Chapter 26 #2
Hearing Alex say, in such a matter-of-fact way, that Hope was in love with him, made him feel elated, until he remembered the many obstacles still standing in their way. “What if I ask her and she says no?”
“Then at least you won’t have to spend the rest of your life wondering what might’ve happened if you went for it.” Alex held up a finger. “Wait here.”
Alex was gone long enough for Paul to break into a cold sweat. Was he really going to propose to her? And what if she did say no? What then? Alex’s return interrupted his panic attack.
“Hold out your hand.” Alex took Paul’s hand and dropped the ring their father had given their mother for their twentieth anniversary into his palm. Then he closed Paul’s hand around the ring and held it for a long moment. “Since Mom can’t wear it anymore, she’d want you to have it.”
It had become too big for her finger, and rather than take the chance that she might lose it, they’d convinced her to put it away for safekeeping—and told her that every time she asked about the ring.
“It doesn’t feel right to give away something that belongs to Mom.”
“Our mom, the one who loved and cared for us our entire lives, would want you to give that ring to the woman you love. Remember how much she hated waste of any kind? She can’t have valuables where she is now, and she’d say it was wasteful to let it sit in a drawer somewhere waiting for her to die so it can go to you anyway. ”
Paul studied the gorgeous ring that had a two-carat diamond solitaire surrounded by smaller diamonds on either side of it. “Remember how much she loved this ring?”
“I remember how much she loved that he pulled off such a great surprise without her knowing a thing about it. She loved that even more than she loved the ring itself.”
Paul smiled at the memory of the parents who’d been so hopelessly devoted to each other. He wanted that. He wanted what they’d had, what Alex and Jenny had. And he wanted it with Hope. “You’re sure you don’t mind if the ring goes to me? You’re the oldest. It should be yours.”
Alex swept away Paul’s concerns with the wave of his hand. “I’m all set for rings, and besides, Mom has other jewelry that can go to Jenny someday. That ring is for Hope. It’s what Mom would want. I know it.”
“Thanks for this, for giving me the push I needed.”
“Any time. I came over to get Jenny’s phone charger, and I’m glad I came when I did. I hate to think of having to deal with you if you let those two get away.”
Paul hated to think of that, too. “I’m going to wait until after the wedding and then I’ll do it.”
“I hope you get everything you want and deserve, Paul.”
“Thank you—and thank you for coming home when I needed you.”
Alex smiled and winked on his way to the door. “Turned out to be the best thing I ever did.”
Long after Alex was gone to the new home he shared with Jenny, Paul stared at the ring in his hand, thinking about what he would say to Hope and hoping he could convince her to stay and make a life with him.
Jenny and Alex scored an absolutely glorious early October day for their long-awaited wedding.
Over the last few days, Jenny’s family had arrived from North Carolina and Toby’s family had come from Pennsylvania.
Meeting them had been among the more emotional moments for Alex, as he was well aware that their son’s death had made his happily ever after possible. A gruesome thought, to be certain.
However, he took his lead from them, and they’d chosen to focus on Jenny and her happiness rather than the sadness of the past. They were such happy, positive people, and Alex admired them greatly for having the fortitude to go on after their unimaginable loss.
He also appreciated that they were genuinely thrilled for him and Jenny, and he could see that their acceptance of him and their marriage had filled her with joy.
He wanted her to be happy today. They’d both waited a long time to find each other, but after everything she’d been through, he wanted it to be particularly perfect for her.
The only thing that wasn’t perfect for him was that his beloved parents wouldn’t be there.
He liked to think his father was always watching over him and had no doubt that George would wholeheartedly approve of Jenny for him, and in her rare moments of lucidity over the last year, Alex hoped his mom had come to know how much he loved Jenny.
Alex waited with Paul and Evan McCarthy in the room provided for the groom’s party at the Chesterfield. Paul was messing with his bow tie, so Alex went to offer his assistance. “Let me.” He adjusted and straightened the tie and picked a spot of lint off the black tux. “There.”
“Thanks.”
“Why are you more nervous than I am?”
“You know why.”
“So it’s on for after?”
As his cheek pulsed with tension, Paul nodded.
“You know what you’re gonna say?”
“Yeah.”
“I hope it goes exactly the way you want it to.”
“Me, too.”
“Don’t leave anything left unsaid, Paul. Put it all on the table.”
“That’s the plan.”
Lizzie arrived with a white rose for Alex’s lapel and burgundy roses for Paul and Evan. Thankfully, she took mercy on them and pinned them on, too.
“How’s Jenny?” Alex asked.
“She’s radiant.”
That was exactly what he wanted to hear.
“Jared heard from his brother,” Lizzie said. “He’s agreed to come take a look at our fair island. No promises. Yet.”
“That’s great, Lizzie.”
“I’m sorry we couldn’t get it done in time to make a difference for your family. But maybe down the road…”
“Maybe so. No matter how the timing works out, it’s a great thing you’re doing. It’s something we need here.”
“Fingers crossed. Patience is not my forte, but Jared says if we ease Quinn into the idea, he’s apt to bite.”
“And if he doesn’t, then I’m sure you’ll find someone else.”
Lizzie touched her earpiece and then smiled at Alex. “Show time.”