This is a sequel to "Promises." To make the transition between stories easier, I have included the last few paragraphs of "Promises" in the
first part of "I Only Want To Be With You."
Nick gently turned Jo to face him and took both of her hands in his. “Jo, I’d be very honored if you’d let me start courtin’ ya.”
Jo couldn’t believe what she just heard. “What?” she whispered.
“I wanna start courtin’ ya.”
Trying to blink away tears, Jo stared into Nick’s mesmerizing blue eyes. “Okay. Yes,” she barely spoke.
Nick leaned forward and kissed Jo. She put her arms around his shoulders and closed her eyes, wanting to savor this moment forever. All of sudden, loud cheering was heard from the porch. The couple turned to find the entire Plumfield family, including Rob, standing on the porch, watching them.
“What are you doing?” Jo called, feeling herself start to blush.
“Hi, Mom.” Rob waved. Jo gave him a small, embarrassed wave in return.
“Can we start jumping to conclusions now?” Nan yelled. Bess, Dan, and Nat laughed at her question.
Jo rolled her eyes, “Yes, Nan!”
“Good,” she replied.
“What was that all about?” Nick asked Jo when she returned her attention to him.
“It’s a long story. I’ll tell you later.”
“How about another kiss?” he asked. Jo just smiled. Nick held her face in his hands and drew her closer to him, gently kissing her.
“I love you, Nick,” she whispered.
“I love you, too, Jo . . . and I’ll love you forever.”
“Do you promise?” She hugged him tight.
“I promise.” Nick and Jo stood together in each other’s arms while the children and Asia watched from the porch.
That night, after dinner, the children sat in the parlor by the warm fire. Emil, Tommy, and Dan sat in one corner talking about the fishing expedition they were planning for tomorrow afternoon. Nat and Nan were sitting at a table doing their homework, while Bess sat reading to Rob on the floor. "Mrs. Jo, can you help me . . ." Nat looked up from his homework and didn't she Jo in the room. "Where's Mrs. Jo?"
Bess stopped reading, "She and Nick were sitting on the couch, but they're not there anymore. Hmmm."
"I thought I saw her go outside," Dan replied.
Nan perked up, "Really?"
"Yeah. She and Nick left about ten minutes ago."
"I'm gonna go find 'em." Nan stood and walked toward the door.
"Stop right there," Asia called from the kitchen. "You're gonna stay in here and finish you're work, Nan." Asia wiped her hands on a dishtowel as she entered the parlor.
Nan sighed, but went back to the table where she had been sitting.
"All of you are gonna have to give Nick and Mrs. Jo some more time alone now, ya hear?" Asia said. "You're not gonna be able to bother them all of the time."
"But Nat had a question . . ." Nan started.
"I don't care. I'm sure that you can help him."
"I'll try." Nan moved to the chair next to Nat and looked over his shoulder at his book. "What don't you understand?"
Nat looked at Nan and smiled, "Thanks."
"Not a problem, I guess." Nan turned her head toward Asia, who smiled and returned to the kitchen.
Jo and Nick sat on the porch swing, gently rocking back and forth. "I'm glad that Asia offered to keep an eye on the children. I still can't believe we left the house without them noticing us," Jo said.
"Well, I think Dan saw us, but he didn't really pay attention." Nick nonchalantly put his arm around her.
"You gettin' cold?" Nick asked.
"Not anymore." She gazed up at him and smiled. "You can't imagine how long I've wanted to sit here with you like this," she whispered.
"I've wanted to since the first day I met you."
"Me too . . . since I bailed you out of jail." They both laughed. Jo sat up to look at the starry sky. "Do you want to take a walk?"
"Sure."
The could walked hand in hand from the porch into the front yard. Jo stopped and stared at the dark blue sky with its twinkling stars. "When I was a young girl, I used to love wishing on stars. I did it every night before I went to bed."
Nick stood behind Jo and hugged her. She place her hands on his forearms. "Why'd ya stop?"
"Oh, I still make a wish once in a while."
"My dream came true and I didn't have to wish on a star."
She turned to face him. "Nick, I . . ." Jo trailed off as Nick put his finger to her lips.
"Don't talk. I just like standin' here with you. That's all I need."
PART 2
