jean, Lawson, Blake, Danny, Charlie
Rating: 15
Spoilers: Set post S2
Summary: It’s the day of Blake and Jean’s wedding, but they’re not the only ones whose hearts are touched by romance.
Word count: ~ 2,500
Notes: This is a sequel to ‘An unexpected gift of fate’ which was written between Seasons 2 & 3. As such, I’ve ignored most of S3 in writing this fic.
Disclaimer. I don’t own the characters, I’m only borrowing them, and no copyright infringement is intended.
An unexpected gift of fate
Day of anticipation 01
Day of anticipation 02
-------------------
Lawson was busy cooking breakfast when a somewhat bleary eyed Blake joined him in the kitchen.
“You sleep okay?” asked Lawson as he cracked an egg into the frying pan.
“Yes, thank you,” said Blake as he sat down at the kitchen table. “And thank you for setting the alarm clock for me.” He reached for the teapot and started pouring a cup for himself. “Although I do think it was most unreasonable of you to put it on top of the wardrobe.”
Lawson shrugged, “It got you out of bed, didn’t it?”
“Yes, there is that,” said Blake. He sipped his tea, trying to ignore the slight throbbing in his head. “Where’s Danny?”
“Gave him breakfast then sent him round to yours to see if they’ve any errands need doing. He’s going to drop round the buttonholes once the florist has been there.” Lawson put a plate in front of Blake. “Get this into you,” he ordered. “By the time you’re finished, the water should be hot enough for your shower. And don’t drag your heels; we’ve to be at the church at least twenty minutes before the service starts.”
------------------------------------
An hour later, fed and washed, Blake was feeling considerably more human. He’d donned his wedding suit, brushed his hair and had even managed to get his cufflinks in with a reasonable amount of dexterity considering the amount of alcohol he’d consumed the night before. But there was one task that just seemed to be beyond his reach. Blake looked in the mirror and grimaced as yet again his reflection showed a tie knot that failed to reach the high standard he wanted to show for Jean.
“Matthew,” said Blake, catching sight of Lawson in the mirror and turning around. “I see you’ve managed to tie your tie to perfection. I don’t suppose you could render some assistance here?”
Lawson rolled his eyes but took the ends of the tie from Blake and with a few quick movements soon had it in a neat little knot.
“My oh my,” said Blake, a trace of amusement in his voice. “Have you been practicing?”
Lawson shrugged, “Mattie got a book from the library, taught me how to do it.” He turned Blake around so they were both looking in the mirror. “There, reckon that’ll pass muster all right with the womenfolk.”
“Ah Matthew,” said Blake, with a sigh. “Excellent work.” He put his arm around Lawson’s shoulders. “Thank you my friend, for all that you’ve done for me...”
“Yeah well,” said Lawson, a little bit embarrassed by Blake’s effusiveness. He looked at his watch, “Right, we need to leave here in the next fifteen minutes. Buttonholes are downstairs, I have the rings in my pocket, and there’s plenty of petrol in the car.” He automatically checked his pocket for the rings.
“You are a model of efficiency,” said Blake. “I couldn’t have asked for a better best man.”
Lawson was smoothing down the handkerchief in his front pocket when Blake spoke. Parks had brought a small wrapped package with him when delivering the buttonholes, “Mattie asked me to give you this. Something she finished last night at the sewing bee.” Inside had been a handkerchief the same colour as the dress Lawson had seen her wearing the day before, and tucked inside it was a note saying ‘I love you’.
Both handkerchief and note were tucked safely in Lawson’s pocket as he replied without thinking to Blake’s comment, “Ah you can return the favour soon enough.” The words were out of his mouth before he realised what he’d said.
“Don’t tell me you’re getting married as well,” said Blake, brushing away an errant hair from his shoulder. He caught the look on Lawson’s face and turned around. “Lawson...are you planning on getting married?”
“Well why else would I need a best man?” said Lawson, a look of chagrin on his face as he realised he’d let the cat out of the bag.
“To Mattie?”
“I’m not exactly courting anybody else now, am I?”
“You asked Mattie O’Brien to marry you?”
“Actually,” said Lawson, a half smile appearing on his face, “I’m pretty certain that she asked me first, but yes, we’re engaged, we’re going to be married, and are you going to be my bloody best man or not?”
