Page 98 of Married in Michigan
I stare at the diamonds. “Blood diamonds for real, then, huh?”
He smiles. “Don’t worry, there’s a happy ending.” He traces the filigree. “So, when the wreckage was cleared and the bodies were recovered, the rings were intact, but destroyed beyond repair. My great-grandfather took the rings with the heirloom diamonds to a master jeweler in London, during the Edwardian era. The master jeweler used the diamonds to create this ring, and many years later, my great-grandfather gave it to his daughter, my grandmother. She wore it until the day she died, and left it to me in her will.” He grins sheepishly. “I’ve had it since in a safety deposit box since she passed, ten years ago, and honestly forgot about it until this morning, when I realized I never actually asked you properly to marry me.” He takes my left hand in his. “So now, my family heirloom belongs to you.”
“It’s too much, Paxton.”
“Each diamond is a full two carats, with another carat’s worth in smaller stones, set in nearly two-hundred-year-old platinum.” His eyes meet mine. “I grew up staring at this ring on Grandma’s finger, knowing she would give it to me. And I always wondered whom I would give it to. I’d honestly given up thinking I would find anyone worthy of wearing it.”
I swallow hard. “Is it another priceless artifact, with a value of a small nation’s GDP?”
He shakes his head. “You’re what’s priceless, Makayla. It’s just a ring.”
“That’s been in your family in this state for over a hundred years.”
“Stop arguing.” He frowns at me, but there’s a smile under it. “It’s mine to give, and I want you to wear it.”
It’s so heavy on my finger, weighty in both size and age, as well as value. “Only because it was your grandmother’s.”
A knock on the door. “Hello? Are you decent, Makayla?” It’s Julie, entering carrying a huge white dress bag over her arm.
“Yes,” I call out, over Paxton’s shoulder. “I’m here.”
She sees Paxton kneeling in front of me, holding my hand, and her eyes immediately water. “Oh, Paxton. You asked her for real?”
Paxton nods. “I did.” He stands up. “Now, you’d better get her dressed so we can get married.” He indicates the dress bag. “Is that going to make Mom shit puppies?”
Julie grins wickedly. “Puppies, kittens, camels, and cows.”
“Good.” He leans over me, kisses me softly. “Still not saying it, but you know it.”
I push him away. “Same. Now go away so I can get dressed.” I smile. “You made me cry,andyou just messed up my lipstick. The glam squad is going to kill you.”
He waves a hand. “The glam squad is getting rich off this.” He heads for the door. “You’re beautiful.”
I laugh. “I’m in a dressing gown, you goose.”
He arches an eyebrow. “I’d marry you wearing that.”
“I know.” I bite my lip again. “It’s crazy, but I know.”
Julie pushes him out. “God, you two are so cute it makes me sick.” She hangs the dress on a hook on the back of the door, unzips it, and withdraws a sculpture of lace and silk. “Nowthis…oh mygod,Makayla. This dress. You don’t even know.”
My eyes fill. “Don’t tell me—it was his grandmother’s.”
She nods. “Yes.” She pets the dress lovingly.
“What about the one I chose and we had altered?”
“Those were chosen by Camilla.” She helps me out of my dressing gown and into the dress; I move with exquisite care, so as to not accidentally snag the lace. “This is, well…it’s an antique, a priceless vintage piece.”
I sigh. “Everything is a priceless antique with these people.”
“Well, when you can afford literally anything, the only way to own something truly priceless is if it’s an historical piece, and the deBraun family prides themselves on tradition and history.” She buttons the back of the dress.
I bite my lip, holding my breath as she tucks and shoves and squeezes me into the dress. “How the—ohmygod—” I gasp as she fastens the last button, “how the hell can I fit into it? I know for a fact I’d be a giant by Edwardian standards.”
Julie doesn’t answer until I’m into it. Her expression makes me nervous. “We had it altered to fit you.”
“It’s a priceless antique,” I protest.