I stay up most of the night making the ring. My mind keeps replaying the moment. I asked her to marry me for real and she fucking loved it. There’s a nagging doubt in the back of my mind that I should have asked her in a calmer moment, when I could be more sure that she really meant it. That I really meant it. I’ve been pushing things forward with Sandra fast. Maybe too fast. I haven’t even had time to tell her about my grandfather’s will. I’ve seen enough now to know my feelings for her don’t have shit to do with the will. Even if the will said I would lose my garage if I was married with two kids at thirty five, I’d still want this. She’s the one, and I don’t need to spend another minute with her to know that.

Hell, I knew it before I was willing to admit it to myself. I just need to be straight with her and tell her about the stipulation in my grandfather’s will. She needs to hear it from me, or she’s going to think I’m using her and who knows what kind of future we’ll have then. If I marry her and if she really is pregnant, I know I can keep my shop. And I’ve cooked up a little plan for her to keep her bakery, too, but I still need to iron out the details. Everything will be perfect.

The ring is just temporary, and I’ll need to send out for a stone, but it’ll do for now. Besides, her parents are expecting to see a ring. Sandra will understand the need for a little bit of rushing. I can get her something more permanent in a few weeks. I look down at the simple ring in my hands. I can hardly believe I’m doing this.

On one hand, I honestly don’t know if Sandra was really accepting my proposal last night or just lost to her pleasure. Everyone in town may think just because I’m strong that I’m stupid, but I’m not. I know she might have just been into the moment. But damn it, I want to marry her. I know it in my heart. In my soul. I want it. I don’t care if that’s stupid or foolish of me. Whether she meant it or not last night, I’m going to find out for sure today.

Once I get Roman out of bed, we head over to Sandra’s place. I freeze in my tracks as soon as we step outside. Mark’s truck is parked out front. When we reach the front door, I hear voices from inside. Mark’s voice. Shit.

I let myself and Roman in.

“...just thought you should know,” says Mark, turning to leave.

When he turns sideways, I see Sandra’s face for the first time. Her red, tear-stained face.

I stop Mark with a raised finger and a warning look. I turn to Roman, controlling my voice as much as I can. “Can you run back to the house and grab daddy’s jacket, Bud? I forgot it.”

“Sure!” says Roman.

He scurries outside and I advance on Mark. I grip his dress shirt and pin him to the wall. “What the fuck did you do to her?”

Mark looks down his nose at me, somehow managing to look like he thinks he’s superior even when I could break his teeth and there’s nothing he could do about it. “I just told her the truth, big brother.”

I let him go, feeling a stabbing pain in my chest. “Get out,” I say to him.

“I was already leaving, asshole. Enjoy.”

The door slams behind him and I’m left facing Sandra, who’s eyes are brimming with tears. “You can get out too,” she says, voice thick with emotion.

“Sandra…”

“Leave!” she screams, throwing a vase towards me. It narrowly misses my head and smashes against the wall.

I step outside, fingering the ring in my pocket and finding Roman hustling toward me, breathless and hoisting my jacket over his head like some kind of prize. “Come on, Bud. Miss Sandra isn’t feeling well. We gotta let her rest.”

His face falls and he steps in beside me. “Should we get her some soup?”

“Nah, Bud. I don’t think she wants company right now.”

“What about Alfred and Collette?” asks Roman.

“I’m going to pay them a visit and let them know how she’s feeling. I’ll call Lyla and drop you off at her place. Okay?”

“Okay,” says Roman.

An hour later I’m knocking on the door of the bed and breakfast Alfred and Collette rented out for themselves. Alfred opens the door. He’s already dressed sharply with a velvety robe and some strange, puffy scarf draped around his neck and tucked inside the robe.

“Reid! So good to see you,” he says, reaching out and shaking my hand while clasping my forearm with his other hand, like we’re old buds.

I’m wearing the goofy getup of his kind. A dress shirt, dress pants, hair slicked to the side. I feel like a dressed up monkey, but whether Sandra wants me in her life or not, it’s worth it for her. I’ll play whatever game I have to. I’ll embarrass myself as much as I have to. I just don’t want her to get hurt, and I know how much her parents opinion of her matters, even if she won’t admit it to herself.

“I came by to let you know that my dear Sandra isn’t feeling up to snuff today.”

Alfred makes a face, nodding and clapping my shoulder. “Well, women these days don’t have the constitutions they used to.”

I force a smile. “I imagine not. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that you may not want to pay her a visit until the coast is clear.” I glance over my shoulder and make a show of looking discreet. “It’s like World War III over there. Wouldn’t want to muck up the Italian leather on your shoes, right?”

Alfred leans conspiratorially close, chuckling and nudging me. “Certainly not! You’ll let me know when we can pay another visit though, won’t you? Collette was charmed by you and that boy of yours. She has been talking about you two all day.”

I smile. “I’ll let you know as soon as it’s safe. ”

I just wish I knew when it would be safe.