Chapter 7 #2
Margo is sad to be moving but feels that Florida and assisted living is the right choice, as she has a son down there, plus the warm weather all year round will be beneficial to her.
We walk to the front door, my hand finding a permanent spot on Brielle’s lower back. Someone who helps out around the house lets us in and sends us to the backyard.
Walking out and the fountain and plants are the backdrop for Margo, wearing her pearls, sitting at a table decked out in drinks and food.
She claps her hands together and stands. “Wonderful, you two are here.”
I smile as we greet her with hugs.
“Of course, someone is getting younger here.” Brielle offers Margo the flowers.
“Darling, age is just a number. Thank you, these are beautiful.” Margo holds her hand out to the table. “Please sit, I had my chef prepare a few things.”
I hold out Margo’s chair, and when she’s settled, I find my place sitting next to Brielle.
I’m quick to interlace our hands on the table. Brielle stiffens slightly, but I know she’s trying to hide her smile because pushing her buttons is something I can’t resist.
“I’m so happy to see you both before I move… and together. Miracles do happen,” Margo gushes.
I lean in to kiss Brielle’s cheek. “They do, don’t they?” I lay it on thick.
Brielle tightens her grip on my hand; it’s a tad on the tight side, but I’m just going to assume she’s been working out.
“Was his proposal something special?” Margo questions.
My fiancée looks at me. “Yes, Ford, do tell.”
“I would like to think so. Just us, I took Brielle to this lagoon that’s hidden off the lake, and we had a picnic. It’s a special place. When we were teenagers, we would go there, and it’s also the place that we –”
My girl cuts right in. “Ford, I think that’s enough details.” She smiles tightly.
“Sounds delightful and look at that ring.” Margo reaches onto the table, and Brielle is quick to offer her a view of the ring. “Tasteful. A lot better than the original choice.”
“Original choice?” Brielle asks, perplexed.
I have to divert us. “Wow, are those cucumber-and-cream-cheese sandwiches? You know the way to make me happy.”
“Yes, dear, I also have those egg-salad-with-pickle sandwiches. I thought maybe Connor would be with you both, so had the chef make peanut butter and jelly too.”
“Thoughtful. Connor is at camp this week. His father thought another week of camp would be a real treat for all of us.” Brielle is laying it on heavy, while subtly letting me know her dissatisfaction as of late.
Margo indicates for me to pour her some tea. “Little boys have a lot of energy. I’m sure it’s exactly what Connor needs.”
“Exactly,” I say as I fill her cup. “Brielle is about to sit the Bar,” I proudly announce.
Margo looks at her with pure elation. “I knew you would get there.”
“Well, I still need to pass it.”
“You will,” I promise her.
“What will you do after?” Margo wonders.
Brielle takes a sip of water. “The law practice where I had an internship and worked in paralegal part-time has a position opening up, so that’s a start.”
“But where will you two live then once you are married?”
Brielle and I both croak a sound. “It’s in discussion. We have school for Connor to think about,” Brielle answers. She isn’t a great liar, but she’s trying.
“There are excellent schools here,” I state. “Plus, the house is all ready for Brielle. Her bench swing, favorite-colored pillows, and a home office. Then there is the lake that she loves more than she cares to admit.”
Brielle’s eyes snap to me because she knows I’m not pretending. The dots connect in her head. She was in my thoughts when I designed the house.
“Is Connor excited that his parents are back together? He must be over the moon.” Margo takes a sip from her tea.
“I think he will be ecstatic at the wedding. A simple wedding, just the three of us.” I have no idea what I’m spewing or why this comes so easily. Or why I’m speaking in the future tense, other than I’m manifesting some serious plans.
“You must send me a gift idea. Spare no expense.”
Brielle laughs nervously. “Don’t be silly. We don’t need gifts.”
“Fine. When the next child comes, then let me buy a gift.”
I nearly choke on the coffee that I poured a minute ago.
