Ben leaped off the bed, saying, “Pancakes for breakfast. Uncle Joseph makes the best pancakes.”
Annie hurried after her brother chattering about syrup and honey.
Charity’s heart nearly burst from love watching her children rush out of the room with visions of pancakes with syrup and honey on their minds. Dressing quickly, she assisted Annie with the buttons on her dress and boots. When they were dressed for the cold, Charity took their hands and began their walk to the café.
Charity ushered the children down the alley behind the café to the back door. She opened the door, and Annie ran in first, heading for the kitchen without stopping to remove her coat.
“Aunty Holly, Unca Joseph. We’re goin’ta get married, and I’m goin’ta have a papa,” Annie announced in her excited, high-pitched three-year-old voice.
Holly and Joseph turned from their work and stared at Annie and then at Ben and Charity as they caught up to the rambunctious girl.
“It’s true,” Charity explained. “But I wanted to tell you myself. Annie’s a bit excited.”
Annie’s enthusiastic announcement had traveled into the dining room, and Charity groaned and blushed as she heard several people applauding and shouts of congratulations from several of the male diners.
Shaking her head, Charity said, “I suppose within the hour the entire town will know. I should have known that the children couldn’t keep quiet. We’re here to have breakfast before I take them to Miss Barber’s for the day.”
Holly set down the bowl she was using and hugged Charity, “I’m so happy for you. Jason is a wonderful man. It is Jason you’re marrying, isn’t it?”
‘Yes,” Charity giggled. “Whom did you expect?”
Holly shrugged, “Only making sure. Tell me the details.”
Joseph hugged and congratulated his sister, and Charity answered Holly, “We didn’t make any plans yesterday. He took the children and me on an indoor picnic at his office, and it was hard to settle details with the children there. He’s going to stop in for lunch today, and we’ll talk.”
“That sounds romantic,” Holly said. “How did he find the time for a private moment to ask you with both children listening.”
“He bought them gifts. A train for Ben and a doll for Annie. It kept them busy for the most part until he kissed me, and Annie said girls shouldn’t kiss boys.”
Joseph snorted and then laughed out loud. “I hope she remembers that in ten years.”
Charity smiled at her brother. “We can only hope. I’m going to get the kids settled in the dining room. They both want your pancakes, Joseph, with syrup and honey. I’ll have them, too, and we’ll have bacon. That should fill them up.”
After their sticky pancake breakfast, Charity walked the children to Miss Barber’s house and returned to help at the café.
~ * ~
Jason arrived shortly after the lunch rush had ended and took his favorite table near the side window.
Charity greeted him with a warm smile and said, “Today special is beef stew and fresh biscuits.”
“Did you make the stew?” Jason asked, matching her smile with one of his own.
“I chopped the vegetables,” Charity answered.
Jason laughed. “Good enough. Bring me a bowl, and please join me. I believe we have a few details to discuss.”
Charity filled Jason’s coffee cup and returned with a heaping bowl of stew and a plate of biscuits. She sat on the chair across from him and watched him eat, waiting for him to begin talking about wedding plans.
Jason wiped his mouth with his napkin and laid it down next to his coffee cup. “Before we discuss plans, I should tell you I stopped by to see my mother this morning on my way to work and told her about our engagement. She’s excited and happy for us and told me that she wants to be part of the planning. My mother is a sweet woman, and I know whatever she plans will only benefit us, and I hope you don’t consider her ideas an intrusion.”
“She’s absolutely not an intrusion,” Charity said. “Your mother has always been kind to me, and I think she would be of great value to me when we plan this wedding.”
“I’m sure she will since I have absolutely no idea what goes into planning a wedding,” Jason confessed.
Charity answered, “We can have a simple wedding after services on a Sunday that we choose.”
“I wish it were that simple,” Jason answered. “But I am the mayor, and the people in town will expect a larger more elaborate wedding than a simple ceremony after Sunday services.”
Charity blew out of breath and said, “I never thought about that. You’re right. People in town will expect us to not only have a bigger wedding but also a reception that includes the entire town. Can we do that?”
“Of course, I am the mayor after all,” Jason laughed.
Charity nodded, and she asked, “Tell me what you think we should do.”
Jason glanced out the window for a few moments and said, “First of all, we need to get married on a Saturday afternoon so that it appears as special as it is and not just an afterthought at Sunday services.”
“I suppose you’re right,” Charity answered. “Let’s start with that. We need to pick a date.”
Jason smiled, “How about this Saturday?”
“What? No, I need time. I can’t do everything we need to do by Saturday. I need a few weeks at least.”
“All right, how about six weeks from now? The sweetheart dance is being held the Saturday before Valentine’s Day. Why don’t we get married the Saturday after Valentine’s Day?”
“All right, that should give me enough time,” Charity answered. “We do need to see Pastor Elkins and make sure that day works for him and see about the reception.”
“What if
