My Demon Husband novel · Chapter 29 of 32

Chapter 29: In Daylight

I came down the courthouse steps one at a time.

Behind me, a hundred and forty people had stopped on the stairs to watch.

Somebody shushed somebody.

Lacey said, "Oh my God," three times, getting louder.

I stopped on the step above him, so we were almost eye to eye.

"You're on one knee," I said.

"Yes."

"On a courthouse."

"Yes. You like courthouses."

"In front of everybody."

"You told me once that a person says what he did in front of people," he said. "I'd like to say what I want the same way."

The ring in his fingers was brass.

Not shiny new brass. Old brass, warm-colored, with a tiny dent on one side.

"Is that from the mailboxes?"

"From the door of 5C's box. The one Knot hit." He turned it in the light. "I melted it down in January. I built the house. I thought I should build this."

Somebody on the steps went "Aww" out loud.

Opal told them to hush.

"We're already married," I said. "You told me so the first night."

"No," said Malphas. "I told you that you were bound. You said married, and I said your word was uglier."

"I remember."

"I was wrong. I like your word better now."

He took a breath, like it was heavy, the way he had in the kitchen in September when I made him say sorry like a person.

"You married my house by accident," he said. "At night. In blood. To a stranger who read your file. I'd like you to marry me on purpose. In daylight. With paper. With everyone watching."

The steps were dead quiet.

"Dorrie Jean Kimball," he said. "Will you?"

I looked at him for a long moment.

"I have terms," I said.

Lacey groaned so loud the people at the top heard it.

"Of course you do," said Malphas. "I'm listening."

"I keep my name."

"Kimball," he said. "I've never won that argument once."

"I'm going back to law school. Nights. I quit after one year when the money ran out. I want to finish."

"I'll walk you there."

"It's two miles."

"I've walked it before."

"And you learn to cook one more thing," I said. "Not eggs."

"That's three terms."

"Do you want them in writing?"

"I have a napkin!" Lacey yelled from the steps.

Malphas didn't look away from me.

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