Sal’s eyes darted to the documents.Well, maybe this was her opening about the wedding and the ring after all.“Mm!”Sal said while still munching.“It’s from Mike.It’s reservation forms for a list of churches for our wedding.”She handed the envelope to Rafa.
Rafa wiped his hands and opened it.His eyes ran quickly over the document.“Sal…” he said, “we need to work on this if we’re to have a church wedding by spring.”
Sal went back to eating her gyoza.She let the heat settle from her food, not wanting to look Rafa in the eye.“Do we even want a wedding now?I mean, with everything going on with you and the family business, maybe we should delay it?”Rafa frowned.She clicked her tongue, realizing it sounded like she didn’t want to get married at all.She opened her mouth to speak again, but he responded before she could.
“We planned on getting married around this time.”He had stopped eating his gyoza.She could feel his gaze as she remained silent.“Don’t you remember?”
Sal locked eyes with him.“I remember,” she said, peering through her lashes.“There are just some things I need to fix before getting married.And…” She inhaled sharply.“I wanted to ask you something about the ring.”
“What about the ring?”he asked, his frown softening to a neutral expression.
“Aveline said something yesterday, and it’s been on my mind.”
“What did Achi say to you?”He cocked a brow, sounding slightly annoyed.Sal was unsure if it was toward her or his sister.
“She said nothing wrong,” she said, trying to ease the tension that was building.“But she told me the whole story of how this ring was selected, and it got me thinking…why did you choose me?”she asked, and raised her chin to look at him, as though to signal that she needed this properly answered if they were to move on from the topic in peace.
“I chose you because you’re everything I imagined my future partner to be,” he said it simply, like he was stating an obvious answer to a simple question.
Sal nodded and pursed her lips.“Which is what exactly?”she asked, fiddling with her gyoza.He needed to answer better than that.She wanted an assurance that things wouldn’t change, that he would love her as is and wouldn’t expect her to be more than what she was willing to be.She did not leave her previous life just to jump back into another rabbit hole of expectations brought about by marriage.
“You’re beautiful, you’re smart, you’re well-educated, and you can run things well,” he said.“I like that we have the same sense of humor.”He sauntered over to her and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.“I also love the smell of you…” He breathed into her ear and planted a kiss on her neck.
He pulled her into another embrace, and she rested her hands on his broad chest as he kissed her on the forehead.She took a deep breath and nodded, disappointed with his answer.Thinking that it wasn’t enough—that wasn’t what she wanted to hear.
“You said you needed to fix stuff before getting married.What do you need me to do?”he asked.
Sal bit her lip and looked up at him.“You expect us to move to Medina after we’re married, but how can I move all my stuff from here in time to get married by spring?”She floundered, trying to think up a good enough reason for her reticence without mentioning what was really on her mind.Now wasn’t the time.
“Is that all?”Rafa replied in a soft tone.“I’ll hire a good moving company.”
But that wasn’t all.Something still doesn’t feel quite right.
Rafa gave her an indiscernible look.“You don’t have to do things on your own.Even if you can…it doesn’t mean you should,” he said, and then held her hand.“We can talk about it next time.Ramen's getting cold, and the gyoza too.”
Sal’s heart softened at the tenderness of his tone.“Thanks for reminding me I don’t have to go through things on my own.”
He kissed the back of her hand and set it down as they returned to their dinner.After a few more slurps, Rafa let out a deep exhale.“Sal, you are the best,” he said, his cheeks flushed from the heat of the dish.
“Of course I am,” she replied with a wry smile.
Rafa bent over and kissed her.She tasted the salty and smoky remnants of the broth on his lips.“I’m going for seconds,” he announced, walking to the stove, trying to figure out how to put the ramen together by gathering the toppings again.
Sal put down her half-finished bowl.“Hey, hey!You’ll ruin the noodles.”Rafa beamed, eyeing her affectionately as she recounted how she prepared the ramen, even if she knew he was only half-listening.
He had his second serving, and she finished her first, and for the rest of the evening, they relished each other as their dessert.
Chapter Three
The Art Cards from Nowhere
RAFA
Autumn Town
Theartshowopenedin an hour, and the air in Sal’s office was ripe with anticipation, excitement, and dread.The art show would run for four days, and they hoped to sell most of Claire’s sculptures and the major collection,The Art Cards from Nowhere.Claire’s passing while she was creating it, and Sal completing it after her death, became part of the art show’s allure.There was something haunting and romantic about the completion of art after death.Even non-locals had taken the scenic trip to St.Stephenshire, if not for the emotional pull, then just out of sheer curiosity.
Sal had the frames strategically hung from the ceiling of the main hall at eye level, creating the illusion of floating and ornately framed cards upon entering the showroom.Willow designed fairy lights to line the pathway and steadily guide their visitors through the entire exhibit.Rafa had witnessed the planning and execution of the entire show and felt a swell of pride rise within him when he saw it come to life.
