Brek’s heart dipped. Words wouldn’t come. What the hellwerehis intentions with Velma? They were sure as fuck not to let someone else bang her every night for the rest of their lives. He understood that much.
Pops grabbed a screwdriver and helped with one of the seats. He’d taken off his robes, revealing tan slacks and a blue polo shirt. “Saw the way you watched her during the ceremony. Reminds me of someone I used to know.”
Brek dropped a handful of bolts into a waiting zip-top bag. “Yeah?”
“Me, son. Reminds me of when I was young and a different Velma caughtmyeye.” He chuckled. “She looked a lot like your Velvet. Prettiest girl I ever saw.”
“She meant a lot to Velma. She talks about her.” Brek used the wrench on a particularly tight bolt, finally loosening it.
Pops held open the bag. “Back then, I was a traveling minister. Loved the life. Never thought I’d settle down until I met her. Best decision I ever made.”
Brek paused, his gut twisting. He wanted Velma. He also wanted freedom. The two wouldn’t mesh well. But he wasn’t willing to give up either one. There had to be a third solution. Except, he couldn’t figure it out. “I’m sorry for your loss.”
Pops sighed. “Spent forty years together. My Velma could wind herself up tight about anything. In the end, before she passed, she wasn’t worried about what would happen to her. Said she’d figure it out when she got there.” He paused, a whisper of a smile on his lips. “She fretted over what would happen to me. Who’d make me oatmeal in the mornings? Make sure my robes got ironed? That’s what she bothered herself with those last days. It all worked out, though. There’s a diner up the road from our house that makes me breakfast, and I learned to use the iron.”
Brek stood to stretch his back. He grabbed a bottle of water and handed another to Pops.
“Who’s gonna make your breakfast?” Pops asked, tightening the cap on his bottle and setting it beside the bench.
Brek ran a hand over his face. “What?”
“Things you’ve gotta think about now, while you’re young. Diner food is nice, but I’m grateful I didn’t have to spend forty years eating it.”
“Velma makes good breakfast.” Brek gripped the water bottle in his hand, the plastic crunching under his grip. “I…uh…I know you’re a minster, and she’s your granddaughter. I don’t mean to imply—”
“Things are different with kids these days.” Pops opened his worn leather briefcase and reached inside. “My Velma, she had a few requests before she passed. Wanted Velvet to have this.” He handed a small box to Brek. “Told me to hang on to it until the right time. I understand Velvet was upset about the wedding dress, so I figured I’d give her this today. But watching you two, my gut says to go ahead and give it to you instead.”
Brek lifted the top, and his lungs spasmed against his rib cage. Inside was a thin gold wedding band with leaves carved into the metal. Not extravagant, but beautiful and clearly vintage. He’d been contemplating a life with Velma, but he hadn’t expected to be holding a ring so quickly.
“Claire got the dress. Velvet gets the ring.” Pops nodded toward the box. “Go ahead. There’s an inscription. Paid extra for it. Jeweler charged by the letter, so I kept it short.”
Brek lifted the gold band and squinted. The inscription had rubbed down with time, but he could still make out the words. “To Velma, Forever,” he read aloud.
“Short and to the point.” The edges of Pops’ lips dropped slightly.
“I can’t take this.” Brek tucked the ring into the silk lining and handed it back to the old man.
Pops shook his head. “Hang on to it. Might come in handy.”
Yes, exactly. That was what scared the shit out of Brek. “No, really. Ican’ttake this. I’m leaving Denver soon. Velma’s staying.”
“Keep it for now. You can give it back later. Consider it a favor to an old man.” Pops’ eyes sparkled with mischief. He snapped his briefcase shut and gave a little nod. “Well done today. Haven’t had this much fun in ages.”
The ring box weighed heavy in Brek’s palm. “How’d you know? That your Velma was the one?”
“Didn’t. Not at first.” Pops glanced to the box and shrugged. “But knew I loved her and couldn’t imagine a day without her, so I figured it was as good a place to start as any. Thought we’d travel together for a few years, but the babies came quicker than either of us planned. So, I found myself a flock, and we put down roots.”
“Do you miss it? The traveling?”
“No.” Pops caught Brek’s gaze and held it. “Not for a second.”
Brek swallowed against his thick throat. “Thanks for handling the ceremony today.”
“Happy to do it.” Pops nodded. “It’d mean a lot if I could officiate your nuptials…again, when the time comes. No rush, but, ah…keep in mind her mother may never forgive you if you two get married in the middle of an intersection.”
A smile twitched at the corners of Brek’s mouth. “Noted.”
Pops stepped down from the van. “Forgive me if I’m overstepping, but I’ve married a lot of people and trust my experience—a man doesn’t look at a woman the way you looked at Velvet today unless he already knows.”
