“If you must know, I paid cash for it out of my first paycheck today.” Those words seemed to carry away his burden. He didn’t want Brinley to think that he had gotten into debt to buy her an antique engagement ring.
“I like debt-free purchases.”
“It’s natural sapphire.”
“Nice.”
“It was on sale.”
“Wonderful.”
“Matt helped me choose it. After all, he’d been married before, so he sort of knew what he was talking about. At least, I hope he—what?”
“Hush, Ivan. Didn’t I say that I love it?”
“I wasn’t sure…”
“Be sure of this. God is good. Trust God. God provides. Thank God.”
“Wow. You really are growing spiritually, Brin.” Ivan finished his sandwich and scrunched up the paper wrapper.
“I love my ring, but I love you more. Remember I said yes before you gave me the ring.”
She loves me. “Good point.”
Brinley pulled his good arm and got him up on his feet. “Now let’s get you back to work before you get fired.”
Chapter Sixty-Seven
Brinley stepped up to the porch and crossed the floorboards. “No more creaks. Great!”
She was about to ring the doorbell when the door flung open. And there he was. All smiles. Brinley knew he wasn’t like his brother, Quincy, rushing to Zoe, lifting her off her feet, spinning her around, and kissing her until she passed out.
Nope.
Ivan simply stood there. He reached for her hand, gently held it, and tugged her toward him. All slow and quiet-like.
“How’s the wrist?” Brinley asked. She always asked, even if she had asked a few hours before when she called to see if she could come over this beautiful Saturday morning. He said he had to work at the thrift shop from noon to nine, but she could come over before he left the house.
“It’s healing.”
Brinley felt Ivan had more to say, but didn’t. She wanted the details. How was it healing? What did the doctor say? What did the therapist do?
“I go back to the doctor on Tuesday.” It was all Ivan offered.
“Good. I’ll keep praying.”
“Thank you.” Ivan didn’t let go. “Why are you sad? I’m not dying.”
“Helen Hu still can’t find your mother. We may never find her.”
“Trust God, Brin. My mother will come home when she’s ready. If she’s not ready, no one can make her. So all we can do is pray.” Ivan rubbed her chin. “Now cheer up. Come see the house.”
Brinley stepped over the threshold and looked around. “Wow. This whole place is still empty.”
“Not all empty.” Ivan pointed toward the living room. “I have chairs now. Two bucks each.”
“What a deal.” Brinley stared at the flimsy plastic folding chairs. Well, chairs are chairs.
“Yeah. And I found two barstools—slightly scratched, but who cares, right?—for the kitchen island. One for you and one for me.”
Thoughtful. Brinley smiled as Ivan led her to the covered porch outside the living room.
“Grandma would’ve loved this space,” Ivan said.
“I tried to remember what she wanted.” And she did try. Every detail of her conversations with Yun as much as she could remember when she discussed the renovation and expansion of the property with Tobias Vega.
“This is exactly what she’d been talking about for years.”
“Do you think she can see this from heaven?” Brinley asked.
“I don’t know. If she’s in the crowd of witnesses, maybe?”
“Maybe.” Brinley leaned against Ivan, breathing in the coastal April breeze. To her left the live oak grove swayed in the bright sun rising up into the sky. To her right the driveway meandered toward the road. In front of her was green grass leading to the marshes, where herons and egrets flew in and out.
Ivan kissed her forehead. “I’m so glad you gave me a second chance with this house.”
Brinley shrugged. “It was empty, anyway.”
“Oh, and here I was thinking you saved it for me.”
“That too.” Brinley spotted a railing with a missed paint spot, but she decided to worry about it later. Tobias needed a break from her pushing him to get this house renovated. This house had been a mess with its cracked foundation, but it had all been taken care of. And she had rewarded Tobias’s hard work with the warehouse project. No complaints from the general contractor.
“Let’s sit out here a while?” Ivan asked. “I’ll go get the folding chairs.”
