Page 3 of Poetry By Dead Men
“Well…” He pulls a long purple box out of his back pocket and lifts the lid. “I thought you could wear this.” A glittering flash of silver hits the light where, nestled inside a bed of black velvet, sits a thin platinum chain, a single pea-sized pendant hanging from it with the letters HR carved into the polished metal.
“What do you think?” he asks, handing me the box and gesturing for me to turn around so he can zip me up.
I trail my fingers along the bracelet, impressed that Harrison picked this out himself. He usually opts for flashier jewelry. Gaudy, even. But this is understated and elegant, almost exactly the kind of thing I’d pick out for myself.
“I love it. It’s beautiful,” I say, pulling it out of the box.
Harrison finishes fastening the clip at the top of my zipper, and I turn back around, handing him the bracelet so he can clasp it for me.
He leans down, pressing a kiss to where my pulse beats in my wrist. “I like seeing my initials there. Especially that R, future Mrs. Rouchester,” he says with a bright smile, his thumb caressing the pendant tenderly.
“I do, too. Finally moving up in the alphabet,” I joke, letting him lead me out of the closet, but I pause when a hint of yellow gold catches my eye on one of the shelves. My heart leaps, and I reach for it, only for my excitement to shatter when I see it’s the buckle of a strappy heel and not my other bracelet. The smile drops from my lips, my nostrils flaring as I let out a frustrated huff.
Harrison stops. “Something wrong?” he asks.
“No, sorry. I just thought I’d found my bracelet for a second—”
He drops my hand, his jaw ticking as he storms into our room.
“Wait, what’s wrong?” I ask, fumbling behind him, nearly falling over my own feet.
Stupidshoes.
“What’s wrong? What do youthinkis wrong, Elizabeth?” He whirls around to face me. “I spent a lot of time and money having something made special for you—and all you care about is that ugly piece of crap!”
“That’s not true! I just thought I saw—”
“Right. You weren’t hoping you’d found it so you could wear it tonight? Nevermind the new one!” Harrison’s voice drops to a low rumble as he mumbles, “I should’ve thrown it away when I found it this morning.”
“You wouldn’t—” I pause, clenching my fists. “Wait. What do youmeanwhen you found it?”
Harrison stomps to his sock drawer, shuffling through it until he pulls out a delicate gold bracelet—mybracelet—which he unceremoniously tosses on the vanity like loose change.
“There. Happy?” he snaps, staring at me for a long moment, his chest rising and falling in anger.
A car honks outside our brownstone, and Harrison turns on his heel. “If it means so much to you, go ahead. Wear it,” he says, disappearing through the door without a second glance.
Heat flashes in my belly as I stare at the bracelet. Not only because Harrison hid it, but because of the careless way he threw it aside—like it was worthless. I snatch the gold chain from the polished wood and, using my teeth to hold one end in place, fasten it right next to my new one. It takes several deep breaths to relax my shoulders and force my feet to move, but I somehow manage it, shaking my head to squash down the anger making my body hot.
Ireallydon’t want to fight tonight.
I follow Harrison to the car, scooting to the far side of the bench seat, and his eyes flick to my wrist. He doesn’t say a word, but his face falls, his lips tipping down into a frown.
I look away, ignoring the way his shoulders slump forward. I might not want to fight on the way to our engagement party, but I’m not ready to forgive him, either.
Harrison sighs, dropping his head back against the seat. “Hey,” he says, taking my hand. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have taken your bracelet. And I’d never throw it away. You know that. I just…” He sighs, rubbing a hand through his hair. “I’m really proud of the one I picked out for you, and I’d hoped you’d love it enough that you wouldn't care about the other one. But I shouldn’t have gotten angry.” He kisses my palm. “Forgive me?”
The rage I’ve managed to lower to a simmering anger turns to guilt, heavy and impossible to ignore. Of course, he wanted me to wearhisbracelet tonight. It’s our engagement party, after all. And even thoughhe’s been working so many hours he’s barely sleeping, he somehow carved out enough time to pick it out for me. And not only that, he had it personalized.
I nod, and with a contrite smile, I unfasten the gold bracelet and slide it into my clutch. A silent apology, and a reminder to myself to be a little more understanding.
The change in his mood is instantaneous. “I have news.”
“Tell me,” I say, grateful we’re moving on.
“I had ahugemeeting today.” His smile is so wide it crinkles his eyes, and the rest of my tension melts away.Thisis the man I fell in love with.Thisis my Harrison, happy and thoughtful. Driven and energetic.
“How big exactly?” I ask, running my fingers along the silky lapel of his fitted charcoal coat. He looks particularly handsome this evening, his blonde hair pushed back from his freshly shaved face.
