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I opened the box. “She loves rose quartz,” I said. “It means a lot to her. She says it means unconditional love.”
“It’s gorgeous.”
“I had it made for her,” I said. “I just hope it wasn’t for nothing. I ordered it when I thought she was going to marry me. Now, what am I going to do with a ring that isn’t exactly the usual?”
“Theo, she’ll be there,” she said, her voice carrying the conviction that I desperately needed to hear. “Emilie wouldn’t miss this moment for anything. She’s going to be there and she’s going to want your ring and you.”
I looked down at the ring again, my mind racing with thoughts of Emilie. “Thank you. I’m holding you responsible if she doesn’t show up.”
“I’m not worried,” she said, shrugging. “She’s going to show up.”
“She better. Now, I have to go. I have lunch plans with a friend.”
I left the house to meet Charles for lunch. He came in and we ordered a couple of beers.
“So, let’s just address the elephant in the room.”
“What would that elephant be?” I asked.
“The interview,” he said quietly.
I tensed up at the mention of the interview. I had been dreading the gossip. I knew it was going to be everywhere, but I hoped it would go away.
“What about it?” I took a sip of my beer.
“I’m surprised you guys are still together,” he said. “I’m not sure I would have the balls to do it.”
“As if anyone in this stupid fucking society believes there is anything else other than beneficial relationships.”
“You guys are different,” he said. “You really looked like you were in love.”
“You know how this stuff is,” I said. “It’s all about a beneficial marriage. A marriage that solidifies the family lines and grows generational wealth and all that. She was just parroting the company line.”
“So, you guys are good?”
I knew him but I also had to be careful with my words. “I think we’ll be okay.”
“You’re a bigger man than I am,” he said with a shake of his head. “I’m not sure I could come back from that. You looked like you were going to punch someone.”
“Trust me, I wanted to, but I know my place. What about you? Are you going to propose at the ball?”
That was the tradition. The matches that worked always ended in a proposal at the ball. Most of the matches were successful. It was rare anyone walked out of the season still single. If things didn’t work out, I was going to be one of those failures.
Charles took a deep breath before answering. “I’m not sure yet. I don’t want to propose just for the sake of tradition.”
I nodded in understanding. “I feel the same way. It’s all so ridiculous, isn’t it? Choosing a life partner based on societal expectations and family connections.”
“It’s just the way it is,” he said with a shrug.
“I thought you were good with your match,” I said. “You were talking about a hundred babies or something.”
He laughed. “Maybe it’s just cold feet. I do like her, and we get along, but I think I’m just in my head. I’ll marry her.”
“You sound so thrilled.”
“I’ll get there. Not all of us can have that quick and fast love like you guys did,” he said. “You’re lucky.”
I forced a smile. Lucky was not the word I would use to describe my situation. “I guess we’ll see how lucky soon enough.”