“I would be honoured to,” said Blake, a smile on his face. “Bloody hell, Jean is going to be delighted when she hears this!”
“Yeah, well she’s not to hear it today,” said Lawson, firmly. “This is *Jean’s* day, well, hers and yours and the last thing I want is to steal her thunder.”
“You know she wouldn’t mind,” said Blake.
“Maybe not, but I promised Mattie. So come on, get your things, it’s time we were leaving. And remember, not one word to Jean.”
“Ah, and so the hen-pecking begins.” Blake was rewarded with a glare from Lawson who took him by the arm and steered him towards the door. “Don’t worry; my lips are sealed...at least until after the ceremony!”
--------------------------
In spite of his promise not to mention it, Blake did take the opportunity generated by the car journey, to tease Lawson about the situation. “Fancy that, the pair of us, soon to be respectable married gentlemen.” He caught Lawson glaring at him, “Oh don’t worry, I won’t say a word to anybody about it once we’re at the church. Although if you’d been a bit more on the ball, we could have had a double wedding! But of course that wouldn’t have worked, what with you and Mattie not being Catholic. Not that I’m overly fond of religion myself, but well, Jean wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Now who’s hen-pecked,” muttered Lawson under his breath as he drove. But he knew Blake well enough to know that the other man was simply trying to distract himself from the impending ceremony.
“It’s not that I don’t want to get married,” Blake had confided in Lawson over drinks a few weeks earlier, “But the whole religious aspect of it. I haven’t been to church since that murder last year. Luckily Jean is religious enough for both of us and managed to convince the priest that I’m of good character and what not. But it just seems so hypocritical for me to be standing up there and saying all these words I don’t really believe.” He’d knocked back his drink and poured another.
“Cross your bloody fingers then.” Lawson had given short shrift to Blake’s doubts. “Look, you want to marry Jean, you go through the whole ceremony the way she wants. Just try and sound sincere at least when you’re saying ‘I do’.”
For the most part on the journey Lawson simply ignored Blake’s ramblings. One thing he *did* respond to, however, was when Blake teased him about the lack of a romantic proposal. “While I’ll admit that romance isn’t always my strong suit,” he said, “At least there were flowers when I popped the question.”
“Yeah,” snapped Lawson, “Only they were the ones I’d bought for Mattie for our first date, so that doesn’t count.” Blake had moved on to another topic, but although there had certainly been no malicious intent behind the jibe, it had left its mark, and Lawson was still brooding over it somewhat as he and Blake waited at the altar.
And then the music had changed, and the wedding party came in. Jean looking radiant in her simple yet stunning wedding suit. Danny managing to look both nervous as hell and pleased as punch as he escorted her down the aisle. And then there was Mattie, and as Lawson saw her walking towards him, a demure smile on her face, once he saw her, it was as if they were the only two people in the church. By the look on Mattie’s face when she reached the altar and made eye contact with him, she was having similar thoughts.
Lawson was barely aware of the ceremony progressing, the vows being exchanged. All he could think of was that some day soon, he and Mattie would be standing up in front of their friends and family and making those same promises. He only pulled himself back to the present when he heard the priest call for the rings, and he fumbled quickly in his pocket before handing them over. Glancing over towards Mattie, Lawson caught her eye as she smiled at him, and he knew that she knew what he had been thinking. And then there were the two voices reading their vows which then became one and Doctor and Mrs Blake turned to face the congregation before giving the obligatory first kiss.
------------------------------
Lawson clasped Mattie’s hand in his as they followed the newlyweds out to the front of the church. There were handshakes and hugs all round, and then the photographer barking orders, moving people into position and out again, trying to get everybody looking in the right direction and smiling at once.
Later, when all the pictures had been developed and copies made and shared around, of all the many shots that had been taken that day, Lawson’s favourite had been one taken not by the official photographer, but by Agnes Clasby with her old brownie .
It had been taken in between some of the ‘official’ shots. Mattie had been smoothing down the handkerchief in his pocket when Agnes had called her name. She’d half turned and that was when the camera shutter had clicked. When the picture came out, Agnes had caught that moment between them, looking as she’d said “As if there was nobody else in the world apart from the two of them.” She’d added, “That’s when I figured there was no point Jean doing a bouquet toss, because anybody with half a brain could see who was going to be next!”
