Picket Fences! Part 63


Over at Jennifer Custer's house . . .

Nick was telling Jennifer goodbye before he left to go home.

He suddenly dropped to one knee and held up a diamond ring.
"Will you be engaged to me?', he asked.

He waited for her answer while she admired the ring.



Then she jumped into his arma and said "YES!"

"I didn't expect you to propose", she said excitedly, "You've made me so happy!"

"I'm ready to get married whenever you want", she said.
"The sooner the better", he said.
"I want to invite my parents and my brother", said Nick.
"Do they live here in town?", asked Jennifer.
"Yeah, Mom and Dad live over on Elm Street and Tony has an apartment on Main Street", said Nick.
"I'd love to have them come", she said.
"Good, let's have the wedding next Saturday", he said.
"That sounds good to me", she said.", he said.

Nick kissed her goodbye.

Then left to go home.


The next morning Jennifer received a call from Ryan.
"Can I come over to visit my son", he asked.
"Yeah, that'll be okay. Matthew and I will be out on the backporch", she said.
"Thanks, I'll be there in a few minutes", he said.

Ryan arrived a short time later.


Ryan talked to Matthew.

He picked up the toddler . . .

And gave him a hug.

Then they played together with the toy lighthouse while Jennifer watched.

"Come sit down in the glider", she said, "I have something to tell you."

"I'm getting married next Saturday", she said.
"I'm happy for you", he said.

"Are you happy Ryan?", she asked.
"Not really. You know I got married, right?", he asked.
"Yeah, I heard". she said.
"Well, I was forced into it because she was pregnant. A wedding ring was the only thing her family would accept", said Ryan.

"How are the babies doing? I heard y'all had twin boys", she asked.

"Joseph and Jeffery are doing great. I love them and I'm trying to make a go of it for their sakes, but I don't know for how long I'm going to be able to make it", he said, "I reckon it's what I deserve after the way I treated you."
"I don't have any hard feelings toward you Ryan. If things between us hadn't happened the way it did, I wouldn't be fre to marry Nick and I wouldn't have Matthew", she said.
"Thanks for telling me. It helps."

"Bye Jennifer", said Ryan.

"Bye son", he said.
"Bye bye", said Matthew.

To be continued . . .