Page 99 of Ours to Keep

“I have something for you,” I say, turning to the small jewellery box that Avery packed along with my clothes when she went to the house before I was discharged from the hospital. And now I’m grateful that she did.

I lift the top compartment, pull out the small box, and hand it to her.

“Here.”

Her eyes go wide. “Is that?”

I nod. “Mum’s eternity ring.”

She opens the lid to reveal the diamond band. Our grandfather gifted it to our grandmother on our mum’s birth, and after she died, it was passed down to our mum.

“But don’t you want it?” she asks.

“No, Mia, it was always meant to be yours.”

I pull it free from the velvet cushion and slip it onto her middle finger. She holds her hand up as the light reflects off the diamonds.

“But you can’t wear it during your classes, Mia.”

She throws her arms around me and almost knocks me off the chair.

“I’ll put it on a chain and only wear it on weekends,” she says before pulling back, a huge smile on her face.

Avery’s phone pings with a message. She quickly replies and then grabs the dress bags hanging in the wardrobe.

“Time to get dressed, ladies.”

Yet another surprise I wasn’t privy to.

“You’re going to love it.” She unzips the bag.

“It can’t be,” I say, covering my mouth as she reveals a floor-length cocktail dress. “It’s stunning.”

“Of course it is. You designed it when we were fifteen.”

Mia reaches out to touch the material. “It’s so beautiful. Did you really design this, Lils?”

“Yeah, I did.”

Avery shoves the garment bag towards me.

“Hurry up. I want to see it on you.”

This doesn’t feel real. Walking down the stairs in a dress I designed back in school is everything I could have envisioned. Ican’t believe Avery would do this for me. Actually, I can. Next to my mum, she was always my biggest supporter and said I should go into fashion. Richard was against it, of course, so I did a degree in business and hospitality, but now, the dream no longer seems so far-fetched.

As I round the banister, my breath catches.

Jackson, Elliot, River and Tommy are all dressed in black tie, lined up and waiting for me. Beyond them, the room has been transformed, adorned with black and gold balloons, a disco ball, nibbles, bottles of champagne and what appear to be party favours.

“Wow,” I say, bringing my palm to my chest. Out of my peripheral, I catch sight of my scar, and for a fleeting moment, I want to hide myself. That is until Jackson steps forward, holds out his hand, and bows his head, bringing the back of my hand to his lips for a tender kiss.

“Absolutely stunning, Duchess.”

He twirls me, causing me to laugh, before his lips graze my ear. “I can’t wait to see what’s under it.”

Elliot pulls me into his arms next. “You look gorgeous, Sweetheart,” he says, kissing the corner of my mouth and releasing me to River.

“You look utterly edible, Vixen.” The way he says it has a double meaning, and I flush at the thought.

---