"Are you serious?" Lillian asked her. "You haven't been in New York in months. Not that I can blame you." She eyed Adam who was standing beside her. "I have many things here that require your attention." She indicated a large satchel.
"Just leave it. I'll look at it all later," Michelle told her.
"I've categorized everything by order of importance," Lillian informed her. "But I've also separated them by the date they came in and in alphabetical order."
"Wow!" was Adam's comment.
Lillian started for the door. "I'll be in town for three more days. And since it is apparent that you intend to permanently relocate when I get back home I will start making arrangements to have your office transferred here. I'll be by tomorrow to pick up the first of the paperwork." She turned to Adam. "A pleasure meeting you. Good day." And she was out the door.
"Wow!" Adam said again. "No wonder you write so well. You can devote all your time to the creative end of things."
"Yes," Michelle agreed. "She is extremely efficient." They walked together to the study.
"And she's your cousin too?"
"My father's sister's daughter," Michelle told him as she closed the door.
They sat together on the sofa.
"And she's quite perceptive," Adam continued. "About you permanently relocating that is."
Michelle smiled. "Just because I stayed on for an extra four months," she teased.
Adam took her by the hand. "I'm glad we're alone. I think it's time we had a talk."
"About what?" Michelle asked pretending not to know.
"You... and me. You do know you are the best thing that ever happened to me." He rolled his neck. "And I think we should... talk... about..." He paused then rushed out the next words. "getting married."
"Adam..."
"Hear me out. I love you. You love me. I can't imagine not being with you." Adam rubbed the back of his head. "This isn't coming out quite the way I intended." He stood then sat down again quickly. "We should at least talk about it. Don't you think?"
Michelle contemplated him. "Gene's wedding got to you didn't it?" Then she noticed an intensity in his eyes. "Okay. Let's talk."
Adam tried to analyze the situation. "I know we love each other enough. That's not a question. You'll still be able to continue writing. I promise you that. I figure that we'd have to decide where to live. I know your family would want you to remain here. I don't have to tell you that my pa would want me to stay on the Ponderosa."
"I own some land that's about half way between. If that helps anything," Michelle offered.
Adam grinned. "Yeah. That could work. The families might go for it." Adam paused. There was a question on his mind that he didn't really want to address. Michelle sensed his discomfort. "Just say it."
"It's about the... religious difference. I mean you being Jewish. How would your parents react."
Michelle laughed. "My family has already been through that. When my father married my mother. I'm only half Jewish. I think they will accept it again."
Adam had to laugh to himself. He should have realized that. He'd known Jarrod almost forever and he knew they weren't Jewish. Where was his brain. Oh, yeah, desperately in love.
"Would you be content remaining out west," Michelle wanted to know.
"I'd be content at the North Pole if you were with me," he replied quite seriously. "Besides, I'm certain we'd travel frequently enough."
Michelle started to form another question but Adam shushed her.
"I promise I will have an indisputable response to anything you might say." Adam was determined. "Unless, of course, you don't love me."
Michelle rose and glanced around the room, then turned back to Adam. "I do love you. It's just I waited so long. I know I'm good at being unmarried. I'm not so sure how I'd be as part of a couple."
Adam reached out and pulled her back to the sofa by the hand. "I think that is something we could learn together." He stroked her hair. He had come to know this woman whom he had admired for years for her writing. He knew something that was on her mind. "Michelle, you NEVER have to change for me. I know what people expect a wife to be. But I fell in love with YOU. The writer, the strong willed, independent personality. That's the person I want to be with."
A smile crossed Michelle's lips. "I know. And that's why I love YOU."
Adam nodded. "Good. Then we're in agreement?"
"Yes"
"Okay, then." Adam rose from the sofa and selected one of the small end pillows which he placed on the floor at Michelle's feet.
Michelle seemed surprised. "Adam, what are you doing?"
"I believe you deserve the full treatment," Adam said as he lowered one knee to the pillow.. He took Michelle by the hand. "Michelle Kaufman, I love you. Will you marry me?"
Michelle's smile filled the room as she answered softly, "Yes."
Before Adam could hug her a joyous shout arose from many voices on the other side of the door.
Michelle and Adam both stood. "I guess we weren't as alone as we thought," Michelle joked. The door burst open and the two were descended on by Jarrod, Nick, Heath, Victoria, Audra, and Silas all of whom had been listening.
They all excitedly offered congratulations and comments of "It's about time."
Silas' smile was bright. "Another wedding. This is a happy day."
Jarrod steered his cousin and Adam aside and offered the most appropriate comment he could think of. "Mazel Tov!"
THE END