Page 101 of To Have & to Hurt

“Silence is agreeance,” I say, turning to face her fully. I trail my fingers down the side of her face, along her jaw, and then rub my thumb across her full bottom lip. “I’d give anything to know what you’re thinking right now.”

“I love you, Tristano.” She leans into my touch and my pride swells. “And I know you think that’ll change when I get older like your mother did with your father, but it won’t. I promise.”

I bring our joined hands to my mouth and kiss each of Violetta’s knuckles. “I know, because I won’t allow it. And I know not to make the same mistakes my father did by putting his empire before his family. In other words, I won’t give you a reason to stop loving me. I’m going to begin our lives together by purchasing a ring and then I’ll marry you. After that, I’ll build my empire; not only with money but with children. And I’ll sustain it all by putting you first, Violetta. If I don’t have you, then the rest of it doesn’t mean anything.”

Tears stream down her face and if I wasn’t used to her doing it on occasion, I might be worried. Even so, I hate seeing her upset. To distract her, I wipe away the dampness on her cheeks and then lead her over to the center table.

“All the colors are here and in various sizes. Just say the word and whatever you want is yours.”

Violetta shakes her head and my chest tightens with tension at the thought she might be rejecting my gift. “I’m a little overwhelmed by it all,” she says quietly. “You know I love having the freedom to choose, but when it comes to something of this magnitude, and knowing how important this is? I want you to pick it out for me because I trust you to know what’s best.”

Relief floods me. “Very well. This one is a purple diamond. There are few mines that have them, making them rare and unique. It took months to cut and polish it, but I had the jeweler stop in case you wanted a different shape.”

“May I?” she asks. After I nod, she releases my hand to pick up the diamond. “What shape do you think is best?”

“I wanted it to be similar to that of a flower, in honor of your name, and the color was also in reference to that. Purple is thought to represent royalty and respect, however the meaning of the violet flower is loyalty and truth, which is what I desire.”

“It’s perfect,” she says. “Ring or not, purple or no, I will always give that to you. Are you going to wear one too?”

I take her chin in hand. “Remember what I told you about your wedding day? That will be when I wear a ring with honor and when I announce to the world you’re mine. And that day,myday, like my wife, will have no equal.”