“Is that the same one?” Braydon asks as he takes the box out of my hands. He shakes his head and I begin to think this might not be right.
“Yeah. I just thought it’d be a way for me to show her that she was with me, even when we were apart.” I snap the box shut when Jacob reaches for it. We sit down at the table and I pull him onto my lap. I look at Braydon, who is still staring at the box which is now sitting on the table. “Do you think it’s a bad idea?”
Braydon is quiet for a moment. The longer he sits there looking at that damned box while rubbing his chin, the more my heart starts to race. My palms are sweating and I’m tempted to snatch the necklace off the table and forget about it.
“I think it might be the best idea you’ve had in a long time, little brother. Seriously, it’s great.” He pats me on the back and I sit a bit straighter knowing that he approves.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Melanie walking in. She’s even more beautiful than she was last night, wearing a long turquoise dress that flows behind her as she walks and sandals with a heel so high I’m sure we’ll be eye to eye as soon as I stand. I quickly hand the box to Braydon as I rise from my chair to meet her.
“I thought we were meeting to talk.” She looks over my shoulder as I pull her into my arms, glancing nervously at the fact that this has turned into a family meal. I feel a bit awkward having Braydon here, but I need him next to me when I do this.
Before I answer her, I capture Melanie’s lips in sensual kiss, my lips conveying everything I feel for her. “We are, but there’s something we need to take care of first.”
I take her hand in mine, leading her to the table. “Melly, you came!” Jacob squeals, jumping out of his seat. I look around and see some of the other patrons glaring at us disapprovingly, but I don’t care. Tonight means as much to me as a marriage proposal would and I need those who matter in my life to be by my side. “I missed you!”
It hasn’t even been thirty-six hours since my son last saw her and he’s acting as if it’s been months. Then again, who am I to judge when I was crawling out of my skin within hours of her leaving last night.
“I missed you too, buddy. Did you have a good day at school?” she asks, crouching down so she’s at his level. It’s these little gestures that mean the most. No matter what words pass her lips, she’s unable to hide her feelings in her actions.
“I did! And then, Unca Braydon picked me up and said I had to get dressed up for dinner. He said this is an adult place and, if I’m good, he’s going to take me for ice cream later!” Melanie presses her index finger to her lips, reminding Jacob to keep his voice down.
As Jacob continues rambling about what flavor of ice cream he plans on getting after they leave, I look over the top of his head to see Xavier. He’s fidgeting, lining up his silverware so everything is perpendicular to the table and parallel to the other pieces. “Are you okay?” I mouth the words to him so Jacob doesn’t get the impression that I’m not listening to him. He nods and I turn my attention back to Jacob.
It’s because of the distraction offered by this little boy that I don’t notice Xavier move to the seat next to me. “Jacob, could you go to your uncle for a minute? I think he has something for you.”
My eyes dart between the two men suspiciously. They’re up to something, I can feel it. I release Jacob and he goes to sit with Braydon. The two of them begin talking as I feel Xavier’s finger brush the side of my cheek.
“I’m sorry I pushed you too far last night,” he says softly. I open my mouth to tell him it’s okay, but he silences me. “I meant every word I said, as well as some I never got the chance to say. I never fully stopped loving you. I know I still have a lot to work through, but with your help, I know I can get there.”
I feel a tear trickle down my cheek but I don’t move to wipe it away. Doing so would require me to let go of Xavier’s hands and I want to stay connected to him. I’m so nervous I want to throw up, but I know Tyler was right. I need to stop thinking about everything that could go wrong and focus on every second that goes right.
“Jacob, can you come here?” Xavier asks and I turn to see Jacob walking over to his father, hands behind his back. I stop breathing when I see what Jacob is hiding. I’ve seen that black velvet box before. Or at least I think I have.