She was my mother. The only parent I had. It was either I take what I had, or let her go. I remembered Zina’s wisdom. She was right. I’d let go of the outcome, and have a relationship with Mom. If that meant seeing her once a year, or talking a few days a week, then I guess that was what I’d have to settle with.
Okay, sweetie I’ll try.
I smiled and sent a final reply. You have a great rest of your day, I’ll talk to you later.
I put away my phone and exited the bathroom.
I put my phone away and exited the bathroom.
William paced back and forth, his hands in his pockets. He stopped abruptly when he saw me. He fiddled with the collar of his shirt.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
I approached him and touched his shoulder lightly. He jumped.
“Did I do something wrong?” I asked.
He gulped, and without a word he fumbled in his pockets and pulled out a small box with a little ribbon attached.
“I— I got you something,” he said nervously.
“Oh?”
My heart began to speed up. Could it be? Could he really be doing what I think he’s doing? I loved him, but I wasn’t ready for that.
My mind fumbled at all the possibilities. Moving in was a big step, but I didn’t want to risk moving too fast. If anyone would understand that, it would be William. Right?
He opened the box and pulled out a ring. It had a heart-shaped topaz in the center. It was my birthstone. The band was a classic gold, simple and elegant. It was beautiful. It was thoughtful. It was perfect.
He took my hand and slipped the ring on my finger. “I love you.” He pronounced each word slowly and softly. “These past few months, we have grown as a couple. I’ve grown a fondness for you that I hadn’t had for any other woman. After you accepted moving in with me, it solidified that next step in our relationship — a big step for both of us. So I wanted to solidify our relationship. I wanted to give you this promise ring as a promise to be there for you.” Tears brimmed his eyes.
I brought my hand to my chest, my mouth open, and my own tears welling up and threatening to fall. “I— I don’t know what to say.”
“Do you like it?”
I wrapped my arms around him. “Like it? Don’t you mean love it?”
He released a satisfied sigh, brushed his hand along my cheek, leaned in, and kissed me. “I was worried you wouldn’t like it.”
I placed my hands on his shoulders and gazed into his eyes. “I’d love anything you gave me. You don’t know how thoughtful you are, and how much I appreciate you for everything you do.”
“Just wait there,” he said and then disappeared into the kitchen. He was back a moment later with a bottle of champagne. It was covered in beads of icy water. “I think we should make a toast to celebrate a new beginning in our lives together,” he said looking at me lovingly with that now-familiar little grin.
We sat back down on the couch with our arms around each other for a few minutes, gazing into each other’s eyes. Then William popped the cork out of the bottle and poured its bubbling contents into the two glasses that sat on the table in front of us.
We clinked the glasses together and laughed as the champagne bubbled and spilled over down the sides. It was a magical moment. The initial suspense, William’s earnest expression, the ring, the champagne, and the vows we made of our enduring relationship, it was all perfect. What lies ahead? I didn’t know for sure, but I suspected that it was going to be better than I had ever expected.
Table of Contents
Prologue
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Leaving The Pieces Behind Page 17