Page 142 of Love Unforgettable
“That happened to me, with you, right away. I’ve told you that. But, damn, sweetness, not two nights after we met, after I fell in love with you on sight, you told me you were in love with another man. That about gutted me.”
She opens her mouth to say something, but I place my finger against her lips in an unspoken plea to stay quiet.
“I know what you say about finding out he’s a liar and a cheat and how that changes everything for you. I think that’s great, and I believe you believe that when you say it. But I also think that means you need some time. And you don’t need to be pressured into something new. Especially not by me.” I brush her hair from her cheek and tuck it behind her ear. “I’m not going anywhere, baby. You’re it for me.
“You may say you feel the same, but I don’t buy it, sweetness. Not yet. But I also don’t want you fretting over not saying it and losing me. So, here’s what we are going to do.” I open my palm holding the item from my pocket.
Babs’ wedding band from Pappy.
An antique rose gold, cigar band style ring, with ruby, emerald, and diamond insets shaped as multi-petaled flowers.
She takes in a sharp breath and puts her hand to her chest.
“Hold on. I’m not proposin’.”
“You’re not?”
“No.”
“Then why do you have the ring?”
“I’ve had the ring with me since Babs first passed it along months and months ago.”
“Like with you, with you? On your person?
“Yes. I travel a lot and it’s a comfort to me.”
“Okay. So, you aren’t proposing.”
“No. This here is an anti-proposal.”
“Like you’re promising to never marry me?” she asks.
“Not exactly,” I say. “I’m giving you this ring. But I’m not putting it on your finger.”
“Okay,” she says drawing the word out.
“When you’re ready. And I mean beyond the shadow of a doubt, go directly to the court house and get a license, combine houses kind of ready, you put it on. You never get there? Well, that’s downright devastatin’ for me. But I’ll accept it. ‘Cause I’ll have you any way that I can get you. I want one hundred percent. But I’ll settle for ninety-eight if I have to.” I smile to let her know I’m joking.
Kind of.
She takes the ring in her hand and looks at it a while.
“It’s beautiful,” she breathes.
“The bonus is, I figure with a band you could still do all your stuff with it on. A solitaire might rip your rubber gloves, or get caught on a barrel, or who knows what.”
She smiles at me. “That’s very thoughtful of you.” Her voice almost formal.
I nod back at her. Not sure what to do now.
She stands and puts the ring in the pocket of her jacket, then zips the pocket shut.
“Can I tell you that I love you without you freakin’ out?” I ask, knowing this might be a mistake.
“Yes,” she smiles.
“’Cause you ain’t ready for all of me yet, sweetness. But no harm’s done in telling you how I feel while I’m awake.”
