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Mom rises abruptly. “Stay here.”
“Where are you going?”
“To get something. I’ll be right back.”
I pour myself another glass of lemon water and wait. Mom returns a few minutes later, holding a red velvet box.
Oh, geez…
I know what it is. It’s the ring from her grandmother. Her pride and joy. The pink star sapphire.
“Mom, I—”
“Don’t,” she says. “Don’t say you’re not ready, or it’s too soon, or whatever. It’s yours. It’s always been yours.”
“What about Brad?”
“He’ll get the diamonds from your father’s mother. This is for you.”
“But you love that ring.”
“I do. It was my grandmother’s, as you know, but I rarely wear it. The pink clashes with my green eyes. Everything clashes with my green eyes. But on Rory Pike? This ring will be perfect.”
She’s not wrong. This ring will look stunning on Rory’s left hand. But our fight…
Mom slides the velvet box across the table to me. “Take it.”
“I can’t.”
“You can. If you’re serious about Rory, you should have this in your possession when you need it.”
“But this morning…” I shake my head. “We had a ridiculous fight. I told her I needed to be away from her.”
My mom pats my hand. “Fights happen, but they rarely signify the end of a relationship. Do you want to tell me what happened?”
“No, not really. It was stupid. I need to fix it.”
“Then fix it, Brock. If you love her, you have to fix it.”
I grab the ring box and rise. “I will. Thanks, Mom.”
She smiles at me. “Don’t turn your back on love. Not ever. And for what it’s worth? I think Rory Pike is wonderful.”
And with my mother’s words, I know exactly what I need to do.
Rory’s not answering her phone.
I’ve called three times, left two voicemails, and I’ve texted.
I decide to try one more time.
I get a breathless, “Yes?”
Her voice doesn’t sound right.
“Sweetheart? It’s me. What’s wrong?”
Sobs then. Racking sobs.
