Moving Forward - 62. Chapter 62 (15.3)

Marshall was sorry the cruise was ending, but he was glad to be getting home again. They got their luggage and disembarked, and met up with Denver and Dustin at the car. They stowed all their bags in the trunk then headed out to get breakfast. Marshall couldn’t help but give a last lingering look at the Wandering Star, staring at the ship until it was lost from view. So many happy memories… such a great time.

Everybody was in good spirits as they devoured plates of steak and eggs, along with mounds of crispy hash browns, and large pieces of Texas toast slathered in butter.

“Feel good to be back on dry land again?” Lee teased.

“Yeah, it does,” Marshall admitted. “But hey, at least I never got seasick once, did I?”

“Nope, not once,” Lee agreed.

“Neither did I,” Denver put in, looking at his cousin, who shook his head.

“Me either. Never even came close.”

As they finished their coffee, Lee gave Marshall a significant look, and he had a good idea what Lee meant. He nodded his assent.

Lee cleared his throat, and everyone looked at him expectantly.

“If you don’t mind, Marshall and I’d like to make a stop while we’re still in Galveston.”

“It’s your car.” Denver laughed. “Whatever you want to do is cool with us, eh Dustin?”

“Sure, of course,” Dustin agreed. He glanced between Marshall and Lee, and Marshall had the feeling he was catching on to the situation quicker than Denver. “Something up, guys?”

“You could say that,” Lee replied. “We need to get a couple of rings, and Burnham isn’t really the place to do that.”

A moment passed in which no one said anything. Then Denver broke into a broad grin.

“Are you saying what I think you are? You two are gettin’ hitched? That’s the best news ever, congratulations!”

Marshall warmed at Denver’s obvious enthusiasm for their news. Denver reached across the table, shaking first Lee’s hand then Marshall’s.

“That’s exactly what I’m saying, Denver. It’ll be a small ceremony, just us and a few friends, but we’d like you both to come, wouldn’t we, Marshall?”

“We would, absolutely,” Marshall confirmed. Lee took his hand in his and squeezed it lovingly.

Marshall noticed Denver throw Dustin a worried glance, but Dustin was smiling, and his expression seemed genuine.

“That’s wonderful news,” he said, “I’m happy for you both. I can’t think of anyone more deserving of that kind of happiness than you two.”

“When’s the date?” Denver asked. “Or have you even set one yet?”

“Not yet,” Lee said, “but soon. That’s why we’re getting rings while we’re still here.”

“No time like the present,” Denver said. They started to rise just as something beeped. Denver and Dustin both reached for their phones.

“It’s me,” Denver said. “Just a text. I’ll be right behind you. Oh wait, the check…” He reached for the bill that sat on the table, but Lee was faster.

“It’s on me,” he said in a voice that brooked no argument. They paused by the cashier on their way out of the restaurant, and Lee settled the bill before they headed out to the parking lot.

“Everything okay?” Dustin asked Denver once they were settled inside the car. Marshall was wondering the same thing.

“Everything’s great,” Denver said. He closed his phone and slid it into his pants pocket. “You have a store in mind, Lee?”

“Yeah, I do,” Lee said, giving the address to the GPS. “I did a little research while you were in the shower this morning. You want to see what I found or be surprised?”

“Surprise me,” Marshall said without hesitation.

“Surprise it is.” Lee put the car into gear and they headed from the parking lot.