Page 29 of All the Way

She pulls the small blue velvet ring box out of the bag and stands there with her mouth open.

I take the box from her and open it. Inside, I’ve placed the ring my grandfather - my dad’s dad - gave my grandmother on Christmas Eve so many years ago. My dad was holding it for me to give to the girl I’d marry. When he found out it was Jess, he was overjoyed. He even texted Jess’ dad after I asked for his permission earlier today because he was so excited.

It’s a vintage Tiffany ring. The signature blue box was lost long ago, but I don’t care. It’s what’s inside that counts.

Jess says nothing. I take the ring out of the box and hold it up between us. She blinks tears away as they fall down her cheeks and puts her hand out, nodding.

“Now you’re really my family.” I get up and wrap my arms around her body. Her arms squeeze tight around my back and still she says nothing. I feel her body heave in mine as she wipes her eyes against my shirt.

“Yes,” she finally says, sniffling against me. “Yes. Yes.”

Over and over my heart sings, beating against me. I can feel hers, too. And they eyes of her family around us only sweeten her word.

Yes.

“I’m not letting you go again either, Chris.” She looks up at me with her piercing blue eyes, the lights from the tree beside us flickering like fire in them. But now there’s no storm inside. Now there’s only blue skies and a clear road.

“Thank you for the past few days, Jess.”

“Thank you,” she says, “for tomorrow.”