Gabe didn't think he'd ever be ready, but he nodded. "Thank you, Mom." Then he wrapped his arm around Paige and pulled her close. He pressed his lips to her temple. "And thankyou. You have no idea how much this means to me."
"You're welcome." Her gentle voice was consoling and comforting. She laid her hand on his chest over his heart. "She'll always be with you, Gabe."
He nodded, greedily accepting the small measure of peace that settled over him.
Mom rose from her position on the couch. "I have something else I'd like to give you, Gabe. Well, both of you, I guess. I'll be right back."Then she walked down the hall to her bedroom with that secretive grin back on her face.
Paige jumped up as well. "I have something for you too, Grace." She hurried to the oversized purse she’d left by the front door when she arrived and took out another book like Gabe's.
"You made a book for me too?" Grace's voice hitched and moisture flooded her eyes as she accepted the book. Then she pulled Paige in for a hug. "If my idiot brother screws this up, promise me we will still be friends." Before Paige could respond, she went on. "A sister would be so much better than a friend, but I'll take friend if Gabe messes this up."
"Hey." Gabe's protest was drowned out by Paige and Grace's laughter.
Paige settled back on the loveseat beside him just as Mom returned carrying a small, palm-sized velvet bag.
She took her seat again and smiled at him and Paige. "Getting to know you, Paige, has brought great joy to our lives during this difficult time. It makes me so happy to see my son fall in love again. I'm glad to know Gabe and Grace will have you after I'm gone."
Gabe's heart constricted as though a giant fist squeezed it. He hated hearing his mom talk like this. She had accepted her imminent departure so much better than he and Grace.
"I don't want you two to feel like I'm rushing you or anything, because as far as I’m concerned, you're already an integral part of this family, Paige, but when you’re ready to make it official…" Mom extended the small bag to Gabe. "Maybe you'll consider using this."
What is she talking about?
Confused, Gabe took the bag. As soon as his fingers clasped it, he felt the hard circular object inside, one side much bulkier than the other. He knew exactly what it was, and what his mom was saying.
He sucked in a sharp breath. There was always the risk his lies would come to this, but he felt blindsided, nonetheless. He didn't want to open the velvet bag for fear of how Paige might react.
"Go ahead, Mijo, open it and show Paige."
He chanced a quick glance at Paige. Her face showed all the confusionand curiosity he'd felt a moment ago. Giving her a tight smile, he silently prayed she wouldn't freak out. He untied the silky cords, stretched open the top of the bag, and dumped a ring onto his palm. A wedding ring with a matching band that had been melded together long ago.
Paige's shoulder pressed against his as she leaned in and studied the ring. "It’s beautiful."
Gabe gave her a sharp look. That was not the reaction he'd expected.
"I'm glad you think so," Mom said with a satisfied smile. "It was my mother's wedding ring."
Paige picked up the ring to get a closer look, surprising Gabe even more. "That explains the intricate vintage design." She studied the solitaire diamond complimented by a band with a twisty vine pattern that held tiny, leaf-shaped diamonds. "It's such a classy and timeless pattern."
"I'm not saying you have to use it, since it probably isn't the style you would choose, but I want you to have it." A hopeful look filled Mom's face.
"Me?" Paige dropped the ring and jerked her hand back so fast Gabe thought it had shocked her. "No, I couldn't."
"Well, I'm gifting it to Gabe, to give to the woman he marries." Mom's eyes twinkled as her smile grew. "And it looks like that will be you."
"No, no, no." Paige held up both hands, palms out. "They should go to Grace. They will be more meaningful to her." Paige's pleading gaze flew to Grace, begging her to claim the ring.
"Grace has already expressed interest in having my grandmother's wedding ring." Mom said before Grace could open her mouth. "This ring goes to Gabe." She leveled an intense gaze—the kind only a mother can give—on him. "Like I said, I don't want to rush you two, but my timeislimited, and I would very much like to see you married—or at least engaged—before I die."
"Married?" Paige's voice squeaked.
Gabe didn't even try to speak, because his throat was equally tight.Overwhelmed by how out of control his lie had become and the ease with which his mom spoke about dying, he couldn't have found the appropriate words if his life depended on it. And judging by the wide-eyed panicked look Paige gave him, his life might very well depend on the next words that came out of his mouth.
"I uh…I don't know…what to say." A cold sweat pricked the back of his neck as he searched for words that would appease his mom and not send Paige packing.
He didn't want to disappoint his mother by telling her he'd been lying to her all along, but he also didn’t want to screw things up with Paige. He was certain she cared about him, but getting engaged was a massive jump from a fake relationship.
He licked his suddenly dry lips and turned imploring eyes on Paige, hoping she'd go along with the charade a little longer. Just until they could talk privately and come up with a plan.
