The Marriage Clause by Dahlia Rose Page A

with Etta again.  Whatever mementos I need I will take with me.  The memories will never fade. Darling boy, it’s time for a new generation to make new memories in there.”
    “I don’t know what to say, Brownie.” Mikael’s voice held husky emotion.
    She patted his hand. “Tell me you’ll take it, that you and India will make wonderful memories and more children there. Tell me you’ll fill it with love.”
    “We will Grandma, I promise you,” Mikael said.
    He saw tears mist her eyes and her smile trembled a little bit. “You very rarely call me grandma, so when it happens it’s very special.”
    “That’s because you are special and the most awesome chick in the world,” he explained.
    “I like that, awesome chick.” She patted her hair. “I like that a lot.”
    He laughed and soon after their food came. He spent the afternoon with his grandmother going into the stores and stopping her from buying every piece of baby furniture she saw. But every minute was a pure enjoyment for him. He looked down at Brownie more than once and wondered what his life would have been like without her.  He never wanted to know and prayed to the almighty that both she and Etta would be around for a long time. They didn’t make women like them anymore, and both he and India were blessed with them as parents. They were bat-shit crazy on occasion, but he’d have them no other way.
    * * * *
    It was much later when he was sitting across from India and the breeze of the river was warm. They’d chosen to eat outside of the little restaurant they were in while watching the Fourth of July festivities. Live bands and concerts at the seaport were a usual thing to see in the summer. But tonight was special, because he was with the woman he loved, and his grandmother’s engagement ring was burning a hole in his pocket. Tonight he was going to ask India to marry him and then kiss the hell out of her in front of everybody when she said yes.
    “I can’t believe Brownie gave us her house.” India shook her head in amazement. She twirled her chicken Alfredo around the fork as she talked.
    Mikael took the last bite of his steak. “Yep, she and Etta planned this out and again went to lawyers and did stuff, telling us after the fact. Even though so far they are batting a perfect score in their plans.”
    India laughed. “Should we be worried about them living together? I can see them bringing back an illegal gin joint and starting a gambling ring in the basement.”
    “If that happens we definitely are putting them in a time out.” Mikael grinned.  He sat back and took a sip of his beer.
    She put her fork down and wiped her mouth. “I doubt they’d stay put for a time out, Honey.”
    “You called me Honey,” he pointed out.
    “You call me that too,” India answered. “Do you have a problem with that? Should it be my Big Soldier man, my Boo-boo bear?”
    “How about no to both of those, Honey is fine,” Mikael answered. “Are you all full?”
    “The little bun is getting big in there, I can’t eat a lot or I feel over stuffed. Don’t worry, I’ll be hungry in two hours.”
    “I have a surprise for you,” Mikael said.
    “What is it, cheesecake? Say it’s cheesecake, I’d love a piece later,” India said hopefully.
    He laughed. “Only you could get excited over food.”
    “I’m pregnant,” was her simple reply.
    “The surprise is, we’re staying at the Omni hotel in Times Square for the holiday weekend and you can have as much cheesecake as you want there,” Mikael said. “Gran packed you a bag and we’re going right from here.”
    She sighed. “That sounds heavenly, I hope they have a Jacuzzi tub.”
    “They probably do.”
    “Not that I’m complaining, but why the hotel stay?” India asked.
    “It’s to celebrate,” he said.
    “What are we celebrating?”
    Mikael stood, and as he moved close to her he took the ring box from his pocket.
    “It’s to celebrate this,” he said huskily.  “You are