Chapter 26 - The Ring in the Drawer
I found the ring by accident.
Vincent had asked me to bring a sweater from his bedroom while he finished pancakes with Emma.
His dresser drawer stuck.
I pulled harder.
It opened.
And there it was.
A small black box.
I froze.
Every instinct told me to close the drawer.
I did.
Then I stood in the bedroom staring at nothing.
“Mom?”
Emma called from downstairs.
“Coming.”
I carried the sweater down.
Vincent looked at me once and knew something was wrong.
“What happened?”
“Nothing.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Later.”
His face changed.
He knew.
Of course he knew.
After Emma left for a friend’s house, I stood in his kitchen.
“There’s a ring in your drawer.”
“Yes.”
“How long?”
“Eight months.”
I stared.
“Eight?”
“Yes.”
“Why haven’t you asked?”
He leaned against the counter.
“Because you weren’t ready.”
“What makes you think I’m ready now?”
“I don’t.”
“Then why still have it?”
“Because I’m ready.”
The answer hit differently than I expected.
Not I’m waiting for you.
I’m ready.
He walked upstairs.
Returned with the box.
Then placed it on the counter between us.
“Do you want to see it?”
I hesitated.
“Yes.”
He opened the box.
The ring was simple.
A single oval diamond.
No enormous stone designed to announce wealth from across a ballroom.
No family heirloom.
No Moretti crest.
I looked at him.
“You picked this?”
“Yes.”
“Alone?”
“Yes.”
“That seems risky.”
“I had help from a seventy-year-old jeweler who told me my first three choices were vulgar.”
I laughed.
Then cried.
Vincent immediately looked alarmed.
“Bad crying?”
“I don’t know.”
He closed the box.
“I’m not asking.”
“I know.”
“I mean it.”
“I know.”
We sat at the kitchen table.
The box remained between us.
“Why eight months ago?”
He thought.
“The apple tree.”
“What about it?”
“You told Emma roots could be alive even when nothing was visible.”
I waited.
“I realized I didn’t need visible proof from you anymore.”
My throat tightened.
“No deadline,” he continued. “No expectation.”
“What if I never say yes?”
“Then I’ll eventually give Emma the world’s most expensive dentist prize.”
I laughed through tears.
Then I became serious.
“I’m scared.”
“I know.”
“What if we ruin what we have?”
“We might.”
“That’s not reassuring.”
“It’s true.”
I looked at him.
“What if you become that person again?”
“I could.”
The words hurt.
But they were right.
He continued.
“If I ever do, I hope you leave sooner.”
My breath caught.
He reached across the table.
“I don’t want your promise that you’ll stay.”
“What do you want?”
“Your promise that you’ll stay honest.”
I closed my eyes.
That was the marriage I could imagine.
Not forever at any cost.
Not endurance dressed as loyalty.
Two people responsible for continuing to choose the life they were building.
I pushed the box toward him.
His expression fell.
“Keep it.”
He nodded.
Then I added, “Somewhere I’m less likely to find it.”
His eyes lifted.
“Okay.”
“And Vincent?”
“Yes?”
“I’m not saying no.”
For once, the most impatient man I had ever known did not rush the moment.
May you like
He simply smiled.
“I know.”
