“I work long hours in the hospital, I see people lose loved ones, have their lives change in the worst possible way and then I go home to our empty house and I don’t have you there any more Ella. It kills me. I want to put my arms around you and thank God I have you in my life, I want show you all the ways I love you and hold you as you sleep, be there when you wake and get lost in our little Ella and Adam bubble we used to be in when we were first together. I know we can get it back Ella. I know you, I know what you want and what you need.”
“No you don’t, you never did. You’re too selfish Adam.” He wasn’t listening to anything I said and my heart dropped as he dropped down to the floor on one knee. Oh please God no, not this, anything but this.
“Ella, you are my world, my soul mate, the love of my life. I promise I will worship and adore you every day of our lives and care for you and our children with all my heart. It’s always been you Ella. My Ella. Please say you’ll marry me and make me the happiest man alive?”
I felt my knees give way and he stood up upon seeing me falter.
“I know it’s a lot to take in right now and we don’t have to set a date right away, but I wanted to let you know how serious I am right now. I wanted to do a better proposal than the last time and give you a better ring now I can afford it.”
He pulled a velvet box from his pocket as I stood gawping at him, my mouth open and a stunned expression on my face. I couldn’t move and I couldn’t speak. This wasn’t happening to me. I felt like I was watching a bad comedy sketch. He opened the box to reveal a beautiful solitaire diamond ring about five times bigger than the last one he’d given me.
“Why are you doing this now Adam?”
“I’ve had time to think, to get my future planned in my head. It just feels right Elle.”
“Don’t I get a say in any of this?”
“Of course! If you don’t like the ring we can go out and pick another one, together. I know you always liked the solitaire rings, but if you want something different for our new start we can do that. We can do anything.”
“It’s not about the bloody ring Adam, I don’t want to try again. I don’t want to marry you. You need to get over me and move on.”
“But I can’t. I’m stuck in this hell and I can’t move on. We aren’t good apart Ella, we need to be together.”
“And you’ve decided this, so it’s just gonna happen?”
“Yes it is.”
I could not believe his front, he had way too much confidence and the way he said ‘yes it is’ reminded me of his narcissistic tendencies. I’d always be his property to boss around. He missed owning me not being with me.
“I can’t believe you…” I was seething now, “You have the nerve to show up here, say a few
phoney sweet things and flash a ring and you think that makes everything better?”
“I’m not stupid Ella, I know we have work to do, I have work to do to put this right, but we aren’t broken beyond repair. There’s still something there. I feel it, I know you do too.”
He reached forward to take my hand and leaned into me in an attempt to kiss and nuzzle my neck. That’s when I heard the growl behind me.
“Get your fucking hands off her.”
Joe was stomping across the grass towards us, Chris and Robyn following him with looks of disgust on their faces. Joe grabbed my hand and pulled me away from Adam and into his side. He placed a predatory arm around my waist before leaning forward and glaring into Adam’s eyes.
“You don’t get to talk to her, touch her. You don’t even get to look at her. If I ever see you anywhere near her again I will rip your fucking head off, do you hear me?”
“So it’s the big guy again come to save Ella from her scary ex, you need to back off mate, she’s not yours. Stay out of this.”
“She is mine.” Joe growled. “You had your chance now fuck off and leave us alone.”
Adam ignored Joe and held the ring out to me in a display of total arrogance.
“Babe lets go home and I can show you how sorry I am.” Adam had the cheek of the devil.
“No” I spluttered but Joe pulled me further away.
“If you don’t fuck off out of my sight in the next five seconds I will knock you out, mate. She will never EVER be yours so take your cheap ass ring, and fucked up promises and get the hell out of our space.”
Even I was scared now. Anger rippled right off Joe in waves. I wouldn’t have argued with him. Robyn reached out to me and stroked my arm giving me an ‘I feel for you babe’ look and I turned to Joe.
“Let’s go he won’t listen to you. He doesn’t listen to anyone. Take me home Joe I don’t want to be here anymore.”