Core Beliefs - Chapter 45 - The Proposal

Core Beliefs – Chapter 45 - The Proposal.

Almost before they could believe, Christmas was upon them. Matt and Ling celebrated Christmas Eve with Joe and his family. The time at Joe’s was the happiest Christmas Matt could recall. Doug had brought Ellie, and Charley joked constantly with anyone who would banter.

Cynthia was singing and baking cookies. There was a special feeling about family that gripped Matt, causing him to appreciate his brother as never before.

Christmas morning, and everyone stirred early. Morning was when they opened gifts. With paper flying, pictures being snapped, and “thank you” resounding from person to person, the mood was joyous.

Matt was waiting for the gift opening and clamor to subside. He had something to do. Emotionally, he was never more sure and simultaneously never more insecure. His heart thumped as a thousand doubts had him questioning if he was about to make the biggest mistake of his life. But he was compelled. Something deeper, stronger, was pulling him from the fearful sludge that threatened to swallow him.

Ling sat on the couch. Everyone else was scattered about the room. Matt sat on the floor at Ling’s feet. He rolled to his knee, facing her, gazed into her eyes, slipped a small velvet-covered box from his pocket, and handed it to her.

He placed his hand on her elbow. As she opened the box, Matt spoke to her mind, “Will you marry me?”

Ling shivered, her lips trembled, and her face scrunched into that expression of wanting to cry with happiness.

Matt could see the joy in her eyes, and he heard her in his head, “Yes, my love.” Ling sprang from the couch, tackling Matt and laying him flat on his back in the middle of the floor. She smothered him with kisses, still clutching the small box in her hand.

Matt’s senses flooded with raw, powerful emotions. Not his, but Ling’s. A joy he’d never felt before exploded from her being, into his, and suddenly, dark caverns in Matt’s soul flooded with pooling light, pure joy. Ling filled an emptiness Matt had not known existed. His eyes moistened with happiness. Something moved deep in his soul, and for the first time in a decade…Matthew Lehman was whole.

Cynthia was the first, “A ring! Look, it’s a ring.”

Ellie let out a loud “Wow!”

“Does this mean there’s a wedding in the future?” Joe chimed happily over the rising din.

Matt did not hear or care. He only felt the happiness of oneness with the one he loved.

Ling lifted herself and gazed into Matt’s eyes. “Dreams do come true.”

She rolled off Matt and sat on the floor, gazing at the ring. It was perfect—perfect size, perfect shape, and perfect color. She turned it so that everyone else could see. Those in the room saw the ring, but they also all saw how her face shone; her eyes twinkled, and they could sense the joy she radiated.

Joe, in particular, was thrilled. He had been praying for a day like this for his brother. There could not have been any greater gift than the sight before his eyes.

Lunch at Joe’s was wonderful, and about 2:00, Matt and Ling, with the ring on her finger, headed for Wichita. Doug and Ellie were close behind.

***

As Matt and Ling pulled up the drive, they could tell there was a crowd at Armonia House.

Charlotte sprang out the front door, but instead of, hello, or, great to see you, she yelled at Ling, “Oh, let me see, let me see!”

Obviously, word had preceded them. The crowd congratulated Matt and Ling with compliments and even a few “About time” remarks. Matt appreciated the attention Ling received. Happiness flooded his heart.

The rest of the day was wonderful, and the dinner was spectacular. The adults ate in the formal dining room, and the kids ate in the family room. Suchet and his family, the Coblentz family, the Martins, Matt, Ling, and Doug made it a house full.

***

Later in the evening, Ling had just finished helping with the dishes and ambled into the family room looking for Matt, spotting him on the floor with Janet and Emily in his lap, the twins Kamna and Iyla, Elvin, and Jacob sitting in front of him listening as he read from a book. Ling recognized the story; it was Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol.”

Other adults were sitting and listening as Matt’s voice conveyed the words in a way that made it so real. Ling quietly sat and watched her love as he took time to be with the children. No, that wasn’t it. ‘He loves being with children.’ It finally hit home. ‘He loves children.’