the rainbow of brilliant colors that the ring dispersed, reflecting off the thin chrome that trimmed the car’s windshield.
He wondered now if it had been a mistake to buy the ring. They had never actually discussed marriage. He knew that she had been burned badly by her husband Richard’s philandering ways. Although he had never met the guy, he wanted to slam his face into a wall for hurting her.
Hope seemed to be perfectly content with their arrangement as it was, having Marty as a guest in her home a few nights a week, spending long weekends together, and occasionally getting together with Justin and Diane and their new baby, Christopher.
Justin and Diane had been the catalyst that had brought Marty and Hope together. For that, he would be forever grateful. Hope seemed genuinely happy for her best friend and his best friend when they made it official and got married six months after they all met that fateful night at the Lion’s Den.
He had gone to the pub that night just to be Justin’s wingman. Justin had a date with Diane, someone he had recently met, but she was bringing a friend for security and Justin dragged Marty along to make it a foursome. He had been surprised to see who his blind date was. He had met Dr. Hope Rubin briefly before; the beautiful child psychiatrist had been assigned to treat Brad Madison, the ten-year-old boy he discovered in the home where his parents had been murdered.
Marty and Hope, both stubborn and strong willed, had gotten off to a rocky start as a couple, but they now had fallen into a familiar and comfortable arrangement. There was no question in Marty’s mind that this woman was someone he could never afford to lose. She made him feel so satisfied and complete. He knew in his heart she felt the same way. He felt it odd, that neither he nor Hope had ever really verbalized aloud how they really felt.
Time was passing them by. Marty’s father and his seven brothers, seven sisters-in-law, one sister and numerous friends and co-workers were getting on his case about starting a family of his own.
He agreed with them. He was fast approaching thirty-five and had never been married. In hindsight, he had never been in love. Yes, he thought, he had been attracted and lusted wildly after a few women in his past, but never did he feel the strong connection that he felt with Hope.
He used to think that the expression, soul mate, was a crock, until he fell in love with this green-eyed beauty with the hair the color of chocolate pudding.
Looking at the ring, he realized that he was scared to death.
What if she says no?
“What if?” he said out loud to himself. “What if Richard screwed up her head so bad that she says no?”
He leaned back in his seat, returning the small velvet box to his pants pocket. His headache was starting to ease off and he jumped, startled, when a loud horn blared from a car waiting for his parking spot.
Marty let his foot off the brake and pressed lightly on the accelerator. He decided to head for home—the one he shared with his father, to get some sleep. He had been at it since almost three o’clock this morning and the day he had planned was shot to hell because some crazy bastard decided to take some young girl’s life.
Besides, he thought to himself. Maybe today wouldn’t be a good day to show Hope the ring . Maybe getting that call this morning was an omen, and not a good one at that .
***
Thursday afternoon
As anxious as I was to get home, I was also dreading it. I did not relish the thought of explaining to Bethany what had happened to one of her schoolmates. She was an extremely bright and articulate child, and I believed she was somewhat wise beyond her years.
Glenn and I had always tried to be honest and up front with both our children, but I always tried to give them information that I felt was appropriate for their maturity levels. I always found it necessary to
He wondered now if it had been a mistake to buy the ring. They had never actually discussed marriage. He knew that she had been burned badly by her husband Richard’s philandering ways. Although he had never met the guy, he wanted to slam his face into a wall for hurting her.
Hope seemed to be perfectly content with their arrangement as it was, having Marty as a guest in her home a few nights a week, spending long weekends together, and occasionally getting together with Justin and Diane and their new baby, Christopher.
Justin and Diane had been the catalyst that had brought Marty and Hope together. For that, he would be forever grateful. Hope seemed genuinely happy for her best friend and his best friend when they made it official and got married six months after they all met that fateful night at the Lion’s Den.
He had gone to the pub that night just to be Justin’s wingman. Justin had a date with Diane, someone he had recently met, but she was bringing a friend for security and Justin dragged Marty along to make it a foursome. He had been surprised to see who his blind date was. He had met Dr. Hope Rubin briefly before; the beautiful child psychiatrist had been assigned to treat Brad Madison, the ten-year-old boy he discovered in the home where his parents had been murdered.
Marty and Hope, both stubborn and strong willed, had gotten off to a rocky start as a couple, but they now had fallen into a familiar and comfortable arrangement. There was no question in Marty’s mind that this woman was someone he could never afford to lose. She made him feel so satisfied and complete. He knew in his heart she felt the same way. He felt it odd, that neither he nor Hope had ever really verbalized aloud how they really felt.
Time was passing them by. Marty’s father and his seven brothers, seven sisters-in-law, one sister and numerous friends and co-workers were getting on his case about starting a family of his own.
He agreed with them. He was fast approaching thirty-five and had never been married. In hindsight, he had never been in love. Yes, he thought, he had been attracted and lusted wildly after a few women in his past, but never did he feel the strong connection that he felt with Hope.
He used to think that the expression, soul mate, was a crock, until he fell in love with this green-eyed beauty with the hair the color of chocolate pudding.
Looking at the ring, he realized that he was scared to death.
What if she says no?
“What if?” he said out loud to himself. “What if Richard screwed up her head so bad that she says no?”
He leaned back in his seat, returning the small velvet box to his pants pocket. His headache was starting to ease off and he jumped, startled, when a loud horn blared from a car waiting for his parking spot.
Marty let his foot off the brake and pressed lightly on the accelerator. He decided to head for home—the one he shared with his father, to get some sleep. He had been at it since almost three o’clock this morning and the day he had planned was shot to hell because some crazy bastard decided to take some young girl’s life.
Besides, he thought to himself. Maybe today wouldn’t be a good day to show Hope the ring . Maybe getting that call this morning was an omen, and not a good one at that .
***
Thursday afternoon
As anxious as I was to get home, I was also dreading it. I did not relish the thought of explaining to Bethany what had happened to one of her schoolmates. She was an extremely bright and articulate child, and I believed she was somewhat wise beyond her years.
Glenn and I had always tried to be honest and up front with both our children, but I always tried to give them information that I felt was appropriate for their maturity levels. I always found it necessary to
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