The Honeymoon Proposal. Hannah Bernard

have come to see her more often.”

      The soft jingle of the bell drifted into the kitchen, and before Joanna had even put down her mug, Matt was already out of the room.

      “Matt! Wait. I need to tell you something…”

      Too late. He had already vanished into her grandmother’s room. Joanna pushed herself away from the table and ran after him, cursing her own cowardice.

      Too late. From here on, it was all about damage control.

      When she entered the room, Matt was bent over her grandmother, his arms around her. Grandma’s beaming face was visible over his shoulder.

      “Esther!” Matt said warmly. “It’s been too long. You know how I tend to let the office swallow me up until I forget everything. You shouldn’t let me get away with it.”

      Grandma smiled, blue eyes sparkling at the sight of her godson, but she didn’t sit up, a depressing sign of her weakened state. “Until you forget everything? Not quite everything, I hope,” she said, looking at Joanna with a grin. Matt glanced back too, his smile absent and his expression puzzled.

      “I’ll leave you two alone,” Joanna said, all courage gone. It was too late even for damage control. She’d made a huge mistake. All she could do now was hope Matt caught on and didn’t say anything to upset Grandma. “Just call me if you need anything.”

      “No, wait, Jo.” Her grandmother’s trembling hand reached out toward her. “Don’t go. I want you here as well. I need to talk to both of you.”

      Joanna hesitated, then came to her grandmother’s side on the other side of the bed from Matt. She sat down on the edge of the bed. Matt pulled up a chair and sat down too, his hand in Esther’s.

      “So, how are you, old crone?” he asked, squeezing her hand. “You were still beating me at chess last time I saw you. What are you doing in bed this time of the day? Someone steal all your dresses from the clothesline?”

      Joanna watched her grandmother’s eyes brighten as the two of them began their usual banter. She should have called Matt sooner, she castigated herself. Grandma loved to see him, but didn’t want to bother him much, despite all her cracks about curing him of his workaholism.

      Grandma looked between them, smiling. “I’m so happy to have both of you here, finally. You see, I don’t think it’ll be long until I get to find out what the afterlife is all about.” She shook her head when Matt started to protest. “Don’t. I’m old and I’m tired. I’ll be ready to go soon.” She took a wheezing breath. “I have a request for you. Both of you.”

      “Anything,” Matt muttered. “You know that, Esther. All you have to do is beckon and we jump.”

      Grandma’s face creased in laughter, and her eyes were shining as she looked at Matt. “Good.” She tightened her grip on their hands. “Because you see, I want you two to get married before I go.”

      CHAPTER TWO

      JOANNA was still reeling over the content of her grandmother’s words when she heard Matt give a shaky laugh. “Wow. Get married? You don’t pull any punches, do you, Esther?” He glanced at Joanna, looking confused as well as shocked. In fact, he was looking as if he expected her to straighten this mess out.

      Joanna opened her mouth, but only a squeak emerged, so she closed it and concentrated on trying to remember how her vocal chords worked. Her grandmother squeezed her hand, and she brought Jo’s hand to meet Matt’s on top of her duvet. His hand felt hot on top of hers, probably because her own was ice-cold, a familiar state since they’d broken up. She felt a jolt of recognition at his touch and gritted her teeth. This was no time to wallow in self-pity or a broken heart. This was about her grandmother who had the wrong idea.

      A very wrong idea—and it was Jo’s fault.

      “I know it hasn’t been long since you two discovered each other,” he grandmother continued. “You’re probably still keeping it a secret from most people, aren’t you? But I’ve seen you together, I was in on it from the beginning, remember? No need to look so shocked.”

      Joanna felt her face grow red-hot as Matt’s accusing gaze settled on her. Busted.

      Grandma let go of their hands and cradled Matt’s hand in both of hers. “You understand, Matt, don’t you? I need to see my little girl safe. She’s never been able to count on her parents, and I couldn’t bear to leave this world knowing I was leaving her behind all alone.”

      “Esther…” Matt said weakly. “Jo is not a ‘little girl’. She’s an adult. She’s an independent woman with a career and her own life. She doesn’t need a husband to be ‘safe’. She can take care of herself.”

      “You’re right, Matt. She doesn’t need a husband. But she does need you.” Grandma shook her head. “I know it’s old-fashioned, but then I am a relic. I need this.” She gave a weak wink. “You don’t want me haunting this house and then roaming the earth for centuries, do you?”

      “Grandma…” Joanna felt guilty about it, but anger stirred over her grandmother’s scheming. “We can’t. We’re not ready. Please don’t ask this of us.”

      Grandma sighed. “And here I thought an old woman would never be denied a deathbed wish.”

      If the knowledge that this could indeed be her grandmother’s deathbed hadn’t been at the forefront of her mind, Joanna would have rolled her eyes in exasperated recognition of her grandmother’s manipulation. This was probably the geriatric equivalent of throwing a tantrum. “Grandma…you know I love you. I’d do almost anything for you.” She shook her head. “But I won’t get married just because you want me to.”

      Her grandmother took a shallow breath and blinked rapidly. “Don’t say no right away, love. Think about it. At least sleep on it. Matt, what about you? You’ll think about it, won’t you? That’s all I’m asking.”

      “Esther, nobody wants to be pushed into a marriage, ” Matt replied, and Joanna sighed in relief at hearing him approach this logically, yet kindly. He wasn’t going to spill the beans. “Besides, nothing will change. Our relationship won’t change any by rushing into marriage.”

      “It’s already too late for me to see your children be born. I so want to know you’ll be safe with each other before I leave. Marriage is a sanctuary, children. I know you love each other. If you get married I know you will always shelter each other. Matthew, I know you love Joanna. I know you’ll always take care of her, but both of you need the safety that comes with complete commitment.”

      His smile was sad. “You know, Esther, there are no guarantees, even with love, and even within a marriage.” He glanced at Jo. “Sometimes your best just isn’t good enough.”

      “Don’t say that, Matthew. You have to enter into this marriage with optimism.”

      Matt shook his head and his tone hardened just a bit. “Esther, please give this up. Joanna and I aren’t ready for marriage yet.”

      Despite the shock and sizzling anger over her grandmother’s interference, Joanna winced at seeing disappointment darken the lined face. Her grandmother’s health had been frail for weeks now. Originally there hadn’t seemed any point in making her miserable by telling her that she and Matt had broken up—especially not when just the thought of having to explain the what and why had been so painful. It would have forced Esther to take sides, and Jo hadn’t wanted that either. So, day after day, she’d postponed it. It had been easier to let her think they were still together, that the long evenings Jo sometimes had to spend at her new workplace were spent with Matt. She’d pushed that problem ahead of her, hoping….

      She bit her lip—she’d hoped Matt would be the one to tell her grandmother they weren’t seeing each other anymore. This was all his fault—why should she be the one to break an old woman’s heart? Esther had been thrilled when