“Can I help you?” A woman all in black asked.
“Yes…” With my pulse kicking, I perused the display. “I’m looking for promise rings, but for two men.”
“Oh, yes. How much do you want to spend?” The woman’s eyes lit.
“Not much. He’s still a poor college student.” Harper twistedher lips and then said, “Oh, those. Aren’t they cute?” She pointed at a set of silver rings with a simple twist in the band. “Not too expensive either. Just right.”
“Can I look at them?” I didn’t know what Wren’s ring size was. Shit, would his mother know? I could find her phone number on her real estate website. I tapped my lips and slid my phone from the pocket of my jacket. Yes, I’d do this.
After leavingthe store with the silver rings I’d purchased and swearing Wren’s mother to secrecy, I worried my lower lip. Wren wouldn’t refuse the rings, would he? No, I was being silly.
“I’m so excited for you, Eli. Wren will be so happy.” She squeezed my forearm.
“Yeah.” I hoped so. My phone buzzed in my jacket pocket. “Hang on.” I slipped the phone out and looked at it. Speak of the devil. “Hey, babe, what’s up?”
“Hi, Eli. My mom set up a meeting with her attorney for four o’clock this afternoon. He’s had the paperwork since this morning.”
“Yeah? Text me the address and I’ll meet you there.” I’d be done with my shopping trip with Harper by then. Even if I weren’t, I wouldn’t miss this meeting.
“Okay, see you then.” He paused. “Thank you.”
“Of course. Love you.” As a grin teased my lips, I glanced at Harper, beaming back at me.
“Love you too. Bye.” The call ended. I’d drop off my sister and our Christmas presents at home before meeting Wren.
TWENTY
WREN
Ifollowed Mom into the law office, a small brick building close to her real estate building with white pillars on either side of the portico. How fitting.
Mom met with a woman behind a desk, who directed us to sit in the lobby chairs. Where the hell was Eli? I wanted him here for this.
As if on cue, Eli entered the lobby through the glass door. He scanned the room and settled on me. “Wren.”
“Come here. We’re waiting to see the lawyer.” I patted the chair next to mine.
“Hello, Eli. I’m glad you could make it.” Mom rose and gave Eli a swift hug.
Before taking the chair beside me, Eli kissed my cheek. “How are you doing?” His gaze combed over me, and then he grasped my hand.
“I’m okay. I have a feeling we’ll only hear what we already know.” I breathed through the gnawing feeling in my gut. The question was, could I do anything about it and, if so, should I?
A man with thinning grey hair, in a blue sweater vest and slacks, strolled into the room. “Vicky, come on back.” He glanced at me and then Eli.
“Come on, boys.” Mom stood and followed the man, tucking her purse under her arm.
After walking through a short hallway, we ducked into a conference room with long windows along one wall.
The man stood at the table’s end, papers stacked, the trust before him.
“Jack, I’d like you to meet my son, Wren, and his boyfriend, Eli.” Mom held her hand out to us.
We greeted the lawyer with handshakes and dropped into chairs around the table, with me sitting next to Eli and across from Mom.
With my leg bouncing, I bit my thumbnail. I’d let Mom handle this since she knew the lawyer.
“So, Jack, I think what we’re waiting to hear is for you to summarize what’s in the trust document in layperson’s terms and then your recommendation of whether my son should sign it.” Mom planted her purse on the table and rested her hands in her lap.