Jean had agreed, and had had Agnes make a copy for her which she’d framed and given to the pair as an engagement present. But that was later and this was now, and Lawson found himself separated from Mattie during the meal as Jean had gone for a traditional seating plan.
He made his best man’s speech, managing to get a few jibes in at Blake and his propensity for annoying people, but also managing to convey just how good and decent a man he was. “No matter how much he tries to hide it,” Lawson had added, getting a laugh from the assembled guests. “Lucien and Jean have always looked out for their friends and now it’s their turn to look out for each other. Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses and join me in a toast, to the bride and groom.” It may not have been the most articulate of speeches, but it had hit the right note. Lawson was however extremely grateful to have gotten through it without any hiccups and was even more grateful when the remaining speeches were finished and it was time to mingle with the crowd, and more importantly, be reunited with Mattie. They spent most of the rest of the reception together, trying to hide their smiles as more than one person made pointed comments about ‘going to a wedding being the making of another’.
But finally the reception was drawing to a close, Jean had disappeared to change into her going away outfit and Mattie had gone to assist. Lawson was left to perform his final task as best man, namely keeping Blake distracted while Danny decorated his car. Charlie had managed to join them for a few hours - the good and not so good citizens of Ballarat having clearly decided not to trouble their police force too unduly this day - and he was providing valuable assistance in the serious business of attaching tin cans and old shoes to the rear bumper.
“Ah Matthew,” said Blake, at his most convivial. “I thought you’d be getting my car ready for the drive.”
“Some things are best delegated,” said Lawson, with a smile. “Just hope it bloody starts!”
“Well, you’ve done enough for me today,” said Blake. His voice was suddenly serious, “And indeed not just today. You’ve been my friend since we were in short trousers and I just want you to know that I appreciate everything you’ve done for me...even if I don’t always acknowledge it properly.”
“Yes, well...” Lawson cleared his throat, “That’s what friends are for...” He put out his hand to shake hands, but instead Blake pulled him into a quick hug.
“You look after Mattie,” said Blake, quietly as they pulled apart. “And I hope you’ll be as happy together as Jean and I.” He glanced over Lawson’s shoulder, “And speaking of the lovely Mrs. Blake...”
Lawson turned to see Jean surrounded by well wishers as she tried to make her way back to her husband. “Lucien,” she said, when she finally reached his side, “I think it’s time we were going.”
“Of course, my dear,” said Blake, offering her his arm.
Of course there were goodbyes to be said, hugs and kisses to be exchanged all round, Blake’s mock anger when he saw the decorated car. But soon he was driving away with Jean waving out the window at their guests.
--------------------------------
Lawson’s jacket was draped over Mattie’s shoulders as they walked home. It was such a lovely day that neither had wanted it to come to an end just yet.
Mattie had Jean’s bouquet in her hands as they walked. There hadn’t been an official ‘bouquet toss’, Jean having ruled it out when she’d realized that the only unmarried women there would be Mattie, and Agnes Clasby. “It would hardly be fair,” she’d told Blake while they were making plans.
“I completely agree,” Blake had said, “I’ve seen Agnes when she sets her mind on something, poor Mattie wouldn’t stand a chance.”
So Jean had simply handed the bouquet to Mattie with a wink and a smile, before getting into the car.
“You’re very quiet,” said Mattie, as they walked through the park. “Penny for your thoughts.”
“You know what happened the last time you said that,” said Lawson, with a smile. Glancing around, he saw that there was nobody else in the vicinity and he guided Mattie to a nearby bench and sat her down. The sun was setting, casting a reddish gold light on the lake and surroundings as Lawson dropped to one knee before Mattie and took her hand. “Mattie,” he said, softly. “I know we’ve pretty much agreed this already, but I wanted to do it properly...will you do me the very great honour...of allowing me to become your husband?”
“Oh Matthew,” said Mattie, “You didn’t have to ask...you know I will...” The bouquet was forgotten as she stood, taking Lawson’s hands as he too rose to his feet. “Yes,” she said softly. “I will.”
In the end thought Lawson as they kissed, it wasn’t about the right time or the right place, or even the right words. All that was needed...was the right person.
