Rowan smiled and, in a singsong voice, repeated the Old English rhyme— something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.
“You three are determined to ruin my makeup,” Raven laughed. “Let’s sit at the table so I don’t drop anything. If it goes on the floor, I won’t be able to find it with Baby O Boy in the way.” They all sat gingerly on the edge of their seats so their dresses stayed crease free.
“This one first. It’s the ‘new.’ From Bran.” River laughed, scooting the small white sack her way.
Raven removed the tissue and pulled out a small box, the exact same design as the one her wedding ring came in. She couldn’t help a small squeal of excitement. She opened the lid. Oh my, oh my, oh my. Emerald earrings to match her wedding ring.
“Lovely,” Nan said as she leaned over to see them better.
“Gorgeous.”
“Here,” River said, picking up the box, “let me help you put them in.”
“I wish you could admire the earrings for a while, Rave, but unfortunately, your ’zilla moment took up a lot of time. We have to be downstairs in thirty.”
Raven didn’t bother correcting Rowan— truth was truth. “Give me the next one. You know I love presents!”
Nan scooched her bag over. “Something borrowed.”
Tears forming. Shit. Raven pulled out a linen square, hand embroidered with tiny, yellow flowers, which she thought was the borrowed gift. It was so lovely, but it was only what Nan had used to wrap the actual gift.
She unfolded the square, revealing a polished, silver hair comb with etched buttercups at the top. “Oh, Nan, it’s so lovely. I would love to wear it. Would you help me put it in?”
Her grandma blotted her eyes and took a sip of water before she could speak. “I would love to, sweet girl. I would tell you first that your grandfather, my Sean, bought that for me on our first anniversary. Turn it over.”
Raven turned the heirloom over and read the inscription.
Bébhinn, mo grá
Always, Sean
She and her sisters were all crying now. “Oh, Nan. I’m honored.” No one said anything else as her beloved grandma placed the comb in her hair.
Rowan handed her a mirror. “The comb is perfect in your hair and look how it keeps it back just enough to show off Bran’s earrings.”
Raven only nodded, unable to speak through her tear-clogged throat. In understanding, her sisters pushed the last gift bag in front of her.
“Something old,” Rowan said, and “something blue,” finished River.
With shaky hands, Raven pulled out the last gift. It was an antique wooden box. The flat, hinged lid had burned etchings of Native American symbols. A raven, a river, and a rowan tree.
“An artisan from the Muscogee lands, where Mom’s mom was from, did the etching.”
Raven traced the blackened line work. It was pure art. She looked up at her sisters. “Thank you. I will always, always treasure it.”
“Rave, your present is inside the box,” River teased.
“There’s more? I already need an ice pack for my eyes!” She eased the silver box clasp up and opened the smooth, wooden lid. A bracelet lay pillowed on beige silk... the same beige as the gown... She pulled the piece from the pillowed cocoon and held it to the light.
“Oh. Mom and Dad’s wedding rings.” Her sisters had their parents’ rings added to a bracelet. She was speechless.
Mom’s favorite stone was lapis lazuli. Dad had picked out the stone and had it set in a narrow gold band. Mom had gotten Dad a simple gold ring, but she’d had an engraver placeL ♥ Dinside the band.
Raven ran her fingers around the gold bracelet. I can’t...”
“A jeweler in Dublin cut the gold bangle apart before slipping the rings on. Then he soldered the band whole again. Rowan and I tried it on several times before he did the final solder. It should fit loose. But you’re pregnant right now, so it might fit differently. I’m sure it will fit right eventually. Wehadmeant it to be worn for the wedding, so a part of Mom and Dad were with you the whole day... but maybe...”
Rowan placed a hand gently on River’s wrist. She was rambling. River never rambled. Raven slipped the bangle over her hand. Her parents’ rings caught the light from the fire. Too much, she thought.
