Page 108 of Easy Reunion
“Yes, Ry?”
“While Mom’s spinning around in a dither, do you think you can do me a favor?”
“Anything, son. Just ask.”
“Can you get Grandmother’s ring out of the safe? I want to bring it back with me.” The solitaire my grandmother wore for more than fifty years on her hand was passed down to me to give the woman I love when I proposed. While we’re not ready for that, I want it with me so I know when the time is right, there’s no delay.
A lot of shit happens in life. We both know that it isn’t always the perfect memories that get you through marriage, but the strength of your partner who holds you up in the times when you can’t handle any more. For him to know I found that in Kelsey… “I’ll leave it in the top drawer of my desk. Grab it when you’re ready. Now”—the bittersweet tone of his voice changes to amused—“I think I’ll try to convince your mother not to call the cleaning crew out at 4:00 p.m. on a Thursday for an emergency touch-up.”
“Remind her that Kelsey’s practically been living with me,” I suggest.
“Practically? What’s been taking you so long?” he teases as he descends the steps into the kitchen. There’s a peaceful silence before I hear him call out, “Roberta, will you please put down the phone? The house looks fine.”
I race back to my room and strip my bed, tossing weeks’ worth of dirty laundry in the center of the sheets and tying them up like an enormous bindle that would hang off a runaway’s stick.If they could manage to lift it, I think with a touch of humor. Thank God my father spoiled what I suspect was supposed to be a surprise. I might have spent the first hour trying to clean up rather than holding Kelsey in my arms, which is precisely what I intend on doing,
Racing for the bath and turning on the shower, I debate shaving when I get a hard look at my face. I don’t remember the last time I did this. Sure, I’ve had to use a mirror to shave, but when have I really looked at myself?
Not since the day after I was hurt.
I thought I had an amazing life when what I had were the pieces of one clinging to me by tightly held bandages. Now that the wounds are all exposed, and everyone I care about knows what happened in my past, there are scars only we can see. But my world isn’t going to fall apart.
“The worst thing that’s happening to you is the best thing that will ever happen to someone else. All you can do is move past it. After all, if life were meant to be easy, I’d have already won the game.”
Kelsey’s prophetic words flood my head. The pain of what happened to either of us isn’t going to disappear, but it makes us who we are, standing on top of the podium holding the most important trophy in our arms—each other.
And with that thought, I reach for my shaving kit. I want to greet the woman I love with everything that she deserves.
Me.
And it’s been too long since I gave her that.
