“While I hate dealing with gossips, let alone confirming their claims, it is true that Lia and I are having a baby. Not only that, but…” I drop to one knee, still holding Lia’s hand. “Can you hold the microphone for me, love?” I hand it to her
and reach into my pocket. The ring was not originally for tonight; I was going to wait on it, but the time is as right as it ever will be. And maybe, just maybe, I can salvage this night in Lia’s memories. I only have it with me because the jeweler finished cleaning it and checking the stone’s setting this morning.
“Lia, I love you. I didn’t expect you. I know this is right, though, and I want to do this with you. You are such an amazing woman, and I love you more than I ever thought I could love anyone.” I pull out the velvet box and open it to reveal the white gold band with diamond. “This ring is one you picked out when you were just a little girl. I don’t know if you even remember it.” I had never forgotten.
When our families went to the beach together on an escape from winter, Lia had rushed into a jewelry store after seeing their shop cat in the windowsill. She wanted to pet the cat. We all followed in after her, laughing and amused that she was more interested in the kitten than the sparkling gems. Tasha and her mother had picked out fancier rings with multiple stones. I’ll have to see if Tasha still has hers. It would be great to see them side by side.
This ring, though, Lia had loved. Small, almost quaint in its understated beauty, my then-wife and daughter overlooked it in favor of the large baubles that bordered on looking like costume jewelry. The engraved flowers on either side of the circular cut diamond add a bit of individuality. It was—and is—quintessentially Lia. It is an artisan’s ring. I bought it then and tucked it away, planning on somehow giving it to her future beau to use as an engagement ring or even just as a celebration gift from Tasha to Lia someday. When I fell in love with her and then learned of the pregnancy, I knew there was no better ring to give her than one she herself had chosen and I had kept safe for a little over a decade.
“You bought Tasha the one with the rubies,” Lia replies, her voice tender with a haze of memories. “I tried to convince the owner to let me adopt their kitten. I always wanted a cat, but Dad’s allergic.”
I nod. “We can go to the shelter and adopt a cat for you to have in our office when it opens Monday, but I have a more important question to ask right now.” I take a deep breath and exhale slowly, stilling my nerves. “Will you marry me?”
The whole room waits as she stares at me, their hushed whispers going silent. It’s then, when all my staff and friends are watching us with baited breath, I worry. What will I do if she declines? How will—
Lia interrupts my train of thought with a squeal and kiss. “Yes, Beck, I’ll marry you! You’re the only man I’ve ever wanted to marry,” she whispers against my mouth.
Cheers erupt around us, and despite how hellish the past twenty minutes have been, I cannot bring myself to regret how we got to where we are. My security guards take Jean off the table, and while obviously upset at everything he has witnessed, Paul hasn’t punched me or started yelling. Plus, I’m going to marry Lia!
“What would you have done if I said no?” Lia hugs me tightly as she asks. There are no doubts in her voice, so I try not to allow the question to worry me.
Reaching into my pocket, I pull out the housekey I had gotten copied for her. “Given this to someone else and then used the diamond from your ring to scratch something mean into your computer screen.” Lia had gotten into trouble in junior high for using a nail file to write “Nate’s a big, fat, lying jerk” on a monitor after the boy turned down Tasha for being her date to a school dance.
She hits me in the chest, laughing before she pauses to stare at the ring. “I can’t believe you bought this ring and kept it all this time. I love it.” Lia gazes into my eyes, smiling. “I love you.”
It’s the first time she’s said it, and my heart catches in my throat. I knew from her kiss—from her acceptance of me—but to actually hear her say it after all the questionable moments… It’s my turn to wipe at an errant tear.
8
Lia
“Tell me you weren’t screwing my little girl all these years or grooming her for this.” My father’s eyes are icy and lips narrow with the mix of emotions he’s enduring. I can’t tell if he’s angry, disappointed, or just in shock. It’s the first thing he’s said to us since the announcement and proposal.
Beck is shaking his head, his arm wrapped around my waist, ready to protect me from the world at the first hint of danger. He hasn’t let go of me since Jean found us near the gazebo. “I swear to you, Paul, I never touched Lia until after she came home from being out of state.” He’s careful in his word choices, making sure that whatever he says is both true and not something we mind being spread around by any reporters. We’ll be prime real estate on the front page as it is for announcing our pregnancy and engagement, but a juicy story of a teenage love affair would be too hard for them to pass up if given the slightest hints to pick apart.
