22. Deacon
DEACON
I t’s nearly November, and the winter dreariness has set in, so I’m cuddled up in bed early with the fireplace blazing, Beck reading one of her naughty books next to me. If I’m lucky, she’ll feel like reenacting a scene from one of them.
My brother Steele calls me to congratulate me on “finally winning Aspyn’s heart,” which he’d heard through “the grapevine.” I hadn’t been the one to tell him.
Frankly, I’ve been so wrapped up being in love with Beck that I’ve hardly talked to my family much lately.
I’m far too occupied with having my dream girl to keep anything else on my radar right now. I should feel guilty, but I don’t.
“Listen, I have a bunch of boxes of your old things I helped Dad clean out of the basement. Books, mementos, Spiderman sheet sets, the whole nine. How about I bring them by tomorrow afternoon?”
“That would be great.”
“I also took the jewelry safe from the closet. You mentioned that Aspyn took a lot of the jewelry, like we know Mom intended, so maybe she can use the safe for those pieces?” Steele suggests.
“Sure. Sounds great, bro. Did the sisters-in-law go through the rest of the jewelry, sunglasses, hats, and everything else?” I reach over and kiss Beck’s cheek while she’s immersed in her book, and she pushes my face away with a giggle.
I do manage to wrench her from the book eventually, after I pluck it from her hands and read a very sexy scene aloud. Then, Beck jumps my bones, and I enjoy every second of it.
The next day, Steele arrives by 4 p.m. with boxes upon boxes, which we haul up to the primary bedroom. Beck sits on the bed, telling us she’ll “oversee” the operation.
Now, I’m standing in the middle of the room, looking around at all the boxes, a bit bewildered. Steele throws himself into the recliner in the sitting area portion of the bedroom and yawns like he’s just hiked a mountain.
“Big job,” Steele tells me, arching a well-manicured brow at me, making the understatement of the year. I put my hands on my hips and sighed.
“How does Dad seem to you?” I ask Steele as I open a duct-taped box full of thrillers.
“Like a man who lost his wife way too soon and isn’t ready to face his grief.” Steele sighs.
“Fuck.” I’d gotten the same feeling. “Any offers on the house? I know he just put it on the market Tuesday.”
“They’re starting the showings today, which is why I hauled all this shit away for him a couple days ago. He said he had a long way to go on the house and was hiring a cleaning team. Made me feel bad. I had to work Thursday and Friday, or I would have done it for him.”
“I could’ve helped,” Beck speaks up, sounding disappointed not to have been asked. “If Tom ever needs something, I’m here. Please remember that.”
“Thanks, Aspyn. He seemed resolute about the cleaning team, so I didn’t try to change his game plan.
Anyway, I’m sure the offers will roll in despite it being winter.
The major snow hasn’t started yet, and Dad has offered a quick closing.
I guess the house he wants is vacant, and they will allow a quick close, too. ”
“He’s already found a new place?” Beck asks, drumming her fingernails along her hardback book.
“Yeah, in a fifty-five and up community not too far from here. He’ll be even closer to you and me, Deac.” Steele kicks his feet up on the recliner.
“We’ll have to have him over to dinner when he gets settled,” Beck decides sweetly. “Your dad probably needs us now more than ever. It helps to keep busy.”
“He’s working a lot. Keeping himself busy to distract from the grief, I’m sure,” I tell my brother and Beck.
“That sounds about right,” Aspyn agrees. When silence stretches out between us, she asks, “So, Steele, what’s been happening with you? Will you be bringing a girlfriend home anytime soon? Popping out some babies?” Beck gives him a half-smile as she quizzes him.
He gives his usual answer.
“I’ve got thirty babies at school. Currently, no prospects, and I’m so busy, I hardly have time to meet anyone. But don’t worry about me.”
“You’re not getting any younger, Mr. Thirty-One-Year-Old,” Beck teases him. “Sorry, I hate that line. It’s what people asked me all the time about my relationship with Sean. ‘Where are you and Sean going?’ Well, hopefully the only place he’s going is hell.”
“I think everyone should wait until they’re truly ready anyway. I’m only a year older than Deac, and I don’t see a wedding ring on your finger or hear any babies crying.” Steele teases Beck right back.
I smile and reply, “Funny how those are the exact things I want.” I shoot Steele a smile.
“Heard. This is me swooning.” Beck places the back of her hand on her forehead and tilts her head back in a mock-swoon and then winks at me.
“Not telling you anything you don’t already know, love.” I get up and walk over to her, kissing her deeply right in front of Steele, who immediately covers his eyes but peeks through two fingers jokingly. Beck giggles against my lips.
Beside me sits my mother’s giant jewelry box, which she’d placed inside her closet safe.
“Ooh, I have lots of jewelry to fill that with.” Beck’s eyes open wide, and she walks over to the top drawer of her dresser, which we’d recently moved out of storage and into the primary bedroom. The top drawer is lined in velvet, but we’d both prefer if the expensive items stay in the safe.
“I love this ring so much.” Beck takes out the black cushion-cut diamond, and her eyes shine as she stares at it.
“It’s stunning on you, baby,” I tell her. “And it’s sized right?”
“Like it was made for me.” Beck grins. She takes it off her finger and hands it to me. I suddenly know I’m going to use this ring to propose that we start our lives together.
“You’re sure that’s the one you want?” I ask, my heart thumping in my chest until Beck nods and shares a secret smile that tells me we’re on the same page. I bring my mouth to hers and taste her lips.
“That’s part of a set,” Steele says, getting up out of the recliner and digging in the jewelry box. “You must have missed it. Look. It’s a band with black diamonds and rubies all around it. These came together. I remember the day Mom got them.”
Beck’s eyes are wide as saucers, nearly popping out of her skull, as she spots the band Steele is holding out.
I steal it from him, along with the black diamond ring.
They shimmer brilliantly as I hold them up to the light, much flashier than Beck’s usual turquoise, but if she says it’s the one, then it is.
When Beck turns back to talk to Steele, I slip it carefully into my pocket with my heart thrumming in my chest.
If that’s the ring my girl wants to wear, then that’s what she’ll wear for the rest of her life.
I’ve got a plan.