“Why ever not?” Ivy exclaims, outraged, and I can’t help but chuckle.
“Because she thought he’d take her for granted once they got hitched. She was afraid he wouldn’t try as hard and the spark between them would fizzle out over time. They’d get too used to each other and fall into the same old routine just like everyone else,” I relate as Ivy’s hair tickles my chin as she nods in agreement.
“That makes sense. But she really turned him down for that?” Ivy asks incredulously.
“Well, I think she was angling for something more from him, and she got it.” I can’t help but smile at my grandma’s tenacity. It reminds me so much of Ivy’s.
“So what did he do to win her over?” Ivy asks as I feel the steady rhythm of her pulse increase next to my ear.
“He came up with a plan. He said that he’d take her on a hundred dates before they got married. That way, if he ever turned into what she feared, she’d still have a hundred great memories to look back on.” I breathe in the familiar citrus scent of Ivy’s hair and close my eyes, relishing having her next to me again.
“And did she agree?” Ivy inquires, squeezing my hand.
“She did,” I answer, reflecting on their life together. “But my grandpa didn’t have a lot of money. Times were tough. He worked his father’s farm most of the day then got in a few hours before the sun went down on his own land. It wasn’t easy. It was backbreaking work, but somehow he managed to pull it off and make a go of it.”
“How?” Ivy’s curiosity is definitely piqued. She knows how much the two of us have to struggle in order to get by. She wants to know how they did it, how they were able to sustain their romance in the face of everyday life.
“He knew her heart, inside and out,” I say simply. “He knew all of the little things that would make her happy. He didn’t go to extravagant lengths on these dates because he didn’t have the means to. Instead, he focused on her. When they went out, he gave her his undivided attention. He didn’t complain to her about the price of corn or how the wheel on his tractor was busted. He kept things light. They’d talk about their dreams for the future and where they’d travel if they could honeymoon anywhere they wanted. He created a dream world they could escape to by just being together.”
“I love that,” Ivy whispers, stroking my arm.
“I thought you would.” I smile against her hair.
“So did they go on a hundred dates?” Ivy questions as she gazes thoughtfully up at the skylight, rolling the idea around in her mind.
“They did,” I affirm, watching her smile widen. “No matter how busy my grandfather was, he always set aside Saturday evenings for my grandma. That night of the week belonged to her and her alone. He’d always made sure to gussy himself up for her, even if he only had time for a cold shower and a quick shave. And she’d always wear the newest dress she had made and a hint of her mother’s perfume. They looked forward to their Saturday nights alone together. It’s what got them through the week and ultimately through a two-year engagement.”
“Wow. They were engaged for two years?” Ivy whistles under her breath.
“Unbeknownst to my grandma, my grandpa set up a deal with the jeweler in town. The only way he’d be able to afford a diamond ring was if he were allowed to pay it off a little at a time. When the jeweler crunched the numbers, it was apparent that my grandfather would need to make a lot of payments—a hundred in fact.” I pause for effect, and Ivy nestles her face closer to mine.
“Every Saturday before he went to pick her up, he’d make a payment on the ring. He didn’t want her to pity him for being poor. He was determined to give her the very best he could.” I swallow, getting choked up even though I’ve heard this story a million times. With Ivy in bed next to me, it’s taking on a whole new meaning.
“What did she say when she finally saw the ring?” Ivy asks as she moves her hand back and forth, allowing the rays of the weak November sunlight to dance across the diamond.
“See, that’s the thing. She didn’t seem surprised at all when he slipped it on her finger,” I remark, realizing the full impact of the story.
“How come?” Ivy inquires, turning to look at me.
“She knew when she fell in love with him that their life together would never be easy. She was the daughter of a farmer. She knew firsthand what that kind of life was like. She saw how it had worn down her parents and she didn’t want that type of life for herself.” I cradle Ivy’s face in my palm, running my thumb up and down her cheek as we look into each other’s eyes.