-------------------------------
The end
(for now, but I do have another segment planned)
Chapter: 3/3 - The long awaited day
Fandom: The Doctor Blake Mysteries
Characters: Mattie, Jean, Lawson, Blake, Danny, Charlie
Rating: 15
Spoilers: Set post S2
Summary: It’s the day of Blake and Jean’s wedding, but they’re not the only ones whose hearts are touched by romance.
Word count: ~ 2,500
Notes: This is a sequel to ‘An unexpected gift of fate’ which was written between Seasons 2 & 3. As such, I’ve ignored most of S3 in writing this fic.
Disclaimer. I don’t own the characters, I’m only borrowing them, and no copyright infringement is intended.
An unexpected gift of fate
Day of anticipation 01
Day of anticipation 02
-------------------
Lawson was busy cooking breakfast when a somewhat bleary eyed Blake joined him in the kitchen.
“You sleep okay?” asked Lawson as he cracked an egg into the frying pan.
“Yes, thank you,” said Blake as he sat down at the kitchen table. “And thank you for setting the alarm clock for me.” He reached for the teapot and started pouring a cup for himself. “Although I do think it was most unreasonable of you to put it on top of the wardrobe.”
Lawson shrugged, “It got you out of bed, didn’t it?”
“Yes, there is that,” said Blake. He sipped his tea, trying to ignore the slight throbbing in his head. “Where’s Danny?”
“Gave him breakfast then sent him round to yours to see if they’ve any errands need doing. He’s going to drop round the buttonholes once the florist has been there.” Lawson put a plate in front of Blake. “Get this into you,” he ordered. “By the time you’re finished, the water should be hot enough for your shower. And don’t drag your heels; we’ve to be at the church at least twenty minutes before the service starts.”
------------------------------------
An hour later, fed and washed, Blake was feeling considerably more human. He’d donned his wedding suit, brushed his hair and had even managed to get his cufflinks in with a reasonable amount of dexterity considering the amount of alcohol he’d consumed the night before. But there was one task that just seemed to be beyond his reach. Blake looked in the mirror and grimaced as yet again his reflection showed a tie knot that failed to reach the high standard he wanted to show for Jean.
“Matthew,” said Blake, catching sight of Lawson in the mirror and turning around. “I see you’ve managed to tie your tie to perfection. I don’t suppose you could render some assistance here?”
Lawson rolled his eyes but took the ends of the tie from Blake and with a few quick movements soon had it in a neat little knot.
“My oh my,” said Blake, a trace of amusement in his voice. “Have you been practicing?”
Lawson shrugged, “Mattie got a book from the library, taught me how to do it.” He turned Blake around so they were both looking in the mirror. “There, reckon that’ll pass muster all right with the womenfolk.”
“Ah Matthew,” said Blake, with a sigh. “Excellent work.” He put his arm around Lawson’s shoulders. “Thank you my friend, for all that you’ve done for me...”
“Yeah well,” said Lawson, a little bit embarrassed by Blake’s effusiveness. He looked at his watch, “Right, we need to leave here in the next fifteen minutes. Buttonholes are downstairs, I have the rings in my pocket, and there’s plenty of petrol in the car.” He automatically checked his pocket for the rings.
“You are a model of efficiency,” said Blake. “I couldn’t have asked for a better best man.”
Lawson was smoothing down the handkerchief in his front pocket when Blake spoke. Parks had brought a small wrapped package with him when delivering the buttonholes, “Mattie asked me to give you this. Something she finished last night at the sewing bee.” Inside had been a handkerchief the same colour as the dress Lawson had seen her wearing the day before, and tucked inside it was a note saying ‘I love you’.
Both handkerchief and note were tucked safely in Lawson’s pocket as he replied without thinking to Blake’s comment, “Ah you can return the favour soon enough.” The words were out of his mouth before he realised what he’d said.
“Don’t tell me you’re getting married as well,” said Blake, brushing away an errant hair from his shoulder. He caught the look on Lawson’s face and turned around. “Lawson...are you planning on getting married?”
“Well why else would I need a best man?” said Lawson, a look of chagrin on his face as he realised he’d let the cat out of the bag.
“To Mattie?”
“I’m not exactly courting anybody else now, am I?”
“You asked Mattie O’Brien to marry you?”
“Actually,” said Lawson, a half smile appearing on his face, “I’m pretty certain that she asked me first, but yes, we’re engaged, we’re going to be married, and are you going to be my bloody best man or not?”