Just then the doorbell rang.
“Who could that be?” Ivan asked.
“Oh, that’s probably my housewarming gift.”
Ivan’s eyebrows shot up. “You brought me a housewarming gift? As if renting this house to me at one-tenth the price isn’t enough?”
Brinley walked past him and reached the door before Ivan did. She greeted the two men.
“Where do you want it, ma’am?”
“Get it into the house and let him decide where to put it.” Brinley pointed to Ivan, who looked perplexed.
“Is there a bigger door than this and maybe not so many steps?” one of the men asked.
“There’s a handicap ramp in the garage,” Ivan said. “It leads to the foyer. The garage door is open. I was airing out some things.”
“That’ll do, sir.”
Brinley stepped out onto the porch, and Ivan followed her. He looked out into the driveway. Brinley watched him stare at the plain moving van. She was sure he couldn’t figure it out. It was a good thing their regular van with the company name stenciled across the side wasn’t available today.
“You’re getting me furniture?” Ivan scratched his head.
Brinley bit back tears as Ivan’s jaw dropped when he saw what rolled out of the back of the van. Then she laughed out loud as he practically jumped off the porch to greet Yun’s Steinway Victorian upright piano, which Brinley had ordered tuned and polished after she had taken it out of the vault.
The piano movers rolled the piano into the garage next to Matt’s car—which he had let Ivan borrow—and up the ramp and into the house.
“Where do you want this?” one of the guys asked Ivan.
“Right there.” Ivan stepped toward the same wall where the Steinway had stood for decades.
After the movers left, Ivan was still staring at his grandma’s piano. His back was to Brinley.
Brinley gave him time. She stood to the side and waited.
Finally, Ivan turned around. “Grandma sold the piano to you.”
“I thought you knew that.”
“No, I didn’t. She said it was going into a museum.”
“Yes. The SISO Museum of Musical Instruments, but it’s not built yet, as you know. And what else did she say?”
“That maybe someday the piano might make its way back to the McMillan family.” Ivan stepped closer to Brinley. “Just like someday the Damaris Brooks Strad might return to your family.”
“I guess your someday is happening sooner than mine.”
“Trust God, Brin.” Ivan stroked her shoulders.
Brinley cheered up. “Better not let your new piano students touch this antique.”
“No. I’m buying two pianos from a small church in Darien. They’re closing and they have a few old pianos in their Sunday School classrooms that need to go. Matt’s helping me transport them here.”
“Thinking of adding teachers already?”
“Got a great deal on the pianos I couldn’t pass up. I brought Matt with me and he’s the ultimate negotiator. He bought all the oak pews and stained-glass windows from the church and asked them to throw in a couple of pianos. Want to see my flyers?”
Like an excited entrepreneur, Ivan led Brinley to the kitchen. On the island table, a small, old beat-up laptop whirred to life when Ivan pressed a key. He sat on the barstool and scooted closer to the screen. He tapped a few times, then slid the laptop toward Brin
ley.
“I’m putting these flyers all over the place.” Ivan’s eyes lit up. “Listen. Always wanted to learn the piano, but never had the chance? Or second time around at the piano? Choose thirty- or sixty-minute lessons. Babysitting provided. What do you think?”
“You’re paying a babysitter?”
“Yeah. I lined up some teens who need after-school jobs.”
“Okay.”
“Why? What’s wrong, Brin?”
“These are all piano lessons.”
“Yes.” Ivan’s warm right hand went around her waist as he pulled her toward him. “I don’t have to turn my left wrist at the piano.”
Brinley had to concur. “I keep my wrists straight and sturdy at the piano keys.”
“Right. It doesn’t hurt as much when I do that.”
“You remember the Fire-Pit Service when I said I don’t care whether you’d ever play the violin again?”
“Yes, I do remember. And I appreciate that.”
“I’m okay with whatever God has in store for you—for us—but I want you to be at peace with that yourself.”
