When First They Met Read Free Page B

then the two teams had surrounded Paul, too. After a few tortuous moments, he sat up and looked around at the concerned faces.
    “I’ll live. It takes more than a hard tackle to knock me out of a game.”
    “You’re sidelined, young man,” Dad insisted. “I’m placing you on the injured reserved list.”
    “Yes, sir.”
    Todd helped him to his feet, and with my arm around Paul’s waist I led him off the field.
    “I’m fine, Jo Marie,” he insisted. “Quit looking at me as if you expect me to keel over any minute.”
    I didn’t want him to know how frightened I’d been seeing him injured. Pressing my head against his shoulder, I clung tightly to him. After a few minutes, he was back in the game. Until that moment, I don’t believe I’d ever realized what it was like to watch someone you love suffer. It wasn’t anything I wanted to think about, especially in light of the fact that Paul had chosen the military as his career.

    The football game ended and everyone headed back into the house for pumpkin and pecan pie. Mom and my aunts dished up while my cousins and I served. Paul asked for a slice of each. My dad and Todd did, too. They’d worked off those extra calories for sure.
    After the second set of dishes was finished, the day wound to an end. It was after ten before everyone had left the house. My brother remained, along with his family. His two children were fast asleep and Mary Lou sat in Todd’s lap, her head on his shoulder. After seeing mosteveryone off, my parents remained in the kitchen, talking. I figured that after all the noise and company, they sought a few minutes of peace with just the two of them.
    I still hadn’t quite forgiven my brother for hurting Paul. If I’d been a ref, I would have called unnecessary roughness and penalized him fifty yards. As it was, my brother was lucky I was speaking to him.
    “This is one of the best Thanksgivings I can ever remember,” Paul said, sitting down on the sofa next to me.
    “Despite getting hurt?”
    Paul grinned and looped his arm around my shoulder. “You have a wonderful family.”
    I had to agree, although I glared at my brother, sitting on the other side of the room.
    “Hey, sis, if Paul’s forgiven me, then you should, too.”
    “Maybe.”
    Paul kissed the top of my head.
    Mom and Dad came into the living room and my father looked at Paul. “Now?” he asked.
    Not knowing what this was about, I sat up and noticed Paul’s eye contact with my dad.
    “Your father and I had a long talk this morning,” Paul said.
    I’d been busy in the kitchen helping my mother stuff the turkey and hadn’t noticed.
    “And then your father talked to me,” Mom added.
    “About?”
    “About,” Paul answered, “you and me.”
    I held my breath, anticipation building. I couldn’t pretend I didn’t know what this was about. I’ve never been a woman who cries easily. Some of my friends can weep over the silliest, most nonsensical things. Not me. Yet in that moment, tears flooded my eyes.
    “Jo Marie,” Paul whispered, “would you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
    I couldn’t speak if my life depended on it. My throat completely closed up on me so that all I could manage to do was nod, which I did with enough gusto to dislocate my neck. Paul’s beautiful blue eyes held mine. His image blurred because of the tears flowing down my cheeks.“Oh, Paul, yes, yes, yes,” I croaked out in a whisper. Swiping the moisture from my cheeks, I noticed both my mother and father had tears in their eyes, too.
    Then Paul kissed me and we clung to each other. Earlier he’d said this had been one of the best Thanksgivings of his life. For me, it was the happiest day I could ever remember. He slipped the diamond ring on my finger and we kissed again.
    “When’s the wedding?” Mom asked, after she blew her nose.
    I looked at Paul and he looked at me, the reality of the question coming as a shock.
    “Soon,” he suggested.
    I’d waited nearly my entire