Page 6 of Lucky Star

My parents, despite vastly different upbringings and personalities, had always been tactile and loving toward one another. As a teenager, it had embarrassed me when they’d hold hands or kiss in front of my friends, but now I was thankful for their positive example.

“I’ve got some interesting news.” I couldn’t have kept the grin off my face if I tried.

Mom slid off my dad’s lap, and when he swatted her ass, she let out a playful yelp and turned to scold him. “Keep your hands to yourself, mister.”

“I could, but why would I want to?”

“Ahem,” I coughed into my fist. As much as I appreciated that my parents still loved one another, I didn’t need to see the blatant evidence of that love staring me in the face.

“Son, you’ll meet someone someday, and then you’ll understand.” My dad grinned and waggled his eyebrows.

This was what I’d come all this way for. This conversation, right here, right now.“Actually, that’s what I want to talk to you about.”

“Ooh,” my mom cooed. “Tell us all about her.”

“The truth is, you already know her.”

Mom’s eyes darted to my dad and then back to me, but I couldn’t make out what that shared look meant. “We do?”

“Yeah.” I rubbed sweaty palms down the front of my jeans. “The thing is, I’m in love with Sarah.”

My dad’s shoulders relaxed, and a smile broke out across my mom’s face. “Well, that’s wonderful dear. Sarah’s a lovely woman.”

“She is,” I agreed. “And someday soon I’m going to want to marry her.”

“Cameron!” Mom launched to her feet, her eyes filled with happy tears. “That’s fantastic! Patrick, tell him how wonderful this is.”

My dad rose from his chair and gasped my hand in a firm shake before pulling me in for the manly version of a hug. “It’s wonderful news, son. She’ll make you a fine bride.”

I moved out of his embrace and let my mom fold me into her arms. When she broke away, she glanced at me with confusion. “But why didn’t you bring her with you?”

“So, that’s the thing,” I stammered. “We’re not um … you see … um …”

“Spit it out.”

I took a deep breath. “The thing is, we’re not actually together. I did something stupid, and then I made things worse by behaving like a huge asshole, but I want to make it right.”

My mother’s smile fell, and my dad shook his head. “I hate to rain on your parade, Cameron, but a proposal might not be the best way to go about doing that.”

“I know,” I assured him. “Like I said … someday. Which is why I’m here. I was hoping I could take Grandma Edith’s ring with me.”

My parents shared another quick look.

“Cameron, the ring is yours. You know that. But …”

“But what?”

“I would never tell you how to live your life,” my mom said, her eyes filled with worry and doubt, “but I want to make sure you know what you’re doing. Sarah’s a lovely girl—we’ve always thought so—but is this wise?”

I understood her dilemma. From the outside looking in, this was reckless. But for so long I’d loved Sarah in all the ways a man loved the woman he wanted to marry. I regretted that it’d taken being estranged to make me see just how badly I needed her in my life.

“I love her, mom. I want with Sarah what you and dad have. I want her to be the mother of my children.”

She laid her hand on my arm. “If that’s what you want Cameron, of course I’ll give you your grandmother’s ring with my blessing. Just …” she trailed off.

“Just what?”

“Don’t rush into a grand gesture thinking it can solve your problems. I know how you operate, but you have to remember that being best friends with someone is a lot different than being their partner in life.”

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