“Don’t worry.” Ivan rubbed her chin. “I’m trusting God, Brin. My entire life is in God’s hands.”
Brinley nodded. “While we’re talking about trusting God…”
“Yes?” Ivan knotted his eyebrows together.
“About the prenup.”
“Your lawyer hates it.”
Brinley shook her head. “She loves it. But I’m not signing it.”
“Why not? What’s wrong with it?”
“Both your grandma and my sister reminded me that a marriage is not a business, Ivan.” Brinley leaned against the island. “In a marriage, what’s yours is mine and what’s mine is yours.”
“I have nothing to give you, Brin.”
“We give each other ourselves.”
“I hear you, but financially, I’m starting over with this music studio. I’m working at a thrift shop to pay my bills.”
“At least you’re working. Someday your music studio will grow, Ivan.”
“I hope so.”
“Someday you could move it to the warehouse in the Village, you know, in case you want to use Yun’s house to raise a family instead.”
Ivan studied her face. “The warehouse? You still remember it.”
“Can’t forget stuff like that.” Not when I paid cash for that building.
“It was only a dream, Brin. I have nothing.”
“Nothing? You have the love of God, Ivan. That’s more than all the treasures of the world.”
“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”
“Yes. Luke 12:34.” Brinley closed the gap between them. “You know that our focus should be God, not money. Regardless of what our incomes are, you are the spiritual leader in our family or else our marriage is doomed before it begins.”
“I guess I’d better step up. Thank you for the vote of confidence. I’ll do my best not to let you down.” He turned serious. “Brin?”
“What?”
“I can’t get over what you’ve done for me.”
“No big deal.”
“No? You salvaged Grandma’s house. Kept her piano. Kept McMillan memories alive.”
Brinley decided to save the warehouse news for later. He’d find out soon enough.
“Most of all, you waited for me to come around.”
“Yun said to be patient with you.” Yun had said so much more that Brinley could never thank her for now that she was gone.
“I’m glad you didn’t give up on me.” Ivan wept into her hair. “I thank God for you, Brin.”
They held each other for a while until Brinley pointed to her wristwatch. “Aren’t you supposed to be at work at noon?”
“There’s time.” Ivan seemed to study her. “Want to grab an early lunch and walk on the pier a bit?”
“With the smell of fish bait wafting in the air?”
“Oh, I forgot. Saturday. Lots of people fishing there today.”
“I’m just teasing.” Brinley still remembered that Saturday at the pier. “I don’t care, Ivan, as long as I’m with you.”
“I’m glad you’re easy to please. Lunch is on me.” Ivan slung his messenger bag over his shoulder. “We’ll have to take two vehicles. I’ll be working late tonight. Stocking and all that.”
“Don’t forget church tomorrow morning.” Brinley fished for her car keys.
“I’ll pick you up at eight. Just have a big old pot of coffee ready and I’ll be good to go to Sunday School.”
Brinley thanked God that they were going to the same Sunday School class and the same church. That way they could be on the same page about their beliefs and be of equal yoke as Olivia Gonzalez said in the Women’s Bible Study. Her only regret was that Yun couldn’t see this development in Brinley’s life with Ivan, their engagement and upcoming wedding, and the return of her Victorian Steinway to the McMillan family home.
Someday they would all be in heaven together again and they could then reminisce about this life and all these times.
For now, life had to go on here on earth without those who had gone on ahead of them, and Brinley was thankful to God that she could share it with Ivan.
* * *
“A prenup?” Dad took Brinley’s pawn. “What kind of prenup?”
“It’s a vow of poverty.” Brinley frowned, trying to anticipate Dad’s next move on his Napoleon chessboard which was now back in the family room at the Brooks cottage on Sea Island. Dad was in town for a few weeks, but then he’d be off again to join Mom in Europe.
“No kidding.” Dad laughed.
