Page 70 of Something Old

“Mm. Not so fast. That’s for later.” I take her hand and pull her along behind me - to where the dive master is waiting for us.

“Hello, hello.” He grins.

“Tony?” Leora says in surprise.

She glances towards me with a sharp look of hope shining in her eyes. “Are you going to dive with me?” she asks.

“Not just any dive - we are going on a night dive.”

Her jaw drops open, and she jumps up in excitement.

Tony hands her some diving gear. “Sorry, your hair looks great, but it’s about to get wet and salty.” He laughs.

We dive into the water just as the sun sinks into the horizon, casting long beams of light across the surface of the water.

Tony has given us each an underwater light and we spend over an hour exploring the coral reef and the bright, beautiful sea life along it.

Our adventurous dive includes three different species of sharks which Leora is so eager about that she grabs my hand under the water so tightly it hurts.

But now, nearing the end of our dive, is the moment that I’ve been really nervous about this entire time. Swimming with sharks is nothing compared to the intense anxiety right now.

Leora is swimming at my side. I take her hand. “Come and look what I found in the coral.” I tell her.

“Ok.” She grins, pulling her goggles back down over her face.

We dive down following my beam of light - then I stop and point it at a small treasure chest I’ve left on the red coral. It’s tiny.

Leora goes to pick it up. She glances back at me curious, confused.

Then she opens the lid and inside she finds a ring. She closes the lid again and swims back up to the surface.

“What is this?” She blurts out pulling her goggles off again.

“It’s my great grandmother’s ring. A family heirloom. I have kept it for years, waiting, wishing, but never believing that I would find the girl of my dreams.”

“But - why is it—”

“Leora, little kitten, will you marry me?”

She screams with excitement and throws her arms around my neck, dragging me under the water while we both laugh.

“Yes, yes I’ll marry you - again - um - I’ll marry you.” She shouts.

We swim back to the yacht and stand on the deck, water dripping off our bodies. I take the ring out of the tiny treasure chest and slip it onto her finger.

“Our first wedding was not something that we chose for ourselves. It wasn’t even about us. But this time - it is going to be about only us and nothing else.”

She stares down at the red rubies and diamond forming the shape of a rose on the gold band sitting on her engagement finger. “It’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen.”

“It’s very old. And unique.” I say, pulling her up against my body, lifting her face with my hand wrapped about her jaw. Then pressing my lips against hers.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

Leora

The first time I got married it was a whirlwind of people and chaos. It was a beautiful day, filled with the energy and noise of a thousand people - the second time I got married was very different.

I wake up in the beach villa alone, wondering where Masaccio has disappeared to.

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