Chapter 32
Chapter Thirty-Two
Darryl
I pulled up to Ashley’s old house, the morning sun casting a warm glow on the chipped blue paint, the sagging porch looking cozy in the light.
It was a quiet day, no rush to work, just me and her, and I stepped out of the car, grabbing a couple of coffees from the cupholder, my grin steady as I headed to her door.
We’d been talking about telling my family we were engaged, something real this time, and I’d suggested starting at her mom’s grave, letting Carol in on it first. She’d liked the idea, her smile soft, and now here I was, knocking gently, her opening the door quickly, jacket on, hair tied back, the bracelet I’d given her glinting on her wrist. “Hey,” she said, stepping out, locking the door behind her, leaning up to kiss my cheek, her hand brushing my arm. “Morning.”
“Hey,” I said, handing her a coffee, grinning back as she took it, her fingers warm against mine. “Morning. Ready to go?”
“Yeah,” she said, sipping the coffee, nodding a bit, her voice steady as she climbed into the passenger seat, I sliding in beside her. “Grave first?”
“Yep,” I said, starting the engine, pulling out onto the quiet street, heading toward the cemetery just outside town. “Figured we’d start there, then swing by my folks’ place.”
“Sounds perfect,” she said, leaning back, her hand resting on my leg, squeezing lightly, the coffee steaming in her grip. “Nice day for it.”
“Real nice,” I said, glancing at her, my hand covering hers for a moment, squeezing back before settling on the wheel.
The drive was short, the cemetery gate appearing quickly, and I parked near the entrance, stepping out with her, the air cool but sunny, the grass still damp underfoot.
“This way?” I said, taking her hand, lacing our fingers tight as we walked toward the rows of stones.
“Yeah,” she said, leading me down a path, her steps calm and sure, stopping at a fresh grave, the dirt dark, a simple headstone with Carol McBride etched in, flowers scattered around from friends and neighbors.
“Hey, Mom,” she said, her voice bright, crouching a bit, brushing her fingers over the stone, smiling like Carol could hear her. “We’re here. Got some news for you.”
“Hey, Carol,” I said, crouching beside her, resting a hand on Ashley’s back, rubbing gently, keeping her close. “Brought your girl to tell you something big.”
“Yep,” she said, looking at me, then back at the stone, her hand squeezing mine, her tone light. “Darryl asked me to marry him, Mom. For real this time. You’d love it, right?”
“Oh, she’d be all over it,” I said, grinning, leaning closer to the headstone, talking easy like Carol was sitting there. “Hey, Carol, I’m making it official with Ashley. She’s stuck with me now, and I’m betting you’d be smiling big up there.”
“She’d say you’re a good catch,” Ashley said, laughing softly, her hand patting the stone, her voice warm. “Right, Mom? You’d tell me to keep him close.”
“Hope so,” I said, pulling her a little nearer, kissing her temple quickly, my hand sliding to her shoulder. “Hey, Carol, I’ll take care of her, promise. You’d like that, huh?”
“She’d nod at that,” she said, grinning up at me, standing slow, pulling me up with her, her hand staying in mine. “She’d say, ‘Good job, Darryl,’ and probably tease me about the ring.”
“No ring yet,” I said, chuckling, wrapping my arm around her waist, holding her tight as we stood there, the breeze rustling the grass. “Working on it, Carol. Gotta find something she’d approve of.”
“She’d trust you,” she said, leaning into me, her head resting on my shoulder, her voice softening a bit. “She’d be happy, Mom. We’re good.”
“Yeah,” I said, hugging her close, my chin resting on her head, talking low to the stone. “Hey, Carol, we’re solid. You can rest easy, alright?”
“Alright,” she said, nodding against me, her hand squeezing mine again, stepping back with me, her smile steady. “Let’s go tell your family now.”
“Sounds good,” I said, turning us back to the car, keeping her close, her hand warm in mine as we walked, the sun climbing higher, warming the air. “They’ll make a mess of it, fair warning.”
