“Breakfast and a Proposal”

Dwayne led Abby down the boarding house stairs and into Andy’s restaurant for breakfast. Neither of them had any idea that Colin was now contemplating his fateful leap from the back balcony outside of Abby’s second-story room, as they made their way over to an open table and sat down.

“So, what do you recommend on the menu here, darlin’?” Dwayne asked, a Cheshire-cat-of-a-smile spread across his face.

“Anything you order here will be top-notch,” she replied, offhandedly, as she watched one of the waitresses carrying a stack of plates to the table across from them.

“Alrighty then, eggs it is!” he said, setting the menu aside. He stared at her a moment, thinking about what he had planned, then smoothly slid his hand across the table and took her left hand in his.

Abby flinched at his touch, and pulled her hand away, setting it on her lap under the table.

“See you aren’t wearing the ring anymore,” he told her, not taking his gaze off of her.

“Why should I?” she asked, coolly, still not looking at him.

“Because you’re my wife, that’s why,” he told her, “and I want everyone here to know it.”

“I sold it,” she told him.

“You... sold... my grandmother’s ring?” he asked her, “The one she passed down to me from her deathbed? Oh Abby darlin’, I’m hurt.”

“Dwayne, you’re grandma is still alive and givin’ hell down in Houston,” Abby replied, then added, “and last time I checked, she was still wearing that ugly-ass wedding band your granddaddy gave her on their wedding day, so don’t try and make me feel guilty.”

“Never could pull one over on you, darlin’,” Dwayne chuckled. “I kinda figured you might have gone and sold the ring, so I picked up a replacement for you.” He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small box. “Here... it’s Cartier... biggest, most expensive diamond I could get without getting too flashy.” He reached across the table and opened the box, showing her the magnificent diamond ring inside.

“Lovely, Dwayne, but I can’t possibly accept it,” she told him, flatly.

“Of course you can, darlin’,” he said, as he got up from the table, ring in hand, and kneeled down on one knee in front of her.

“Dwayne! What the hell do you think you’re doing?!” Abby exclaimed. “Get up from there this instance!”

“Can’t darlin’, not until you accept this here ring of mine and say you’ll do me the honor of bein’ my wife... ‘til death do us part, and all,” he told her, with a boyish grin on his face.

“Dwayne! People are starin’ at us! Now stop this! No! We’ve been through this already! I want a divorce and that’s that!”

“Nope, not takin’ no for an answer, darlin’,” he told her taking her left hand in his and slipping the ring on her finger. “There, now that’s better. Now everyone in town will know you’re mine.”

Abby bit her lip and blushed as she looked around the room. Every eye in there was on her. Dwayne smiled broadly as he stood up and announced to the whole restaurant, “She said yes!”

Everyone began to applaud the “happy” couple, and Dwayne sat down, grinning at Abby. She was now three shades of red and wanted nothing more than to just sink down into her chair and disappear.

“I can’t believe you just did that, Dwayne,” she whispered rather loudly across the table at him. “What’s Colin going to say when he finds out about this? Huh?!”

“Hopefully, he’ll get the message and stop comin’ ‘round my loving wife,” he drawled, a sly hint of a smile on his face.

“Dwayne, I don’t care what you say or do, I am not... I repeat, NOT... going to stay married to you, and that’s final!” Abby told him, agitated by the way he was smiling at her.

“That’s cute, darlin’, but I think you WILL care what I do, that is... if you care anything about that grease-monkey you been playin’ house with, that is. Fellow tryin’ to move in on a man’s territory might go and get himself in an accident, if he isn’t careful, that is.”

“Maybe the sheriff might be interested in hearin’ about your threats, Dwayne,” Abby told him, “Cuz it may have worked in the past, but I’m not scared of you now.”

“Maybe you should be,” he said, softly, leaning in close to her. When her eyes got wide he chuckled, “Just teasin’ ya, darlin’... I love you. I’d never do anything to hurt you. Now, that mechanic, he’s another story. Might have to pay him a visit.” He smiled, slyly, then winked at her. “Now, let’s get down to orderin’ some breakfast, shall we?”

Dwayne motioned for the waitress to come over and he set his and Abby’s menus aside. About that time, the Tom and Stevo arrived in the ambo outside, their sirens blaring, and everyone in the restaurant hurried over to have a look at what was happening.

“What’s going on, I wonder?” Abby said, looking off towards where the crowd had gathered.

“It’s that O’Brien bloke,” they heard someone say. “Looks like they’re carrying him off on a stretcher.”

“Colin! Oh no!” Abby exclaimed, jumping up and running out to the lobby in time to see Colin being loaded up in the ambo.

“Well, well, well,” Dwayne said, as he walked up behind her, a smile on his face. “Looks like maybe I won’t have to go payin’ him a visit anytime soon, afterall, darlin’. Now, I don’t know about you, but I’m starvin’! Let’s eat!”

Abby looked back over her shoulder towards the front window as she followed Dwayne back into the restaurant.

TBC...