A Night at the Mullners'Haley still hadn't called Alex; she wasn't sure that she'd forgiven him yet for flirting with another woman, even if the other woman had started it. But he ran by her house that evening.
"I thought you were going to call me," he said. "Don't we need to practice our moves for the Flower Dance?"
"I didn't know if you still wanted me to be your partner," sniffed Haley. "I thought you might have decided to ask that new farmer."
"Haley, look at my tatt," said Alex. "What's the name on the heart? Isn't that yours?"
"It's been two years," said Haley. "I thought you might have had it erased."
"Nope," said Alex. "Too painful. So, are we still on for tomorrow? I've got the day off."
Haley nodded.
After working out religiously, lifting weights...
...and punching the bag, in addition to jogging...
Alex finally got the call he'd been waiting for. He couldn't wait to tell Haley the next time he saw her.
"Coach wants me to come when we go to our away game tomorrow," he told her. "He says one of the guys has a sprain that isn't getting better, and he might have to put me in as a sub. I'm going to be on the team!"
"That's great!" said Haley.
During their session, Alex danced like he'd never danced before.
And when he and Haley had finished practicing, he kissed her.
"I just thought of something," he said, when they both came up for air. "It's my grandparents -- I don't like leaving them on their own. It's not like anything will happen, but -- I'd like there to be someone in the house who knows how to use a cell phone in the middle of the night. Do you think you could go over there? Maybe spend the night? My grandmother's a great cook, and she's never heard of quinoa or kale."
Haley shrugged. It was true that Emily was always trying out new recipes -- some less tasty than others. "I guess," she said.
Alex was just leaving the house when Haley arrived that afternoon. "See you all tomorrow!" he called.
"I thought we could play cards on the porch," said Evelyn. "George usually wins, but maybe with you here, he'll have some competition."
They played three rounds, and Haley won two of them. George won the third. "That was fun," said Haley. "I haven't played cards since my parents left."
"Are they still traveling?" asked Evelyn.
"Yes," said Haley. "They're going to Champs les Sims next."
As Alex had predicted, dinner was excellent.
"Say, I've got a riddle for you," said George. "You're deep in the woods on a cold snowy night, and you come to a cabin. It's dark in the cabin, but you've got a crumpled up bit of paper in your pocket that you can use to start a fire and the stub of a candle. You only have one match, though, so what do you light first?"
Haley knew that she would never in a million years be deep in the woods on a snowy evening, but she played along -- would she pick light or heat? All at once, she saw the answer. "I would light the match first," she said.
"I
knew you were a smart one," said George, slapping his knee. "'As smart as she is pretty,' that's what I told Alex." Haley couldn't help grinning.
She had trouble sleeping that night though. Alex's bed was quite a bit less comfortable than her own and besides, she wasn't used to having so much responsibility. What if George had another stroke? Early in the morning -- while it was still nighttime, actually, she heard someone moving around. Worried, Haley got up and quickly dressed.
"Don't mind me," said Evelyn. "I have a hard time going back to sleep again after four or five in the morning. But if you're up already, have some breakfast. It's been so lovely having you here," she continued, "just like having our daughter -- Alex's mom, you know -- back again. It'll be so nice when you and Alex get married and you move in with us. I'm really looking forward to it."
Haley almost choked on her fish taco. "I'm sorry -- I just remembered there's something I've got to do at home," she said. "Have Alex call me when he gets in." She excused herself from the table and left.
"You left a bit early," Alex greeted her later.
"Just when were you going to tell me?" Haley demanded.
"Tell you what?" asked Alex.
"That you and I were going to live with your grandparents after we got married," said Haley. "For that matter, when were you going to propose? Because I don't recall saying that I would marry you, and I certainly don't recall you asking."
"Whoa, whoa," said Alex. "Just what happened?"
"Your grandmother said, and I quote, 'It will be so nice when you and Alex get married and you move in with us.' That's what happened. Just what have you been telling them?"
"Nothing," protested Alex. "I mean -- they know I like you, and I have told them that I'll always be there for them just as they were there for me when my mom died. Would it really be so awful living with them? They seemed to think you had a good time last night."
"That's not the point," said Haley.
"Well, would you like me to propose?" said Alex, "because I'd be happy to do that."
"Not while we're in the middle of an argument, and not while I'm wearing this ratty old thing," said Haley. "I always thought it would be romantic."
"We can do romantic," Alex said hastily. "Just give me a day or two, and I'll show you how romantic I can be. Okay?"
Haley dabbed at her eyes with her handkerchief. "I guess."
"Are we still on for the Flower Dance tomorrow?" asked Alex.
She nodded.
"I'll see you there, then," said Alex.