“I would be honoured to,” said Blake, a smile on his face. “Bloody hell, Jean is going to be delighted when she hears this!”
“Yeah, well she’s not to hear it today,” said Lawson, firmly. “This is *Jean’s* day, well, hers and yours and the last thing I want is to steal her thunder.”
“You know she wouldn’t mind,” said Blake.
“Maybe not, but I promised Mattie. So come on, get your things, it’s time we were leaving. And remember, not one word to Jean.”
“Ah, and so the hen-pecking begins.” Blake was rewarded with a glare from Lawson who took him by the arm and steered him towards the door. “Don’t worry; my lips are sealed...at least until after the ceremony!”
--------------------------
In spite of his promise not to mention it, Blake did take the opportunity generated by the car journey, to tease Lawson about the situation. “Fancy that, the pair of us, soon to be respectable married gentlemen.” He caught Lawson glaring at him, “Oh don’t worry, I won’t say a word to anybody about it once we’re at the church. Although if you’d been a bit more on the ball, we could have had a double wedding! But of course that wouldn’t have worked, what with you and Mattie not being Catholic. Not that I’m overly fond of religion myself, but well, Jean wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Now who’s hen-pecked,” muttered Lawson under his breath as he drove. But he knew Blake well enough to know that the other man was simply trying to distract himself from the impending ceremony.
“It’s not that I don’t want to get married,” Blake had confided in Lawson over drinks a few weeks earlier, “But the whole religious aspect of it. I haven’t been to church since that murder last year. Luckily Jean is religious enough for both of us and managed to convince the priest that I’m of good character and what not. But it just seems so hypocritical for me to be standing up there and saying all these words I don’t really believe.” He’d knocked back his drink and poured another.
“Cross your bloody fingers then.” Lawson had given short shrift to Blake’s doubts. “Look, you want to marry Jean, you go through the whole ceremony the way she wants. Just try and sound sincere at least when you’re saying ‘I do’.”
For the most part on the journey Lawson simply ignored Blake’s ramblings. One thing he *did* respond to, however, was when Blake teased him about the lack of a romantic proposal. “While I’ll admit that romance isn’t always my strong suit,” he said, “At least there were flowers when I popped the question.”
“Yeah,” snapped Lawson, “Only they were the ones I’d bought for Mattie for our first date, so that doesn’t count.” Blake had moved on to another topic, but although there had certainly been no malicious intent behind the jibe, it had left its mark, and Lawson was still brooding over it somewhat as he and Blake waited at the altar.
And then the music had changed, and the wedding party came in. Jean looking radiant in her simple yet stunning wedding suit. Danny managing to look both nervous as hell and pleased as punch as he escorted her down the aisle. And then there was Mattie, and as Lawson saw her walking towards him, a demure smile on her face, once he saw her, it was as if they were the only two people in the church. By the look on Mattie’s face when she reached the altar and made eye contact with him, she was having similar thoughts.
Lawson was barely aware of the ceremony progressing, the vows being exchanged. All he could think of was that some day soon, he and Mattie would be standing up in front of their friends and family and making those same promises. He only pulled himself back to the present when he heard the priest call for the rings, and he fumbled quickly in his pocket before handing them over. Glancing over towards Mattie, Lawson caught her eye as she smiled at him, and he knew that she knew what he had been thinking. And then there were the two voices reading their vows which then became one and Doctor and Mrs Blake turned to face the congregation before giving the obligatory first kiss.
------------------------------
Lawson clasped Mattie’s hand in his as they followed the newlyweds out to the front of the church. There were handshakes and hugs all round, and then the photographer barking orders, moving people into position and out again, trying to get everybody looking in the right direction and smiling at once.
Later, when all the pictures had been developed and copies made and shared around, of all the many shots that had been taken that day, Lawson’s favourite had been one taken not by the official photographer, but by Agnes Clasby with her old brownie .
It had been taken in between some of the ‘official’ shots. Mattie had been smoothing down the handkerchief in his pocket when Agnes had called her name. She’d half turned and that was when the camera shutter had clicked. When the picture came out, Agnes had caught that moment between them, looking as she’d said “As if there was nobody else in the world apart from the two of them.” She’d added, “That’s when I figured there was no point Jean doing a bouquet toss, because anybody with half a brain could see who was going to be next!”
