Mystic Park (Finding Home 4)

Megan reached across the counter to squeeze Ean’s shoulder. “Don’t encourage him.”

“You’re on borrowed time, E.” Darius continued without invitation. “You’re going to have to polish up that proposal pretty soon.”

Quincy snorted. “This from a man who declared his love in a bathroom.”

“At least it was the ladies restroom. Did you know they have scented lotions and potpourri in there?” Darius pinned Megan and Doreen with a look. “You ladies have much nicer bathrooms than men.”

Doreen turned to Vaughn. “What can I get you?”

He decided to splurge. “May I have steak and eggs, please?”

“Sure. Coffee?” Doreen laid his silverware and napkin before him.

“Please.” Vaughn nodded.

“I’ve got it.” Megan squeezed Doreen’s shoulder. She offered Vaughn a cup of coffee as the other woman disappeared into the kitchen to make Vaughn’s breakfast.

Vaughn glanced at Darius as he added creamer and sugar to his coffee. “If your relationship with Peyton is fine, why are you having breakfast with us?”

Darius jerked a thumb toward Quincy. “Q sent a nine-one-one. Ramona hasn’t spoken to him since she ripped him a new one Thursday night.”

It was Saturday morning. “You went a whole day without her talking to you?” Vaughn’s eyes widened with concern. “What happened?”

Quincy rubbed a hand over his face. “She found out I’d talked with Foster about getting my old job back.”

“The problem is he hadn’t spoken with Ramona first.” Ean shook his head in disbelief.

“Oh, man.” Vaughn sighed.

“That sums it up.” Darius propped his forearms on the counter.

Vaughn looked at Megan, Ramona’s cousin. “Do you have any insight on this situation?”

Megan refilled Darius’s coffee mug. “After speaking with Ramona, I suggested to Quincy that he stay with Ean and me for a while.”

From bad to worse. Vaughn looked at Quincy’s bent head. “Good luck, Q.” He couldn’t think of anything else to say. “What about Doreen? Everything’s fine with her and Alonzo, right?”

Megan glanced cautiously toward the kitchen. “The wedding may be off.”

“Oh, no.” Vaughn looked around the counter. Everyone looked upset by the news, especially Ean. “Does Benita know?”

“Doreen spoke with her yesterday.” Megan leaned a hip against the counter. “She’s confident it’s pre-wedding nerves. She’s following up with the wedding preparations as though it’s going to happen.”

Vaughn stared into his mug of coffee. That sounded like Benita. She would trust everything to work out. She wouldn’t give up. If only she’d taken the same positive approach with Trinity Falls and not given up on them.

“I’m going to ask Ramona to marry me.” Quincy’s announcement startled Vaughn. Judging by the expressions on his friends’ faces, Quincy had surprised everyone.

Darius recovered first. “Maybe you should wait until she’s speaking to you again.”

Quincy scowled at the newspaper man. “I’m serious, D.”

“So am I, Q.” Darius’s tone was firm.

“I’ve been thinking of proposing to her for a while now,” Quincy confessed. “I just thought I should wait for the right time.”

“Quincy, this isn’t the right time,” Ean warned.

“I think it is,” Quincy insisted. “She thinks I don’t see her as an equal partner in our relationship. I think asking her to be my wife will prove to her that I do.”