“Love that,” she said, grinning a bit, climbing in as I started the engine, pulling out onto the road, heading to my folks’ place, her hand resting on my leg again, calm and easy.
The drive was quick, their house coming into view, the familiar two-story with its neat lawn and porch swing, Mom’s car in the drive, Dad’s truck beside it.
“Ready?” I said, Parking, turning to her with a grin, squeezing her hand.
“Yep,” she said, squeezing back, stepping out with me, her jacket unzipped now, the sun warm as we headed up the walk, me knocking quick before pushing the door open, calling out. “Hey, anyone around?”
“Darryl!” Mom’s voice came from the kitchen, her head popping out, apron on, flour dusting her hands as she waved us in. “Ashley! Come on in!”
“Hey, Mom,” I said, stepping inside, Ashley beside me, her hand still in mine as we kicked off our shoes, heading to the living room where Dad was sprawled in his armchair, Jen lounging on the couch, her phone in hand.
“Hey, Dad, Jen,” I said, pulling Ashley to sit with me on the love seat, her close against my side.
“Hey, you two,” Dad said, sitting up a bit, nodding at us, his voice gruff but warm. “What’s up?”
“Hey,” Jen said, looking up, smirking as she set her phone down, eyeing our hands. “Back together again, huh?”
“Yeah,” I said, grinning, wrapping my arm around Ashley’s shoulders, pulling her in tight. “Got some news. We’re engaged.”
“Engaged?” Mom said, stepping in from the kitchen, wiping her hands on a towel, her eyes wide with a big smile. “For real?”
“For real,” Ashley said, leaning into me, holding up her hand like there’d be a ring, grinning softly. “He asked, and I said yes.”
“Aw,” Jen said, sitting up, her smirk growing, clapping slowly. “Cute. But wait, is this fake again? Like last time?”
“Nope,” I said, chuckling, squeezing Ashley’s shoulder, kissing her temple quickly. “Real deal now. No tricks.”
“Uh-huh,” Dad said, grinning a bit, leaning forward in his chair. “Sure about that? You two pulled a fast one before.”
“Positive,” Ashley said, laughing softly, nudging me with her elbow, her voice light. “No faking this time. Promise.”
“Gonna need proof,” Jen said, pulling out her phone, snapping a quick pic of us, her grin teasing. “Last time was a whole show, gotta make sure.”
“Proof’s coming,” I said, holding up Ashley’s hand, pretending to show off an invisible ring, grinning big. “Working on the real thing soon.”
“Good luck,” Mom said, laughing, stepping over to hug us both, her arms warm around us. “I’m happy for you, real or not. You’re cute either way.”
“Thanks, Mom,” I said, hugging her back, keeping Ashley close, her giggling against me as Mom let go, Dad standing to clap my shoulder.
“Congrats, kid,” he said, nodding at Ashley, his grin steady. “You’re alright, Ashley. Even if it’s fake again.”
“It’s not,” she said, sticking her tongue out at him, laughing as Jen snapped another pic, her voice bright. “You’ll see.”
“Better,” Jen said, leaning back, smirking still. “Last time was wild. You two are pros at this.”
“Pros at fun,” I said, pulling Ashley closer, kissing her cheek quickly, her blushing a bit as Mom headed back to the kitchen, calling out.
“Stay for lunch!” she said, her voice carrying, pots clanging as she started up. “Got chili going!”
“Sweet,” Ashley said, grinning up at me, her hand squeezing mine, settling into my side. “We’re in.”
“Yeah,” I said, nodding, my arm staying around her, the room filling with chatter, Jen teasing us more, “Bet you’ll fake the vows too,” making us laugh, Dad tossing in, “Watch it be a prank at the altar,” keeping it light.
We stayed, eating chili around the table, Mom asking about rings, Jen snapping pics, the teasing rolling easily, their grins warm, the day full of fun, real and simple, just us now, no doubts left.