We’re about to tell my parents that we’re engaged. I’m nervous.
I look at Zane as he parks the truck. His eyes meet mine, and we nod once.
He says, “It’s your last chance to back out.”
“Well, I mean, not last chance,” I reply, then immediately regret it.
I didn’t think about the fact that he had already been left on his wedding day. There’s a flash of hurt in his eyes, but he quickly covers it up with a cheeky grin.
“I guess that’s true,” he says.
He’s giving me the option to brush over what I said, but I don’t.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I wasn’t even thinking.”
“It’s okay. It was a long time ago.”
“Just because something happened a long time ago doesn’t mean it doesn’t still hurt.”
His forced smile slips from his face, and he nods slowly. “Yeah, well, I appreciate you saying that.”
“I’m sorry, and I promise I will marry you,” I tell him.
“I have a feeling you keep your promises.”
“I do. I’m kind of boring like that.”
He chuckles. “You’re anything but boring, Bliss.”
We climb out of the truck and walk up the sidewalk to the house. Zane reaches for my hand, and I cling to his like a lifeline.
Everything is about to change, and somehow, Zane has become my safe spot in the last month.
The front door swings open, and my mom is standing there, waiting to greet us.
“I’m so glad you two are here tonight,” she says. “I just finished making a big batch of rolls; we need somebody to help eat them.”
I deliberately reach up to brush my hair from my face with the hand that’s holding my engagement ring. Mom doesn’t realize it at first because she’s busy smiling at Zane like he’s God’s answer to her prayers.
I try combing my hair back again, hoping she’ll notice it this time. I practically have to slap my forehead before she focuses on my hand.
“Bliss Eloise Jefferson, is that what I think it is?” Her tone hushed, as though she’s afraid that if she says it too loud, she’ll scare the ring away.
“Are you …” She scrutinizes Zane and me. Then she looks as though she might faint.
I start laughing. “Mom, have you seen an engagement ring before?”
She lets out an ear-piercing shriek, then pulls me into a big hug. “I knew this would come someday, but I was losing hope,” she says.
Zane laughs loudly behind me. If my mom wasn’t holding me in a bear hug, I would give him a glare.
But then Mom releases me and turns her attention to Zane, giving him a big hug as well.
Dad walks around the corner from the hallway, followed by Grandpa. “What’s going on in here?”
I hold up my hand and wiggle my finger with the ring.
Mom’s crying on Zane’s shoulder now, and Dad just smiles.
