Dad bit off a piece of bacon and grumbled, “I don’t get any of this.”
With a smirk, Lainey answered, “To paraphrase Ryan Reynolds inThe Proposal, she needs to marry him so he can date her.”
Dad chewed thoughtfully, then swallowed. “That doesn’t clear things up.”
My mom patted his hand with a patient smile. “It’s complicated, dear.”
That was the understatement of the century.
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Jessica
Mama smiled when I came downstairs with Ruthie the next morning.
“Are you officially engaged?”
I held up my left hand to show her the ring.
My mom grabbed my hand to examine it closer. “Wow, that’s even more beautiful than your father described. Do you think it’s real?”
I hadn’t thought of that.
Hang on, does she mean the ring or the proposal?
I was going to guess the ring.
“I don’t know? He said we could exchange it if I didn’t like it.”
“Then it’s probably real.”
I moved my hand around so the stone caught the hanging light in the entryway. “It looks real.”
But part of me hoped it wasn’t. If the diamond was genuine, it probably cost more than a nice, used car. Alan was already doing enough for me and Ruthie; I didn’t want him to spend that kind of money on my ring.
Honestly, I hadn’t even thought about a ring. Not only had I not been expecting an actual proposal, but the effort he’d put into it had surprised me.
It had almost felt genuine—until he apologized for kissing me again and came up with a reason we could give when we filed for divorce.
And, that ended that.
I guess it was good he kept me in check.
Except when it was coupled with the two kisses we’d shared, it kind of felt like whiplash.
“Did you pick a date?”
“Two weeks from tomorrow.”
Her brows furrowed, and she said, “I don’t think we can reserve the church on such short notice.” Then she let out a small sigh. “Although it’s probably just as well, considering...”
Considering what?I wasn’t marrying Kevin, or I was a sinner?
Probably both.
I was glad she wasn’t going to insist on a church wedding. If it was at the church, I’d have to invite the elders—including Kevin. I didn’t imagine that would go well.
There was a soft knock on the front door, and I glanced at my watch: a quarter to eight, right on time.