“That will be a while. I’m still young and need to focus on my career. Have to mentally prepare for the three kids under our roof, probably all boys, and with Ford’s personality too, so pure mischief.” Brielle speaks without taking notice of me.
But now I’m wondering what her mind is spinning.
“Your parents?” Margo asks.
Brielle and I look at one another before I jump in and answer. “Best not to talk to them about this.”
“Hmm, I can only imagine. You know, they will come around. They did last time, when it came to raising Connor. You just need to be firm.”
“Were we not firm enough last time?” I’m slightly offended.
Margo looks between us all very seriously.
“You were both young, in a delicate situation, and sometimes you need a little extra intervention. Your parents saw you both as their children, children they needed to guide, and they thought one way was the right way. I just stepped in to let them know there had to be a compromise on their path.”
Brielle’s eyes dip down to look at the patio floor.
I breathe out a breath and bring my arm around Brielle’s shoulders. “We are grateful for that. Do you think there was another path that none of us explored?”
Margo seems taken aback. “Adoption, although a gift to many, wasn’t what either of you wanted.
Or do you mean marriage? Your ring could have been an option, but then I’m not sure either of you would be where you are today.
Sometimes we get our true love later. Look at you two now, so many things to be proud of.
A great son is one of them, and now you both get to have what you’ve been waiting for. ”
I rub warmth into Brielle’s shoulder as we listen to Margo, and I’m grateful Brielle didn’t question the ring remark more.
The next hour we talk about Lake Spark town gossip and roses. We would love to stay longer, but Margo needs rest.
As we wrap up our time together, Brielle and I stand. This time our hands connect of their own accord, my free hand sliding down her spine as she leans in to hug Margo.
“You look so healthy and happy,” Margo notes to us.
“Thank you,” Brielle says. “I’m glad to have seen you again.”
“Me too, and I know Ford will treat you right, he’s been waiting to be your husband for years.”
Brielle laughs. “Why do you say that?”
“Before he upgraded your rock, he had a cheap little one when you two were kids, but you know this.”
No, she did not.
Brielle freezes for a second or two before giving me a piercing gaze.
I ignore her for a moment. “I’ll call you later in the week, Margo,” I promise.
“Don’t be silly. You two have a week to yourselves without Connor. Go wild and never leave your home.” She winks at me.
I keep Brielle close as we walk to the car. I open the door for her, and she slides onto the seat, clearly agitated.
When I make it to the driver’s seat, she is quick to slide the ring off her finger and hand it back to me. “Why does Margo think you got me a ring when we were younger?”
Yep, saw this coming about one minute ago.
My lips press together as I tuck the ring into my pocket, unsure what to say, but honesty is the best policy.
“Because I did. Before the appointment, I thought it could be an option. But then Margo walked me through the reality of you not having your dreams, and the next day, when we decided to keep Connor, then something inside me thought our choice was right, so I returned the ring. We were young, confused, and none the wiser.”
She sits there quietly for a second. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Because I’m a selfish asshole who realized that you having support would be better, and you already looked like you were breaking.” I heave a sigh.
“Drive back to the house, now.” She’s insistent, but I can’t figure out if she’s more mad or sad.
I know better than to push her to talk. Brielle is more open when you are patient and let her lead. This is why our car ride back is a stiff silence with an old Goo Goo Dolls album playing, but I make no mistake that I hear a sniffle or two as she stares out the window.
My veins are filled with remorse for how today is going.
I’m unraveling us.
Which up to now was hard to do, as we were tightly wound in what we thought was right.
I bite the inside of my cheek, trying to contain myself from saying anything else. The last thing I want is for her to break. Hell, I don’t want her shedding any tears.
The road ahead is winding around the lake, it’s dangerous if I’m not careful.
Much like us.
But I keep my hands on the steering wheel, in control.
As soon as we are back at the house, I park in the driveway, and she storms out of the car. I follow her at the speed of light. We both stop in the middle of my lawn, clearly about to face off.
“Ford Spears, why are you torturing us?”