Chapter Ten #3
My gaze returns to the gathering at the bar. Seems even more people have joined the group. It’s fast turning into an unofficial town meeting. They’re verging on a swarm and still sneaking glances our way. I can’t help the way my shoulders are inching up. Like we need a barrier.
Sabrina catches my eye and gives me two thumbs up. And Mac the mechanic is grinning his heart out. My smile in response is both weak and confused. I ought to see if there’s a local theater group or something. Anything that might help bring my acting skills up to par.
“This is just getting weirder,” I say. “I really do need you to tell me what’s going on and why they’re watching us.”
From his jeans pocket, Nash retrieves a small, worn black velvet box and sets it on the table in front of me. “So, don’t freak out, Junebug…but we’re getting engaged.”
“We’re doing what?”
Nash opens the jewelry box and there sits a white-gold ring with a ridiculously large diamond in an ornate, low setting.
He picks it up and holds his hand out for mine.
And god help me, I give it to him because not only do I want the thing, but what else am I going to do in front of half the damn town?
“It was made in the 1920s. The center stone is 3 carats in a cushion cut, while the tapered stones on either side are half a carat each. They’re old mine diamonds and excellent quality.
Gordon didn’t completely commit highway robbery with this trade.
Though it was damn close,” he says, as he places the ring on my finger. “Smile, my heart.”
Shock has me giving him a rictus thing. “How much is it worth? What was the value of your watch, for that matter?”
“The ring was about seventy grand.”
“Holy shit,” I say. “I mean, it’s amazing…”
“Looks good on you too. He said it’d been sitting in his safe for a decade or so.”
“And your watch?”
Hooting and hollering erupts from the audience. You never heard such applause. And it comes accompanied by the pop of a champagne bottle.
He winces again. “It was a vintage Rolex Daytona in mint condition. Of course, I had to pretend I didn’t know any of that. One of the few things I splurged on over the years. I bought it for the bargain price of two hundred thousand dollars.”
“Nash…”
And there’s no time for him to respond before our table is surrounded.
Nash is being slapped on the back by some dudes who were playing pool, and seem to know him.
Mac the mechanic is crying happy tears, hugging me, and offering a free oil change as an engagement gift.
Then Carmen is there and she’s so elated.
Everyone’s excitement and joy are genuinely moving.
How the people of The Bend have rallied around us.
I am just in shock. This was meant to be an actual first date and now here we are.
Sabrina inspects the ring while Rose passes me a glass of something non-alcoholic.
And “Almost” by Hozier is playing on the jukebox.
“The babies won’t be born out of wedlock,” cheers a man wearing a priest’s collar. Guess it’s Father Frank.
“How about an autumn wedding?” suggests Isa from the coffee shop, holding a bottle of craft beer. “I know it isn’t far away, but the fall colors are amazing around these parts.”
“You’re going to make such a beautiful bride,” says Sabrina with glossy eyes. “I’m thinking with your hair, we go half up, half down. And don’t worry about finding a makeup artist, my cousin does great work.”
“The signature cocktail for the reception has to be a huckleberry bramble, right?” asks Rose.
My mind, meanwhile, is scrambling in two directions.
I want this to be real. Which is wild. Like throwing myself off the edge of a precipice with him at my side is good and right.
This is a lifetime commitment we’re talking about here.
However, logic says this is just for show.
Gordon pushed Nash into trading his expensive watch for an engagement ring, and of course the whole town found out and now here we are.
And regardless of any good intentions, Nash will return to his rockstar life sooner or later.
The lines between fake and real are blurred as fuck.
Charlie and Grandma walk into the bar, and she raises a brow at the scene. What are the chances word got around and she heard the gossip about the ring and our expected betrothal this fine evening and came down to see what was going on?
Given the frown on her face, I would say high. Very high.
“Audrey, you must be so proud,” says Molly the mayor, who also just arrived. The crowd seemed to grow each time I turned around. No one in The Bend is at home tonight, apparently. Soon the bar will be bursting at the seams.
“Yes,” answers Grandma in a flat tone. “So proud.”
“I hear congratulations are in order?” asks a familiar voice. One I’d hoped to never hear again. Ever.
The sea of people seems to part around the tall blonde woman. Carrie is as perfect and polished as always in a white bandage dress and beige heels. And while Grandma might have been less than impressed by our engagement, the expression on Carrie’s face is one of pure rage.