Chapter 37

Lacey

Call me an idiot, but I was all over the Internet looking at baby things. I know, I had a lot more important things to be doing than picking out a crib, but I couldn’t help myself.

If you’ve ever been pregnant, you’ll understand. The baby was all I could think about. I should have been figuring out a way to break the news to Rob, or even to Grant who was the actual father, but instead, I was looking at picture after picture of every product you could possibly buy for a new baby.

They also had maternity wear, vitamins and supplements to help the baby grow, even music you could play to your belly so the baby was born with a head full of Mozart and Beethoven.

I was about to place an order for a couple of books for expectant mothers when my cell phone rang.

“This is Lacey,” I said, for some reason hoping it was Grant calling.

It wasn’t. It was Rob.

“Oh,” I said, “hi, honey. Did the jewelry store call you about the engagement ring yet?”

I’d been nervous ever since choosing it. I’d been in a funny mood at the time, and now I had no idea how he’d react when he got the news I’d selected such an expensive diamond.

“That’s the thing I wanted to talk to you about, Lacey.”

“Is it the price? I can choose something cheaper. That was a pretty extravagant ring.”

“It’s not the price. It’s something else.”

“Well, what is it, Rob?” I said, starting to worry. “Has something happened?”

“No, nothing’s happened, it’s just …”

“Just what?”

There was a long pause. “It’s just, I have to call off the wedding, Lacey.”

“What?” I said, as if he’d just slapped me in the face.

“I’m afraid so.”

“You’re afraid so? You only just asked me to marry you. I’ve told all my friends.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Why are you doing this?”

There was another pause, as if he was thinking of what to say. All the worst possible thoughts flashed through my mind. I’d been rejected before by men, but I would never get used to it. It hurt more than anything else. I knew what was coming next.

He was going to say it was because I wasn’t beautiful enough. I didn’t measure up to the women at his work, like Cassie.

I could picture her, her perfect body, perfect breasts, perfect face. That’s what he wanted. He was going to tell me he was already cheating on me with her, or someone just like her.

He was going to break my heart, and then stamp all over the pieces, leaving them in tattered ruins so I’d never be able to open my heart to another man again.

“It’s just too sudden,” he said.

“Too sudden?”

“I asked you to marry me so quickly, without thinking, because I was so attracted to you, Lacey.”

“I never even felt like you were that attracted to me. You’ve hardly touched me. We haven’t even, you know, had sex.”

“That’s because I was too intimidated by you.”

“Intimidated?”

“Yes, you’re the most beautiful girl I ever went out with. That’s why I proposed.”

“Really? I thought I didn’t measure up to the hot women at your clinic.”

“Not at all, Lacey. You’re way more beautiful than all of them. It’s just, I proposed to you without giving proper consideration to my position in life. I’ve got a lot of things going on at work. I don’t think I can commit to our relationship, and our marriage, and give it the attention it deserves right now. It wouldn’t be fair of me to hold you to the proposal.”

“So you’re calling off the wedding because you want to focus on your career?”

“Yes, exactly.”

“Not because you don’t think I’m good enough?”

“Not at all. If anything, you’re too good.”

My heart was pounding in my chest. This was the best breakup I’d ever had in my life. I was used to guys breaking up with me so they could screw other women. It was a completely new experience to hear this, even if it still carried all the heartbreak of a breakup.

The thing was, I wasn’t heartbroken. If I was honest, my heart wasn’t in the relationship with Rob either. It was something that had just happened. There wasn’t any passion in it for either of us.

Plus, it meant I wouldn’t have to think of a way to tell him I was pregnant with Grant’s baby. I supposed that was a relief of sorts.

“So it wasn’t the quarter of a million dollar engagement ring?” I asked.

Rob laughed. There was stress in his voice, but I think he was genuinely relieved that he didn’t have to deal with that ring.

“About that,” he said. “The jewelers called me. They said you’d selected a ring, but then they said that it had been sold to someone else.”

“What?”

“Yes, someone else bought it for his fiancée. I wouldn’t have been able to give it to you.”

“Someone else bought it?”

“Yes, and they called the very day you were in their shop, so whoever bought it, bought it the same day you looked at it.”

“Damn,” I said. “I’d have thought the lady at the store would have held it for me for a while at least. She knew I wanted it.”

“I guess at that price, they take the sale when they can get it.”

“Wow. That’s one lucky girl,” I said. “That ring was a one in a million.”

“Tell me about it,” Rob said.

“I only chose it because I was upset with you for not coming with me.”

Rob laughed again, but it was a pretty weak laugh. We wished each other well and hung up. All in all, I’d say it was the gentlest, most lighthearted breakup I’d ever been through. Which was a surprise given the fact we’d been engaged to be married.

I put down the phone and let out a long sigh. I was relieved. I didn’t want to spend my life alone, not by a long shot, but deep down, I always knew Rob wasn’t the man for me.

Plus, it meant I’d no longer have to wear the crazy make up and clothing he’d insisted on. I’d keep some of it, I appreciated looking good, but only the things I genuinely liked.

I also thought about that diamond ring. What man in his right mind would pick that for his sweetheart? I supposed true love did really exist out there, somewhere.