Jean had agreed, and had had Agnes make a copy for her which she’d framed and given to the pair as an engagement present. But that was later and this was now, and Lawson found himself separated from Mattie during the meal as Jean had gone for a traditional seating plan.
He made his best man’s speech, managing to get a few jibes in at Blake and his propensity for annoying people, but also managing to convey just how good and decent a man he was. “No matter how much he tries to hide it,” Lawson had added, getting a laugh from the assembled guests. “Lucien and Jean have always looked out for their friends and now it’s their turn to look out for each other. Ladies and gentlemen, please raise your glasses and join me in a toast, to the bride and groom.” It may not have been the most articulate of speeches, but it had hit the right note. Lawson was however extremely grateful to have gotten through it without any hiccups and was even more grateful when the remaining speeches were finished and it was time to mingle with the crowd, and more importantly, be reunited with Mattie. They spent most of the rest of the reception together, trying to hide their smiles as more than one person made pointed comments about ‘going to a wedding being the making of another’.
But finally the reception was drawing to a close, Jean had disappeared to change into her going away outfit and Mattie had gone to assist. Lawson was left to perform his final task as best man, namely keeping Blake distracted while Danny decorated his car. Charlie had managed to join them for a few hours - the good and not so good citizens of Ballarat having clearly decided not to trouble their police force too unduly this day - and he was providing valuable assistance in the serious business of attaching tin cans and old shoes to the rear bumper.
“Ah Matthew,” said Blake, at his most convivial. “I thought you’d be getting my car ready for the drive.”
“Some things are best delegated,” said Lawson, with a smile. “Just hope it bloody starts!”
“Well, you’ve done enough for me today,” said Blake. His voice was suddenly serious, “And indeed not just today. You’ve been my friend since we were in short trousers and I just want you to know that I appreciate everything you’ve done for me...even if I don’t always acknowledge it properly.”
“Yes, well...” Lawson cleared his throat, “That’s what friends are for...” He put out his hand to shake hands, but instead Blake pulled him into a quick hug.
“You look after Mattie,” said Blake, quietly as they pulled apart. “And I hope you’ll be as happy together as Jean and I.” He glanced over Lawson’s shoulder, “And speaking of the lovely Mrs. Blake...”
Lawson turned to see Jean surrounded by well wishers as she tried to make her way back to her husband. “Lucien,” she said, when she finally reached his side, “I think it’s time we were going.”
“Of course, my dear,” said Blake, offering her his arm.
Of course there were goodbyes to be said, hugs and kisses to be exchanged all round, Blake’s mock anger when he saw the decorated car. But soon he was driving away with Jean waving out the window at their guests.
--------------------------------
Lawson’s jacket was draped over Mattie’s shoulders as they walked home. It was such a lovely day that neither had wanted it to come to an end just yet.
Mattie had Jean’s bouquet in her hands as they walked. There hadn’t been an official ‘bouquet toss’, Jean having ruled it out when she’d realized that the only unmarried women there would be Mattie, and Agnes Clasby. “It would hardly be fair,” she’d told Blake while they were making plans.
“I completely agree,” Blake had said, “I’ve seen Agnes when she sets her mind on something, poor Mattie wouldn’t stand a chance.”
So Jean had simply handed the bouquet to Mattie with a wink and a smile, before getting into the car.
“You’re very quiet,” said Mattie, as they walked through the park. “Penny for your thoughts.”
“You know what happened the last time you said that,” said Lawson, with a smile. Glancing around, he saw that there was nobody else in the vicinity and he guided Mattie to a nearby bench and sat her down. The sun was setting, casting a reddish gold light on the lake and surroundings as Lawson dropped to one knee before Mattie and took her hand. “Mattie,” he said, softly. “I know we’ve pretty much agreed this already, but I wanted to do it properly...will you do me the very great honour...of allowing me to become your husband?”
“Oh Matthew,” said Mattie, “You didn’t have to ask...you know I will...” The bouquet was forgotten as she stood, taking Lawson’s hands as he too rose to his feet. “Yes,” she said softly. “I will.”
In the end thought Lawson as they kissed, it wasn’t about the right time or the right place, or even the right words. All that was needed...was the right person.
-------------------------------
The end
(for now, but I do have another segment planned)