Jake shrugged, and Josh’s expression sobered.
“But that was you holding back, right?You could have beaten him to a pulp if you wanted to.”
Jake pursed his lips.“Believe me, I wanted to.”
Josh nodded.“But you’re a good man and a decent human being, so you resisted temptation.”He grasped Jake’s shoulder and gave him a shake.“Let it go, dude.Even now you’re emanating waves of fury.But you did the right thing.”He smiled.“If Colt had to lock you up for assault we wouldn’t be able to go and find this ring, would we?Do you think your dad and Dom will still be there?”
That question finally made him move.“I texted him while we were waiting for Colt.”He glanced toward the walkway and relaxed a little when he saw his dad and Uncle Dom hurrying toward them.
His dad came straight to him.“Are you okay, son?”
“I’m fine.”
“And Rick?”His dad had been a Marine for his whole adult life.He understood.
Jake nodded.“Colt walked him to his squad car just a minute ago.”
His dad held his gaze for a long few moments, then nodded.
Uncle Dom smiled at them.“I’m just going to lighten the moment here and explain to Josh that we’re watching two Marines have a silent conversation that goes something like this…” He held both hands up as if they were puppets talking to each other and spoke in a deep gruff voice as he acted it out.
“I know you wanted to end him, son.”
“You have no idea how much, Dad.”
“I think I do, but you didn’t inflict any major damage, did you?”
“No, but I wanted to.”
“I know, but it takes a bigger man not to.I’m proud of you, son.”
“Thanks, Dad.I love you.”
“Love you too, son.”
When he’d finished, Jake started to laugh.It just bubbled up out of nowhere.Everything Uncle Dom said was true.Maybe it was the ridiculousness of his naked hand puppet show, or maybe it was the tension that had never really left him since Savannah had first told him about Rick finally finding its release.
Whatever it was, he laughed hard enough that his dad, Josh and Uncle Dom all joined in, and people passing by eyed them with amusement.
Once he’d recovered, his dad slung his arm around his shoulders.“Is it time to go buy a ring, then?”
“Absolutely.”
Once they were inside Laura Hamilton’s store, Jake was pleased when Zack’s girl, Maria, came out to greet them.
She grinned when she saw him.“Oh wow!Are you here for what I think you’re here for?”
He chuckled.“I am, if you’re thinking what I think you’re thinking.”
She laughed.“Awesome!Do you know what you want or where you want to start?”
He nodded.“I do.Do you have any with two diamonds?”
“We do.Do you know what kind of band and what kind of cut you’re looking for?”
He stared at her.It had taken him a long time and a lot of sneaky scrolling on his phone before he discovered that not all engagement rings were solitaires.He’d taken an instant dislike to that word because the whole point of the ring was for Savannah to be able to see proof right there on her finger every day that she wasn’t alone in the world anymore – he was right there with her.There seemed to be lots of designs with three, five or even seven stones, but he wanted one with two.He needed her to know that they were in it together no matter what life brought their way.But bands and cuts?He shrugged.“What do you have?”
Maria went to one of the display cabinets and took out a tray with lots of rings on it.He shook his head immediately.“I want her to have gold, not silver.”