My dad turns to me, his hands coming up to cup my cheeks. He searches my eyes, frowning at whatever he does or doesn’t see there. He’s been able to read me like this ever since childhood, and I hope I can do the same with my baby. I never had to prove I wasn’t lying about something; Dad would know just by looking at me long enough. Satisfied, my dad nods and releases me. “Lia, I can’t say I’m happy about you being pregnant, not when you’re so young, but I won’t give you any lectures. That’s not what you need from me right now. I love you, and I will do my best to be happy for you.” My father turns to Beck, one hand outstretched in a peace-offering. “You’ll take care of my daughter and your child?” he says, his voice clear, and it’s obvious he’s making a demand, rather than posing a question.
“Of course, Paul. Like you even need to ask that of me.” Beck’s voice is incredulous. “I swear I’ll take care of them and treasure them from this day until my last day.”
I watch with happy tears as the two most important men in my life clasp hands and then pull one another into a hug, sandwiching me between them. “It’ll be okay,” I tell myself. For the first time since finding out that I’m pregnant, I feel that everything will be fine. It may take a while for us to all find steady footing, but we will get there.
“Well,” my dad starts before leaning back. “I think I need to go talk to my attorney and start getting used to living alone again.” He looks bereft—completely lost—and I hate seeing him like that. It’s too close to how he was after Mom died. Despite how much of a bitch Jean has been to me, he loved her. They were partners for a few years; this has to hurt.
“I love you, Daddy.” I stretch up onto my tiptoes and kiss his cheek and put on my bravest smile. My baby will be a wonderful distraction for him, I hope. “You’re going to spoil this little one rotten, aren’t you?” I ask.
He smiles, a dimple popping into view beyond the edge of his salt and pepper colored goatee. “I do not spoil. I merely take to heart my duties in dream-fulfillment.”
Beck barks out a laugh and tries to disguise it as a cough. “I’ll remember that, Grandpa.”
It’s my turn to laugh, and I tease Beck by calling him that as well. “Tasha and I are probably due within days of each other.” It’s a reminder of the conversation I need to have with her.
“I’m way too young to be a grandfather,” Beck complains.
My father merely arches a brow, and I know what he’s going to say before he even opens his mouth. I beat him to the punch: “Pot, meet Kettle. You have a lot in common.” My creative wheels whirl to life as new sculptures and paintings spark in my imagination: pots and kettles turned into photo frames for ultrasound images and first baby pictures.
They part with a strong handshake and promise to kick each other’s asses during the next poker night. Guys’ night. I’ll have to get used to them being friends. Maybe someday it won’t be weird.
“Lia, I…Um… Well, I won’t expect you home tonight. You two probably have a lot to talk about with you having a baby together and all.” Dad scratches the back of his head and gives us an awkward glance. “I am not going to think about any of what you staying over there entails. You’re still my baby girl. Tomorrow, tho
ugh, let’s have lunch; okay? You can help me bag up Jean’s stuff for the thrift store.”
Inside, I’m bouncing with the thought of getting all her crap out of our home, but I also know that Dad does not need to see my excitement. Maybe I can get one of her power walking outfits to create an effigy to burn…
I agree to my dad’s lunch offer, accept his kiss on my cheek, and let out the breath I hadn’t known I was holding. It whistles past my teeth, releasing most of the tension that I’ve held inside since Beck and I first kissed in his garage. One down; one to go. “Beck, I should go tell Tasha. It really needs to come from me, and our news will be all over the web soon.” Part of me wants to pawn this off on Beck and play the “she’s your daughter” card, or even have him come with me, but that’s my fear and anxiety talking. She’s my best friend; I have to do this.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” Beck’s arms provide all the safety I could ever dream of, making it hard to convince myself that now is the right time versus waiting until morning. I nod and let him hold me for a few more moments. “Do you think I could sweet talk you into staying over tonight?” His breath is warm and teasing along my ear, and I lean into him until the caress becomes a kiss on my temple. “I would love to see you in my bed and actually wake up with you in my arms.”
My pussy tightens with memories of fucking outside, and I realize that he’s really mine. It will take a while for this to sink in. This isn’t just a fling; I’m actually with Beck. “We do have my dad’s approval,” I suggest. Dropping my voice to a whisper, I add, “and it might be nice to actually end up in a bed instead of on the roof or over your desk.”
A sparkling flash catches my eye, and I look down at my ring. The diamond’s facets are almost twinkling with each movement I make thanks to the strings of lights. Twisting my hand to catch the light better, I admire the ring. “I still can’t believe you bought this ring!” The fact that a ring bought when I wasn’t even quite a teenager is a near perfect fit… I try to put my feelings into words.