Read A Ring for Cinderella for Free Online

“Huh?”
    “We’ll talk about it later.”
    Zach held open the door. “Ready?” he whispered.
    “What about the license?” she suddenly asked. “I didn’t fill out any forms.”
    “We’ve got it taken care of. You’ll have to fill in
     a few blanks, but a friend of Gramp’s, a judge, arranged everything.”
    Then he led the way into the hospital room.
    Three men dressed in dark suits were standing by the bed. Zach shook their hands before he turned to his grandfather.
    “Gramp? We’re here.”
    “Good, boy. Introduce Susan to them. Paul? You there?”
    Paul had no hesitation about going to Pete Lowery’s side, and Susan barely listened to the introductions as she tried to keep an eye on Paul.
    The minister, the judge Zach had previously mentioned, and the doctor greeted her politely.
    “Let’s get this show on the road,” Pete said from his bed, holding Paul’s hand. “Me and my new greatgrandson want to celebrate.”
    Paul leaned over toward him. “Can I call you Gramp?”
    Susan’s heart cracked at the enthusiasm in Paul’s voice. She shouldn’t have given in to Zach’s demand that Paul be included. He was going to be so hurt when Pete died and Zach was no longer around.
    “A’course you can. What else would you call me?” The old man beamed at Paul.
    She felt Zach’s gaze on her, but she refused to look at him. She just wanted the evening to be over.
    The minister stepped forward. “I think we’re ready to begin. If you two will step forward,” he said with a kindly smile.
    “Get the flowers,” Pete called from the bed.
    “I almost forgot,” the judge replied and went to the closet in the room. He brought out a beautiful bouquet of creamy roses with the faintest tinge of pink in them. Handing them to Susan, he offered her a courtly bow.
    “Thank you so much. They’re beautiful.” She gave the man her first real smile of the evening.
    “Pete remembered. He’s the one you should thank.”
    She moved to the side of the bed where Paul stood and bent over him to kiss Pete’s cheek. “Thank you, Mr. Lowery. The flowers are beautiful.”
    “Not as beautiful as you, girl. And no calling me Mr., either. I’ll be Gramp to both of you.”
    She gave him a smile but felt it wobbling. She hurried back to the minister’s side, hoping Pete hadn’t noticed.
    Zach was waiting for her.
    Shivers swept over her. What was she doing? How could she have agreed to this marriage? She closed her eyes.
     
    Was she going to faint?
    Zach reached out and took her hand. She’d been acting strangely all evening, as if this pretense was bothering her. He hadn’t expected a woman with a conscience. Or was she just a good actress?
    She opened her. eyes and stared at him. Zach breathed a sigh of relief and nodded to the minister.
    “Dearly beloved, we are gathered here...”
    They proceeded through the ceremony until the
     minister asked for the rings. Susan gasped, obviously thinking he’d forgotten such an important thing. He’d been busy all day long, preparing for this evening.
    He reached in the pocket of his tux and handed two rings to the minister. His was a plain gold band. Hers was a band covered with two carats of diamonds.
    When the minister bid him to do so, he slid the band on her finger. He’d guessed at the size, and it was a little large.
    Susan stared at the ring, seeming to lose track of where she was. He nudged her when she didn’t respond to the minister’s words. She jerked her head up and stared at him.
    “My ring,” he whispered.
    She finally reached for the ring the minister was holding out and placed it on his finger, repeating the words. Her voice and her fingers were trembling.
    “I now pronounce you man and wife,” the minister said. “You may kiss the bride.”
    Susan swung her gaze to him, her eyes wide with surprise. Fortunately Gramp couldn’t see her face. Zach pulled her into his arms and lowered his lips to hers.
    He’d only intended a brief brushing of their