AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I think Mrs. Buckley is trying to tell you something.” Vance chuckles, slapping me hard on the back.
“I’m working on it, Ma,” I respond, rubbing my hand across the back of my neck before opening the front door. “Just let me know the final total, and I’ll have a check ready for you once the work is complete on Saturday.”
I reach my hand out to both men, giving them each a firm handshake as they head through the door. “Here’s our card. Just call the office or my cell if you have questions.”
I take the card from his outstretched hand with a smile. “Thank you both again for getting everything finished so quickly. It really means a lot to me.”
“To all of us.” My mom smiles brightly, pulling both men in for a tight squeeze.
“It was our pleasure.” Vance smiles down at my ma. “But if you ever decide you need a younger man, give me a call.” He winks at her before turning on his heels and heading toward their truck.
“Remind me never to leave her alone with him again,” I say to Connor.
“He’s harmless.” He smiles, following behind Vance and climbing into the driver’s side of the truck. My mom and I stand on the porch as we watch them turn around and head back down the long drive toward the main road.
“Does she know I’m back in town yet?”
“Not yet, but news travels.” My mom wraps her arms around my waist, laying her head on my bicep. “We can keep it secret for a few more days. I’ll have a chat with Roberta and let her know to make sure Marissa is at church service on Sunday.”
“Will she get suspicious?”
“Probably. I’m sure she already knows something’s up because I’ve been avoiding her and Peggy like the plague this week, but no matter. Everything is going to work out, sweetheart. Have faith.”
“Easier said than done.” I chuckle nervously. “I just wish I knew if any of this was going to work.”
“Do you love her?”
“What kind of question is that, Ma?” I recoil, barely keeping my temper in check. “Would I be doing all of this if I didn’t? Marissa is the air I breathe, and I honestly don’t know how I’m going to live if this doesn’t work.”
Ma shakes her head as she turns toward me. “Why are men always so dramatic?”
“I’m not being dramatic, Ma. I’m serious.”
“Oh. I know you are, sweetheart. I just wanted to make sure before I gave you this.”
My eyebrows pull down in confusion as my mom reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small black box, flipping open the top. Resting inside is a sterling silver ring, with a sparkling array of round diamonds that form a cushion-shaped center design.
“What’s this?” I grasp the box in my hand before plucking the delicate ring from it, holding it between my fingers, and raising it into the air. Tiny rainbows glisten around me as the light catches on the diamonds.
“It's my original engagement ring,” Ma responds, barely above a whisper. “When your father and I got married, we didn’t have much. He had just gotten out of the military, and he had sunk his entire savings into the bar. I told him I didn’t need anything special, but he insisted on buying me that ring. He said that I needed to have something to show the world that he had promised to spend the rest of his life with me.”
My mom turns and strolls toward the railing that runs along the outside of the porch, resting her hand gently on it as she looks off into the distance. “He eventually bought me the bigger ring I have now, but I couldn’t part with this one. The symbol of the original promise he made to spend the rest of his life loving me.”
“Why are you giving it to me?” I whisper, not wanting to break the spell my ma is weaving as she tells her story.
“Because you’re our son. And now you need it to make the same promise to Marissa.”
“But she wasn’t even ready to tell me she loved me when I left. I doubt she’s ready to go down to the courthouse and get married.” I place the ring gently back into the box, slamming the lid shut before holding it out to my mom.
I hear everything my mom is saying, but there is still this nagging voice in the back of my head that wants to rage against the idea of this ring. Warning me that if I push too far, I could lose Marissa forever, but I still need to show her how much she means to me. This house is a step in the right direction. Will this ring bring me one step closer to showing her I’m never leaving her again? I could easily take the ring from my mother and give it to Marissa, but I’m afraid. Afraid of it putting the last nail in the coffin and sending her running away from me forever.
“Probably not, but don’t think of this as an engagement ring. Think of it as a symbol of your promise to spend the rest of your life loving her, just as your father did when he gave it to me all those years ago.” My mom pushes the ring toward me before wrapping her arms around my waist and hugging me tightly. “Just think about it, Finn. You already bought her a house. What harm can a promise ring be now?”
She releases her hold on my waist before turning her cheek toward me. “Now, give me a kiss. I need to get home to your father; he has a physical therapy appointment today. The last one if things go well.”
“Tell Pops I said hello,” I say before leaning down and planting a kiss on her cheek. “And thank you.”
Ma gives me a knowing smile before giving my cheek a few pats. “You’re welcome, my sweet boy. And don’t think I forgot about those grandbabies.”
