36. Beck
Beck
I am used to women demanding things from me.
Brooke doesn’t . I was used to Addie talking about how much she loved the status of me being a doctor.
Brooke doesn’t seem to care that my job has a level of prestige.
Over time, I tuned out Addie’s determination to look down on people.
I’m embarrassed that I overlooked so much because of her physical beauty.
And yet, Brooke’s beautiful too. I see in subtle cues that she doesn’t think she’s equal to Addie.
I can also see that Brooke has a confidence that allows her to brush self-doubts aside.
The fact that she struggles a little with comparing herself to Addie shows me that she cares .
And the fact that she laughed at my joke about pink hair shows me that she will face struggles and trials with humor.
Laughing about things is something that Addie and I did at first, but as time went on, laughter became more and more sparse, until we never laughed about anything.
When Brooke whispered “I love you too” to me, I was ready to drop to my knees and propose to her.
I did not, because I am not insane, and I understand that we need more time to date.
But after years of suffocating my feelings under a blanket of work, now that they are breathing again, the feelings are determined to make the most of every situation.
It’s YOLO, carpe diem , and veni, vidi, vici all at once.
Brooke went to go do her actual job, and I climbed into my car to drive back home. There is an important conversation with June that I need to have.
I park my truck in the driveway. Addie’s needling me about buying a vehicle more befitting a doctor prickles under my skin because, for the first time in the better part of a decade, I find myself honestly considering buying a new truck.
Not because Brooke has ever said anything, but because she hasn’t even batted an eye at this old vehicle, and I am in need of an upgrade.
When I knock on June’s door, she answers immediately. Her surgery recovery is going well, and she can move with just a walking boot now.
“Beckett,” she says with a toothy grin.
“Miss June,” I reply, swiping my ball cap off my head and holding it in my hands. “May I come in?”
“I never say no to a neighborly visit.” The glint in her eye makes me think she knows what I’m up to, but there’s no way she does. “Come on in and sit yourself down.”
I toe off my shoes before I cross to the faded floral couch. June’s walking boot thumps as she returns from the kitchen with a glass of lemonade.
“Brooke made it,” she says as she sets a blue glass on a coaster.
I smile in appreciation and because the mention of Brooke makes me smile. For so long, the very name of women elicited a frown, but now I’m smiling. Who even am I?
“Thank you.” I take a sip. “Miss June…” Nerves tighten my throat.
“Yes?”
“I want to ask Brooke to marry me.”
“Isn’t it a little soon for that?”
“Yes, probably too soon,” I say. “But I can’t deny it.” I scratch my chin. “Do you happen to know what Brooke’s ring size is?”
June cackles. “No one knows their ring size off the top of their head, but I suspect I can help you out.”
“Addie did,” I mumble, the memories of the last time I went ring shopping fighting their way back into my consciousness.
To be fair, Addie also knew all the ‘c’s’ that go with ring shopping and had specific expectations about what I could purchase for her.
She was most concerned with the ‘c’ for carat, and nothing less than two would do.
It was agonizing to know I was expected to get it just right, surprise her, and somehow still meet her high demands and expectations.
I shake my head and reach out to pat June’s hand. “About Brooke, I … I want to talk to her family. And I was hoping you’d share their contact information with me.”
She smiles. “I think that’s a lovely idea, young man.”
I have to give June credit, this is by far the most normal interaction I’ve ever had with her.
She extends a hand, and I reach mine out to shake hers, but she pulls her hand away.
“No, silly boy,” June says. “Here.” She stands and thumps down the hallway. I wait for her, but she calls, “Come, Beckett.”
I follow her into her room. The gauzy curtains let in light, the neatly made bed in the middle of the room has an old and faded wedding ring patterned quilt, and there are piles of books and notecards spread throughout the room.
Sticky notes are on the walls with messages.
I know enough to know that these are a sign of some cognitive decline, and it breaks my heart.
“Here you go, young man.” June turns from the dresser and extends her hand to me. There, set on her wrinkled, leathery hand, is a gold band with a single teardrop-shaped ruby. June shakes a little as she gazes down at the jewelry, and I can see how special this ring is to her.
“Miss June,” I say, reaching out and picking the ring off her palm. “It’s beautiful.”
More words aren’t needed for June to open up about this, and when she tells me the story, I’m glad she did.
“Does Brooke know this story?” I ask.
“No,” June replies. “I’ve been saving the ring and the story for her, but now…” She breaks off and looks at the window for a moment before turning her attention back to me. “Now I’m not sure I’ll be able to remember it when the time comes.”
If my heart was broken before, it’s shattered now.
June MacCord is many things to me. Mostly, she’s been an annoying neighbor, but I see her in a different light.
I see her as the older, eccentric woman who is determined to live her life to the fullest as she senses her abilities changing.
A woman who loves fiercely and has wisdom that I can only dream of, because it’s not the sort of thing you learn from books.
No, June’s wisdom is the sort of thing you learn from a hard life and trust in God’s grace.
“Miss June,” I whisper, meeting her gaze.
“Thank you. I will keep the story and tell it to her when it’s time.
” A post-it note flutters in the breeze, and an idea takes hold.
“Do you think you might like to write the story down? I could hold on to it and give it to her with the ring when the time is right.”
June smiles broadly. “That is an excellent idea.”
I swallow against the emotion clogging my throat. “Did you make an appointment? With the specialist I recommended?”
June’s eyes close. “It’s tomorrow.”
“Do you want me to take you?”
June’s eyes shine with emotion. She nods. “I think it will be hard for Brooke if the…” She swallows. “If the news isn’t good.”
I bob my head, and June’s blue eyes shine with tears. It won’t be hard for just Brooke. June will need someone with her too. I open my arms to her, and she steps into them for a grandmotherly hug.
I don’t know when I started seeing June MacCord as more than my nosy old neighbor, but I know I’ll be with her through this.