I walked, no ran, as fast as I could to get my phone. Plopping down on the couch, I kicked my legs up onto the living room table. The late afternoon sun filled the room with a reddish pink hue and caused my ring to sparkle with brilliance. I leaned back into the firm leather, admiring it and letting my mind fill with thoughts. Thoughts about what had been and what might lie ahead for us in a future that seemed impossible not all that long ago.
The sun’s rays shined against my cheek, kissing it with warmth.
It still didn’t seem real. Turning my hand from one side to the other, I smiled as gazed down at the ring’s beauty.
Mrs. Greyson Sinclair.
Me!
Uh, I still couldn’t believe it. I just couldn’t.
Shaking my head, I swiped my phone and dialed Katy right away.
After she answered, Katy asked, “Hey honey? How are you feeling?”
Without wasting a second, I replied, “Incredible.”
Katy remained silent for a moment. “Incredible?” she asked with a rising tone.
“Mmm, hmm.” Eagerness laced my reply.
“Well, I have to say, I’m surprised. I would have expected it to take you a lot longer to begin getting over the miscarriage.”
Until she said that, I wouldn’t say I’d forgotten. Of course I hadn’t. But, for the first time in months, where there had been nothing but pain, doubt and fear, new emotions of hope, faith and redemption began to take their place. I looked down at my ring, a breathtaking reminder of the bond Grey and I now shared. A tribute to the pain we’d endured, the beautiful trinket symbolized how inseparable we’d become. And now, I wanted to tell my best friend so she could share the joy with me.
“I’ll never be fully over losing my baby, Katy,” I replied. “I don’t think that’s the case with anyone who’s lost a child.”
Katy remained silent for a moment as I finished speaking.
“But you seem… content. Hell, almost happy. Something’s not adding up, Maddie.”
“It’s because you don’t know why I’m happy. As for children, I think we’ll try again soon.”
“What do you mean, ‘try again soon’?” Katy replied. The tone in her voice suggested her complete focus on the next words coming from my mouth. “Are you and Grey still together?”
My lips stretched wide with a smile as she spoke. I could hardly contain myself.
“Yes,” I said, as I rushed to answer her. “We are.”
“Wow, well… That’s good news I guess.”
The sound of her voice suggested a different meaning than the words coming from her mouth.
“Why did you say it like that, Katy? I thought you’d be happy to hear it.”
“Hmm?” she replied. “Say it like what? I told you it was ‘good news’. What?”
“No, no, Katy,” I began. “You aren’t being honest with me. I can hear it in your voice.”
“Maddie, don’t be ridiculous.”
“Katy!” I snapped. “Out with it. Now.”
Katy groaned. “What difference does it make, Maddie? As long as you’re happy, that’s all I care about."
“Tell me or so help me… You will not like what comes from my mouth next.”
She exhaled as my threat lingered over the phone. “Fine. Okay well I guess I’m surprised you caved in to him.”
“What do you mean? Caved in? Caved in how?”
“Do I need to remind you? When he proposed to you? Before you lost the baby? He couldn’t bring himself to tell you he loved you. So unless by some miracle that’s changed, I don’t know, it seems like you gave in just to be with him.”
I nodded as she spoke.
“Well I guess I’m surprised you think I would do that!”
“Wait, so, what are you saying, Maddie? That Grey told you he loved you?”
“Yes,” I whispered.
“What!” Katy exclaimed. “When?”
“Earlier today,” I began. I raised my hand and looked at the ring as I continued. “And that’s not all he said.”
“Goddamn it, Maddie! You better spill it right now or I’m driving over there and beat it out of you!”
A sinister chuckle sputtered from my lips as Katy threatened me. Satisfied I’d tortured her long enough, I cut our phone conversation short and demanded she come over so I could tell her the truth.
In less than an hour, my best friend sat next to me and demanded I give her the rest of the story. Still incredulous and unsure where to start, I just blurted it out the first chance I had.
“He asked me to marry him again, Katy. And, this time, it came with something besides words.”