Page 36 of Harmony

“We’ve had it appraised,” Donny says. “It’s priceless.”

Ennis nods. “I know. My mum gave it to me. It belonged to her grandmother, who came from Australia. Her name was Lottie Walsh.”

“I’m sure you had a very good reason,” Donny continues, “but I have to ask. Why would you give a priceless heirloom to our grandmother?”

Ennis stares into space for a moment, and just when I’m not sure he’s going to say another word?—

“I haven’t brought those memories to the surface in quite some time,” he says. “But I suppose you deserve to know the truth about where the ring came from.”

“Yes, please,” I say. “I’m sure it’s a story of true love.”

Ennis’s eyes mist a little. “It is, dear Brianna. It is.”

“Then tell us,” I plead. I want to hear Ennis’s story since my own story of true love clearly isn’t going to happen.

“Patty was the daughter of pig farmers,” Ennis says, “but such a humble background didn’t matter to me. When we found out Daphne’s first pregnancy—with your uncle Jonah—had been difficult, we were surprised. Patty was taken aback because she and Daphne were quite close. We were visiting Daphne, and of course the subject of Sean Murphy came up. Did you know Patty dated him before me?”

“Jack’s father?” I ask.

“Yes, the one who died at Brad and Daphne’s wedding.” He sighs. “I was in love with Patty from our first encounter, but she held a torch for Sean. Once he died, I wasn’t sure Patty would fall for me.” A smile spreads over his still-handsome face. “But she did.” Then he goes dark. “I suppose I knew something wasn’t right, though I had no idea Patty might be a victim, when we had dinner with your grandparents the next night.”

I watch Ennis then, how his blue eyes sparkle with both happiness and sadness as he brings the memories to the surface.

And when he speaks, his words turn into images before me.

ENNIS

“Miss Daphne,” Belinda, the housekeeper, interrupted. “Phone for you. It’s Mr. Brad.”

Daphne rose from the dinner table, which included both her mother and mother-in-law, plus Patty and me.

Daphne returned a few moments later. “Brad is staying in the city tonight. Says he has an early meeting. But he promises he’ll be home for dinner tomorrow night, so you guys need to come back.”

Patty nodded. “Sure. Is that okay with you, Ennis?”

“Yeah, of course, love,” I said. “This beef is fantastic. Even better than at your wedding.”

“It’s filet,” Daphne said, “and Belinda broils it to perfection.”

“It’s truly amazing,” Lucy, Daphne’s mother, agreed. “I wish we could get this kind of beef in Denver.”

“I’ll send a full cooler home with you,” Daphne said. “And we’ll send you as much as you want after that.”

“My daughter, the beef queen!” Lucy laughed.

“Mistress of Steel Acres!” Patty raised her wineglass. “Did you ever think, Daph, when we met last fall, that you’d be here, with a gorgeous little boy, less than a year later?”

“God, no,” Daphne said, “but I wouldn’t change a thing.”

“You’re so lucky,” Patty gushed, tossing her fiery red hair over her shoulders.

God, she was beautiful. Already I’d fallen hard. But she might still be hung up on Sean Murphy…even though he was no competition at this point, having died at Brad and Daphne’s wedding.

Daphne jerked when the doorbell rang.

“I’ll get it!” Belinda called.

A few minutes passed as we all continued eating.

---