Chapter 8 #4
Clearing my throat again, I asked, “Is it oak? I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s beautiful.” I carefully turned it over when I heard something clink inside.
“Yes, it was from the oak tree in Grammy’s backyard. Lightning hit it a few years back, so I helped cut it down before it hit the house,” he said, his voice low and thoughtful.
“The tree meant something to you.” I looked into his warm eyes and saw my answer. His eyes were looking at the box in my hand as if it were made of gold.
He nodded, looking back at me. “Yeah, when I was a kid, Grandpa and I would sit on its low branches and eat PB sandwiches with fresh strawberries. I loved that tree.”
“PB?”
“Oh, sorry. Peanut butter.”
“Ah, yes, the infamous American sandwich. But isn’t it PB and J? Jelly, right?” I asked jokingly.
“Nope. No J. Grammy grew the sweetest strawberries, so I’d make her slice those up instead.” We were once again caught up in a moment I was entirely unprepared for. When Grammy spoke, I was embarrassed, realizing I’d once again forgotten she was in the room.
“Open it,” she prompted me, nodding towards the beautiful box in my hand. When I looked at Mike, he smiled.
I opened the box slowly, with reverence, aware that whatever was inside was special to both of them. It was like Mike and Grammy were inviting me into a private moment, trusting me with it.
The tinkling sound I heard turned out to be the most stunning wedding ring set I had ever seen. They sat on a mauve velvet lining. Despite dressing in a modern style, I loved vintage jewelry and had collected a few pieces over the years.
“Wow. You don’t see that style of filigree anymore. Is this yours?” I asked her, turning my gaze to her, touching the rings but not taking them out.
“Yes, those are my wedding rings. My fingers became too small for them, and I was afraid they might slip off and be lost.” Her voice was filled with emotion just talking about this precious keepsake.
“It broke my heart to take them off after promising my love that I never would, but I think he’d understand.
He always knew what my heart needed. We fit together perfectly.
His strength, my softness. My fire, his quiet nature. He was the only man I’ve ever loved.”
What would it be like to experience that? To have the love of a man like that?
My heart raced at the possibility for the first time in years. The Bible said God gives us the desires of our hearts, but I wondered if He’d give me what I’d never dared to ask for.
Picking them up, I turned the exquisite ring in my hand.
The marquise-cut diamond was small, but what it lacked in size was made up for in its unique style.
I could picture her as a young woman, her husband getting down on one knee and asking her to spend her life with him.
I couldn’t imagine how wonderful that would be.
“They’re stunning, Grammy.” I carefully placed the ring inside and closed the box. I handed it back to Mike, who had a curious look on his face.
“Thank you, Ren. But they’re not meant to sit in a box on a shelf. They’re meant to be worn by the woman my Mikey marries. Whoever she is.”
Her hazel eyes were locked on mine, and I was too afraid to look away.
A flash of a picture of Mike following his grandfather’s tradition—getting on his knee and asking for a woman’s hand, his smile wide, eyes expectant—brought a pain so deep I sucked in a sharp breath.
I wondered if Grammy had done that on purpose because she seemed to enjoy my discomfort.
What a sneaky, sneaky girl, you are.
Mike said nothing, and I was too afraid he would see how the thought of that happening had affected me.
“Well,” Grammy said on a sigh. “This old lady missed her midday nap with all this excitement. Mikey, bring Ren back to see me again soon, okay?”
He looked back at her with a look of concern after setting the box back in its place. “You feeling alright? I haven’t seen you give up company for a nap for a long time.”
“Ugh, Ren, will you take this man with you? He’s a worrywart. Thanks to those weirdos, I got too much exercise today. Go, go. But come back soon,” she said, making a shooing motion.
Mike didn’t look convinced, but she insisted, so he helped get her out of the recliner and into bed, slipping off her tennis shoes and tucking her in like a child.
“I’ll call and check on you after your nap. I love you,” he said softly, kissing her forehead.
“I love you, too. Ren, come back soon. Promise me?”
“Promise, Grammy. Wouldn’t miss it. I still need to grill you about this one and look at embarrassing pictures from when he was a kid,” I jested, squeezing her hand as I backed away.
“Well, it’s a good thing you’re meeting him now that his face has grown into his teeth,” she said around a snort.
I threw my head back and laughed as Mike shook his head.
When we got back to the truck, I told him, “I cannot wait to see these big teeth photos. Serves you right leaving me alone.”
He grinned the whole ride back to the cottage. Finally, he said, “She likes you.”
Turning to look at him, I answered, “The feeling is mutual.”