Ren was still touching the ring reverently. She looked up and nodded. “Yes, let’s. It’s been a good day.”
“There are many more to come,” I promised her.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
Renata
The dayafter Mike formally proposed, I was working with Vicky on the ceremony details while he went back to work. He’d spoken to his boss about working until the wedding, then taking a week off for our version of a honeymoon. I chuckled to myself at the thought.
“What’s so funny?” she asked, looking through some bridal websites on her laptop. She was between design projects and was working a half-day to help me.
“Thinking about Mike asking off for our ‘honeymoon,’” I said, sipping on my espresso, using my hands as quotes around the word. We’d agreed that with our unconventional marriage, we would wait for a honeymoon, choosing instead to stay home and take it day by day.
“I’d say how strange your wedding night is going to be, but it’s fitting with, well, how you’ve come to be here planning a wedding,” she said, shaking her head and smiling.
“It is strange. But it will be worth waiting for, just like you said, right?” I asked, blushing at the thought.
She snorted and smiled widely. “Very,veryworth it.”
I laughed out loud and threw a pillow at her from the sofa. My mind went back to my conversation with Mike about what had happened to him. Seeing his sincere regret, I didn’t let it change how I thought of him. I was grateful for God’s grace in both our lives.
But suddenly, I found my mind went down a path of fear that we’d never share that kind of intimacy if I couldn’t tell him I loved him someday. Last night, after he proposed again, something was happening between us. It wasn’t just attraction, but I felt the words coming to the surface. Luckily, I pushed them back down, knowing they couldn’t be real.I’d just gotten caught up in the moment, is what I told myself as I watched the ceiling fan circle round and round for hours once I got into bed.
“Tell me what your parents said when you talked with them this morning,” Vicky said, bringing me back to the present.
I blew out a long breath and rubbed my temple. “Oh, you know. The usual. Mama wanted to know if I’d been coerced into this marriage when I was able to speak to her without Mike. Warned me that, even though I seemed happier, this could be the worst mistake of my life.”
“Ouch, Mrs. Lucia. Go for the jugular, why don’t you?” she said, her eyebrows high.
“Che cosa sai davvero di questo americano, Renata?” I said, mimicking my mother.
“What did you tell her?”
“I said, what do you actually know aboutanyone, really, American or not? There are no guarantees in life or in love. I was just grateful she didn’t come right out and ask if I was in love with him. But then again, that’s not what’s important to her. She asked about his career, how much he made, and where we would live. Oh, and she suggested separate bank accounts.” I absently spun my cup, lost in thought.
Vicky reached out and rubbed my arm. “Listen, I had my reservations, too, at first. I mean, I love Mike. He’s an amazing guy but, yeah, it was a shock. Then I listened to what he said and watched him with you. He’s in love with you, Renata. And the fact that he’s willing to wait for you to feel the same way, certain it’s going to happen? He convincedme.”
I covered my face with my hands and squealed. When I looked at her again, she was laughing, waiting for me to share. “He got down on his knee last night and proposed. Again. Look!” I showed her my ring.
“How in the world did I not see this when I got here an hour ago? And why didn’t you tell me?” she asked, grabbing my hand and turning it over.
“Isn’t it gorgeous?” I gushed, tears in my eyes.
“Ren, if I were going to help Mike choose a ring for you, this is exactly what I’d tell him to get. How did he know your style?” she asked in shock, her big eyes wide.
“It’s Grammy’s. She’s been saving it for his wife,” I said, wiping a tear.
“Amica, I keep saying it, but this was meant to be. Oh my gosh, I’ve got goosebumps,” she said, rubbing her arms.
“Me, too, Vicky. When she showed it to me before she was hospitalized, she told me she’d kept it for the woman he would marry. I’d gotten jealous at the thought of it being some mystery woman, but I think she knew it was going to be me.” A laugh bellowed out of me, and Vicky followed.
“Oh, man. I knew Grammy had, let’s just say,special abilities, but this is unbelievable.”
“And I’m just now putting it together. Oh, and also, Mike said he was falling in love with me. Came right out and said it, Vicky.”
Her eyes widened comically, and she made a little sound of excitement. “That’s the most romantic proposal I’ve ever heard.And Miles’ proposal wasepic,” she said, shaking her head. “Don’t tell him I said that,” she whispered.
“Never. But, wow. Going from the thought of him proposing to some mystery woman to watching him propose to me. Phew.” I started fanning myself, and we both started laughing again.
