Read Online The Gift by Pamela Warren - Free Book Online

strapped around his neck and he handed
Zak’s Martin to him. Zak stepped up to the microphone and said “I want to sing
a song for my bride-to-be.” He smiled lovingly at Maggie and then started to
sing the song that Maggie had found for him, he considered it to be their song.
     
    “I got a good reason for loving you,
    It’s an old-fashioned sign  
    I kinda get the feeling like, you know when
    I fell in love the first time
     
    Kind woman, won’t you love me tonight
    The look in your eyes
    Kind woman, don’t leave me lonely tonight
    Please say it’s alright.”
     
    Zak looked deep into Maggie’s eyes as he sang their song
for her. She had never felt such love.
    When he was done, the band asked Maggie what she would
like to sing. She knew immediately what her choice would be. She had recently
come up with some ideas for songs they could play if they got wedding gigs, and
the song she liked best was “I Will” by the Beatles. So she whispered her
choice to the band and they started to play. She found that her voice was
cracking a little from the emotion, but she wanted to sing her heartfelt
feelings to Zak.
     
    “Love you forever and forever,
    Love you with all my heart.
    Love you whenever we’re together,
    Love you when we’re apart.
     
    And when at last I find you
    Your song will fill the air.
    Sing it loud so I can hear you,
    Make it easy to be near you.
    For the things you do endear you to me,
    Oh, you know I will.”
     
    Maggie could see that there were tears in Zak’s eyes.
When she finished singing, they kissed each other and he held her tightly.
    The crowd applauded loudly and then the band broke out
into another dance song, a Cajun two-step called “La Danse de La Vie”. The
crowd erupted into wild dancing, while Zak pulled Maggie aside so they could
finish a long kiss.
    When they finally became aware of the people around
them, Zak noticed that his brother was gesturing for them to come over. They
followed Caleb into Zak’s mother’s house, where they went into a back bedroom.
Caleb had a special engagement present for them. Zak had told him two days ago
that he was going to ask Maggie to marry him. Caleb had come up with an idea
for what he thought was the perfect present for the couple. He knew how much
they loved his dog Mojo, so he bought them a yellow lab puppy. Zak was
overjoyed with the gift. He and Caleb had a wonderful Labrador when they were
young and he had missed having a dog. Caleb said that they could leave the dog
with him if they had to travel. Maggie was happy too. It would be nice to have
a large dog for company, especially if Zak was off playing with his zydeco band
without her. She leaned over to pat the female pup, who lapped her face
enthusiastically. Caleb joked, “She’ll be good practice for when you have kids.”
Zak looked happy at the thought.
    “What are you going to name her?” asked Caleb.
     “I think Maggie should have the honor,” Zak said.
    Maggie thought quickly and decided, “I think we should
call her Chère.”
    “That’s a good name Maggie. But how will you know if I’m
calling for you or the dog,” Zak said and laughed.
     Maggie laughed at that too, but decided that she liked
the name anyway. Caleb offered to take the dog home with him so that Zak and
Maggie could relax at home after the party without any distractions. Maggie
told him she appreciated his thoughtfulness.
    Maggie and Zak continued to party and dance with their
guests until the early morning. Finally the party started to slow down, and
Maggie and Zak took their leave. Justin had decided to spend the night at a
friend’s house so that the engaged couple could have some privacy. Maggie
kissed him on the cheek and whispered thanks, and then she and Zak got into the
Lincoln and drove home.

.
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter 9
     
    Over the next few weeks, Maggie and Zak became
increasingly domestic. They drove to Lafayette and bought curtains and new
dishes for their house.