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Tom was dumbfounded. Wiz snickered. He turned and pulled the boxes out of her hands. “Thanks.”
Wiz nodded. “Yvonne’s a smart girl. I think she’s probably hiding her intelligence a little in exchange for popularity because high school kids are mean. The pageants explain some of Marie’s attitude. She’s a frustrated stage mother. She probably knows, deep down, that her kid doesn’t want to be an actress or a model, and she’s disappointed.”
Dad nodded. “That might be. She was in some local pageants and plays. We never had the money or time to get her out on the statewide circuit like she wanted. Maybe she’s still resentful. Of course, if she’d really wanted it, she could have gotten out there and gotten businesses to sponsor her, but that would have taken a lot of effort, and she was never big on effort. Guess we didn’t do that great a job of raising her.” Dad shook his head, looking at the floor.
Wiz frowned, crossed to him, and patted his back. “I don’t think that’s true, Pete. You obviously raised Tom and Alex right. They both understand working for what they want. Some people don’t take the opportunities they’re offered. And some people want things they’re not entitled to. Nature versus nurture, and sometimes, nature wins. I’m sure you did your best.” Wiz hugged him.
Dad hugged her back, raising his brows with a triumphant smile over her head for Tom. “Well, we tried, but you’re right. Even your kids are just people, and they can do strange things sometimes.”
“Yup.” Wiz stepped away from Dad and returned to the mudroom.
Tom packed food in boxes. They’d have enough cereal for the next six months, if either of them could stand to eat the kids’ sugar bombs or the super-healthy stuff Marie insisted on but never opened. He put that one in the donation box. “I don’t understand Marie at all, Dad. There’s got to be something else going on there because of course I’ll help her kids if I can. Alex’s too.”
“I don’t know. It doesn’t make much sense to me. Even if you had your own kids tomorrow, it would be years before they’d go to college.”
Tom checked the top shelves but found nothing but a little dust. “Maybe she was afraid there just wasn’t enough to go around. Kids are expensive. But I’ve given her more than enough over the years.” Wiz carried the cooler into the kitchen, a tear running down her cheek. Tom took it from her and put it near the fridge. “Wiz, are you okay?” She shook her head and left. “Be right back, Dad.”
He followed her outside and stood by her side. She stared across the valley at the Bitterroot Mountains. Dark clouds hung low—a storm was coming. “Hey, what’s wrong?” He opened his arms, and she turned into him. He held her firmly, but not too tightly, just in case.
“It’s not fair that I can’t have kids with you. They took so much from me, from us!” She shuddered and shook. “You deserve kids of your own.”
He tightened his hold a little, resting his cheek against her hair. “No, love, it’s not fair. But I meant what I said. There’s plenty of kids and babies out there who need families. You know that better than most. Blood doesn’t mean anything.”
“Do we need to tell Pete?” She shivered.
“Not if you don’t want to, and if you do tell him, he won’t ask for details. He loves kids, but if we don’t have any, he won’t say a thing. He loves you for who you are now, not the future you.”
“I’d rather not tell him. At least not now.”
“Sure. No reason to rush. Especially since you haven’t agreed to be in a relationship with me yet.” He chuckled. “I haven’t even asked you. So, when are you going to marry me?” That was a lame proposal—he didn’t even have a ring. Or know if she’d wear one. “I don’t know if you believe in marriage. I hope you do. Do you?”
Wiz leaned back, gazing up at him with a quizzical, skeptical expression. “Wait a minute. When am I going to marry you? Not if?”
His words sounded a little obnoxious and cocky, but hers had triggered the question. “You’re talking about wanting my kids. But like I said, I don’t know if you even believe in marriage, not after what you went though.”
“I do.” Her eyes widened comically. “I mean, I believe in marriage. I don’t think we should get married right now.”
He laughed. “I didn’t mean right now. An ‘eventually’ would be good enough for me.”
She smiled a little, tilted her head, and her gorgeous dark skin pinked slightly. “Okay. Not right now. Eventually.”
“Oh, good.” He almost collapsed with relief but hugged her tighter instead. Then he pulled away and took her by the hand. “No, great. You just made me the happiest man on earth. Come on.” He towed her back inside the neighbor’s house, grinning so hard his cheeks ached. “Hey, Dad!”
“What, Tom?” He leaned into the refrigerator.
“Wiz agreed to marry me eventually. Isn’t that great?” He couldn’t stop grinning; happiness flowed through his entire being.
Dad stepped back, eyes wide, then smiled, slowly, until he was grinning, too. “That’s great, all right. Perfect even. Come on.” He led them outside and across the street to the ranch, striding so quickly Wiz had to jog to keep up. In the living room, he pointed at the floor. “Wait here.” He trotted upstairs. Tom was pretty sure he knew what Dad was retrieving, but he didn’t want to spoil the surprise. He tugged Wiz gently, and she stepped in close, so he could wrap his arm around her.
Dad thudded down the stairs, holding a small black box, the corners worn white. “Tom, Wiz, this might not be to your taste, but this was my wife’s engagement ring and my mother’s before that. I’d be honored if you’d consider it for yours.” He handed it to Tom. Wiz bounded to Dad and hugged him tight.
Blinking back tears, love for his father and his woman scorching a brand on his heart, he opened the box and pulled out the delicate gold and diamond ring. All those years on Mom’s hand had thinned the band, but it still shone bright. When Wiz pulled away, she was crying but smiling through her tears. He dropped to one knee and held out his hand. She placed hers in his, and he slid the ring on her finger. It was a little loose; they’d have to get it sized. He looked into her beautiful gray eyes, prettier than any ring, his heart singing with joy. “If you’ll marry me someday, I’ll be the luckiest person on the planet.”
She blinked, her eyes shining and her lips pressed. She sniffed and swallowed. “I will, but I’m the luckiest.” Then she looked down at the ring. “It’s beautiful.” She yanked on his hand so he’d stand. “And even if it wasn’t, the history makes it so much better than anything you could get in a store.”
Dad wiped his cheeks. “It’s not a particularly large center stone, but it’s extremely clear. It’s a Chanel. You’ll have to get wedding rings of your own. Mine’s staying here with Elise’s.” He pulled out a chain dangling two thin gold rings. “You’ve both made me the second-happiest guy on the earth.” He clapped Tom on the back.
Tom pulled Wiz close. “We’ll get some to match and a couple of silicon rings for every day.” Wiz nodded, eyes shining brighter than the diamond.
