Quarterback's Secret Baby(94)

"You look nervous, young man," a voice much louder than the owner seemed capable of boomed across the carpeted floor at me. "Is it an engagement ring you're looking for?"

I looked up, surprised. "Uh - yeah, yes, it is. How did you know?"

The old man came out from behind the display case and walked over to me. "I've been working here since I was younger than you, I know a bemused groom-to-be when I see one, son."

It was only when he was right up next to me that I saw the look on his face, the one I was so used to by then, the dawning realization of who I was.

"Kaden Barlow!" He boomed, reaching out to shake my hand. "Stan Keller - I'm surprised to see you here."

"Why?"

"Well, I suppose I just assumed that a man of your means might be picking out engagement rings in a place like Tiffany. But I'm happy to help you out and I can tell you I know how to keep my lips zipped."

He even made the little lip-zipping motion with his fingers when he said that. I liked Stan Keller immediately - he didn't pretend he didn't know who I was, but neither did he get all awed and silly or ask me for a selfie or any of that. Also, he had sensed my cluelessness and I was more than happy to let him take charge.

"Now," he said, thinking, "I'm assuming the lady is young and beautiful?"

"Yes," I replied. "She is."

"Then you're going to need something simple. A beautiful young woman with fussy, overwrought jewelry is just gilding the lily. Did you have anything in mind?"

"Uh," I hesitated. "A diamond? A diamond ring?"

Stan Keller laughed at that. "You've got that part right. I've got some vintage pieces in the back room, not the kind of thing people in Little Falls are usually interested in but I think you should take a look."

A few minutes later, Stan returned with a velvet-lined tray of jewels. One of them immediately caught my eye - a simple gold ring with a single diamond that seemed to catch the light no matter what angle I viewed it from.

"That's a three and a half karats, Asscher cut," Mr. Keller said, lifting it out of its snug velvet resting place and holding it up. "The ring is a size 7, probably too big for a young lady's finger but we can have it resized if needs be."

I took the ring out of his hand and looked at it. The diamond was dazzling, as if filled with tiny sparks. That was the one. Wrong size or not, that diamond was meant for Tasha. She needed a diamond like that, something as fiery as she was.

"This is it," I said simply. "I need this for today."

"Ah, today? Yes, sir. Just let me package that all up for you. I remember what it was like to be young and eager, you know. I asked one girl to marry me because she gave me a certain look on a Ferris wheel. I was only nineteen and that look was a lightning bolt to the heart, let me tell you. I was down on one knee less than twenty-four hours later."

"And?" I asked, when Stan Keller seemed to forget to tell the rest of the story. "What happened?"

"She's at home right now helping our granddaughter with her homework. Best thing I ever did. Don't let anyone tell you you're too young, son. When you know, you know, it's that simple."

I found myself very heartened by Stan Keller's story. He'd done it at nineteen. All those people I knew were going to call me crazy - other than my parents, I mean - they were going to have to deal with it. As Stan said - when you know, you know. And damn if I hadn't known since I was a little kid that Tasha Greeley was the one.

I walked out of Keller's with a smile on my face, a small, red leather box in my pocket and the hopes of a lifetime in my heart.





Chapter 34: Tasha


Kaden picked me up at work in his dad's Audi. I admit it was a relief to see the broad smile on his face when he spotted me walking out of the office - I didn't know when he was going to realize he was angry at me for keeping the news of his son from him but I was sure it was coming.

"How was work, dear?" He asked, grinning, when we were on our way.

I played along. "It was fine, honey. Do you think we need to stop at the grocery store for bread and milk?"

"Maybe, but first there's something else I need to do."

"Oh?" I asked. "And what's that?"

In response, Kaden just shrugged and held his hands up.

"Keeping secrets?" I giggled. "I hope it's a good one."

Kaden turned down a road that led away from my family's house, which is where I'd assumed we were going, and held his hands up. "I think you'll be the one who decides that, cupcake."

"OK..." I replied, searching for the right cheesy nickname, "sweetie pie."

"Huh. I actually kind of like you calling me that," he chuckled.