Part 51 (1/2)

”Are you really that political that you wouldn't get married until it's legal here?”

”I don't know,” I admitted. ”I'd have to think about it. It doesn't seem right, but maybe I'm being foolish.”

He seemed to recover a bit of the wind in his sails.

”All right,” he said. ”Let's get engaged. And when gay marriage becomes legal in the state of Mississippi, then we'll get gay-married in the state of Mississippi. And I'll wait for you. However long it takes. Until then, we'll just be engaged and the whole world will know we're waiting for history to catch up with us. One way or the other, Wiley Cantrell, I want to be by your side the rest of my life. So what do you say?”

He held out the ring again.

Noah offered a bright smile as he watched.

I hesitated for a long time. Ridiculous as it was, I had never imagined that Jackson Ledbetter or anyone else would ever propose to me. I hoped. I dreamed. But I had never allowed myself to believe that it might actually happen. A defense mechanism, perhaps, to avoid the pain of hopes being dashed. But there it was. And now that Jackson had asked, now that he was kneeling there with a ring in his hand and looking at me, I did not know what to say.

What's wrong, Daddy? Noah asked. Noah asked.

I don't know, I admitted. I admitted.

Don't you want J. to be my daddy?

I lowered my eyes.

He moved closer, refusing to be put off.

Say yes, Daddy, Noah urged. Noah urged. Say yes and then we'll be a real family. Say yes and then we'll be a real family.

”Well?” Jackson prompted.

I turned to look at him; the sight was rea.s.suring. Looking at Jackson Ledbetter, I knew I'd do just about anything he asked me to, and probably a whole lot more. Somehow I knew there weren't that many men in this world who could make the b.u.t.ter slide off my biscuits. I'd never find anyone else like him ever again.

”You need to ask my son's permission,” I said.

He turned to Noah: I want to marry your dad. Is that okay with you?

Do you love him as much as I do? Noah asked. Noah asked.

You know I do. I love him very much. And I love you too. I want us to be a family.

Noah grinned from ear to ear.

So do I have your permission? Jackson asked. Jackson asked.

You can't be a doofus, Noah warned. Noah warned.

I won't be, Jackson a.s.sured him. Jackson a.s.sured him. So... what do you say? So... what do you say?

Noah nodded.

”Good deal!” Jackson exclaimed.

They turned to me and Jackson held out the ring again.

”So what do you say, Wily Cantrell?” Jackson prompted.

”I don't know,” I said. ”What's in it for me?”

”What's in it for you?” Jackson asked, outraged.

”You want me to marry a d.a.m.ned Yankee who smells like the cologne counter at Belks?” I asked. ”Surely I have a right to expect something more.”

”Don't call me s.h.i.+rley,” Jackson said. ”You're going to marry this d.a.m.ned Yankee and you're going to be happy.”