“Not funny, Dad. He wants me to agree not to bail him out at any time in our marriage. He wants us to have equal shares of stuff. Like if we bought a TV, we each pay half. I can’t surprise him with a whole TV.”
“Even if you could buy its manufacturer and parent company.”
“Uh-huh. I’ve already sent it over to Annette.”
“Her law firm will laugh this all the way into the blooper reels.”
“Be serious, Dad. This is the rest of my life we’re talking about.” She took his queen. “Your future grandchildren hang in the balance.”
“I am serious. I think that Ivan is a keeper. And I can’t believe you beat me again.”
“What you taught me, Dad.”
“We should play chess more often. Remember we used to play when you were little?”
“In this very room.” Brinley looked around. The family room hadn’t changed a bit, except for the furniture that Mom cycled out every year or so. Outside, April was bright and lovely and warming up. Pretty soon it would be time to go swimming. “Time, isn’t it, Dad? Always time.”
Dad pushed back from the chessboard. “I’m beginning to like this Ivan.”
“Why? He’s stubborn.”
“He’s self-made.”
“Who in the world would turn down a chance to share nine billion dollars?” Brinley knew the answer before the entire question left her mouth. Ivan. Ivan would if only because he wanted to play his violin. Someone else could worry about the finances.
“And a half, Brin. Stocks went up yesterday.”
Brinley threw up her arms. “See what I mean?”
“He’s going to have to learn it the hard way. Did you show him the warehouse?”
“Not yet. If I did, then this prenup might make sense.”
“Would it?”
Brinley shrugged. “He wants to show me that he can hold his own.”
“Take care of it, Brinley Brin.”
“I will, Dad. I’m not signing it.”
“Nine billion dollars say you should, Brin.”
“It’s a marriage, not a business.”
“It could be his dignity we’re talking about.”
“He’s been working on a budget. I’ve told him we’re not setting a wedding date until he gets his finances in order.”
“Brin.”
“What, Dad?�
��
“What does that say about your love for him if you hold your wedding day hostage?”
Brinley paused. “I don’t want our marriage to start off with unpaid debts from day one. What will we teach our children?”
“Even if he sets up a budget, he still needs to follow through.”
“Right. His friend Matt is helping him.”
“Good friends are hard to find.”
“What does Pastor Gonzalez say about this budget prerequisite?”
“He was amused, but thought it’s a very practical idea.”
“I do too, Brin. If this plan of yours ends up getting the wedding day moved, your mom would be thrilled to death. In fact, you know she’d like nothing better than for you to postpone your wedding until after Zoe’s baby is born. She can only handle one thing at a time, you know.”
Brinley smiled. “That’s why we’re going to get married a soon as possible, Dad.”
“Is that right?”
“It doesn’t take long to set up a budget considering how little money Ivan has. But what will get him is working out a payment plan with the creditors. He doesn’t want me to see his mess, and for his sake, I won’t unless I have to. Anyway, once that’s done, we can move on to the wedding.”
“My checklist daughter.”
“The wedding’s easy, Dad. Ivan and I have decided to make it a small beach wedding. Keeping it simple. Low budget. Not making a big deal. Not requiring a whole year to plan. Since Mom’s busy with Zoe and her future grandchild, I think we can sneak a small, short, and sweet wedding by her.”
“Ha. I doubt it. Better put your foot down ASAP, Brinley Brin.”
“I am.”
“I’ll back you up as long as I get to walk you down the aisle.”
“I wouldn’t have anyone else do that.” Brinley picked up her purse. “How’s Mom doing these days?”
“Your mom thinks she has to bid in person at the Christie’s auction next week. She has her eye on a fifteenth-century cradle.”
“Yikes, Dad. I don’t think that’s up to code.”
Brinley found her keys. She glanced around the sunroom. Sure miss this place now that I have my own house.
“Time for me to go. I have a meeting with Toby and Meg to sort out their differences so they can be productive at Pelican Road.”
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