Everything was ready.
I'd thrown some stuff in a duffel for my weekend stay at the Cullen's, and as it turned out, the battle was going to be happening on the day of the concert of the tickets I'd given Edythe and Archie for graduation, so I'd passed them onto Allen, Becca, and McKayla. At least that would get them out of town, even if I couldn't evacuate everyone. Bonnie had borrowed an old fishing boat off one of the other elders, and invited Charlie down for some open sea fishing in the morning before the game started. Carol and Brittany were staying behind to protect La Push, and even though they were both only thirteen, Charlie would probably be safer than just about anyone left in Forks.
For some reason, I felt calmer than I had the previous two nights. Maybe because everything was decided and there was no going back now. Or maybe it was because recent events had made up my mind once and for all—a part of me, a part I hadn't wanted to acknowledge, had still been clinging to my existence as a human being, terrified of an unknown future.
But I was determined now, determined that this would never happen again. Determined that I would be Edythe's partner next time, like Jessamine and Archie, and she would never have to choose between me and her family again. It wasn't about living forever or being good-looking or powerful—I knew to become immortal would mean giving up seeing my parents, maybe even hurting them by staying away to keep them safe from what I was, from this dangerous world I would enter. But I was ready to become a part of their world—Edythe may be willing to make all the sacrifices necessary to keep me human, but I wasn't willing she make those sacrifices.
I had made my choice, and I chose Edythe—I chose to do everything I could to make her happy.
We were both quiet as Edythe drove my truck down to her house. I sat in the passenger's seat, staring thoughtfully out the window.
When the truck came to a halt and Edythe cut the engine short, I blinked, coming out of my reverie.
Edythe smiled as she turned to me. "Ready for a night of movies and Mountain Dew? I know I'm not much replacement for Archie, but I'll do my best."
I casually reached across the seat and slid an arm around her shoulders. "Actually I like this arrangement fine."
Edythe laughed a little, turning in my arm toward me. Our faces were a little closer together than I expected.
Edythe took advantage of the situation, leaning up to press her lips to mine. I leaned in, hardly able to think. Unlike before, there was no tension or edge of panic. It was at least a minute before she pulled away again, but it was too soon for me.
I tried to object, but she was already climbing out of the truck, and I had no choice but to do the same. Instead of getting out of my own door, I slid over and clumsily followed her out of the driver's side, landing heavily on my feet beside her. Once I made sure I had my balance, I reached forward and took her hand. We didn't get much opportunity to be alone together—truly alone, without her family members mulling about the house, probably hearing our every word, or sitting in class, or with Charlie in the next room over. So I wanted to savor every moment.
Edythe turned to beam at me, squeezing my hand back, then wordlessly turned and led the way into the house. We headed to the main room, and I settled into the white sofa while Edythe headed over to put the first movie in.
"What did Archie pick?" I asked, curious. He'd actually made some pretty good selections last time, and I wondered if he'd found something else obscure that I'd forgotten I liked.
Edythe smiled as she slotted the disc into the player. "Actually, I picked this one," she said, and I thought I caught a bit of a wicked gleam in her eye. "I've been curious to see it. We can watch what Archie chose for you after."
I regarded her suspiciously. "What is it?" I asked cautiously.
Grinning, she picked the empty box off the stand and showed it to me. I squinted at the cover. I wasn't sure whether to laugh or sigh with exasperation. "Frankenstein?"
"The 1931 version," she said, grin widening. "The classic, apparently."
I shook my head, the laugh finally winning out. "You know this movie is nothing like the book, right? The book is an introspection and commentary on human nature. This...is a horror flick."
Edythe came to sit beside me, taking up the remote. A half smile was playing on her lips. "But I heard you developed something of a taste for horror movies."
I paused, wondering where she could have gotten that from. Maybe from McKayla. There was some truth in it, though it wasn't exactly like that. During that dark, empty time when Edythe had left, it seemed like I'd done a lot of insisting on horror and slasher flicks. But that was mainly because horror was your best option when you were trying to avoid romance of any kind.
However, preferring not to get into that, I just shrugged. "Whatever you want to watch is okay by me."
"At least it's not vampires," Edythe said. She was clearly grinning now.
I stared at her, incredulous. "You know what's happening tomorrow, right? I didn't know you had such a morbid since of humor. That's usually Archie's department. Or—"
I broke off. The name that had just automatically popped into my mind was one I thought it better not to mention. And yet, it seemed almost natural I would think of Jules. I could still picture us sitting in that movie theater, laughing at the over-the-top gore. Probably no girl I knew had a more morbid sense of humor than Jules, and she'd managed to pass some of it on to me.
If Edythe noticed my hesitation, she didn't show it, and said, "I think a slightly morbid humor is just what we could use right now. Unless you want to watch Dracula instead? It came out the same year and the boy at the shop especially recommended it, so I bought it, too."
I shook my head quickly. "Frankenstein is fine."
I sighed, sliding an arm around behind her shoulders, and she leaned back into my shoulder, intertwining the fingers of her free hand with mine, before she hit the play button.
The movie began with the classic opening sequence. Before the credits, a man, polite and smiling benignly, stepped out from behind a curtain to first deliver a word of caution to the audience.
"...We are about to unfold the story of Frankenstein, a man of science who sought to create a man after his own image, without reckoning upon God."
I traced my thumb along the smooth marble of her hand, between her thumb and forefinger. In response, Edythe turned her head halfway to meet my gaze, smiling.
"It deals with the two great mysteries of creation: life and death."
Edythe pressed her lips briefly to my jaw before turning back to the film.
"So if any of you feel that you do not care to subject your nerves to such a strain...well, we warned you."
My grip on Edythe's hand suddenly tightened. She glanced partway back, surprised. Then, she shifted, and I felt the hand she'd had on the remote before slide around behind my back, and she squeezed my hand reassuringly.
She probably thought I was reacting to the apparently ominous words—if she thought that scared me it was no wonder she never wanted to tell me about Victor. Rather, I'd suddenly been struck with a creeping sense of déjà vu. Edythe had joked she was up for anything but Romeo and Juliet, but as I thought about it, I found the memories of that day return to me—Edythe and I, sitting in the living room, in what would be one of our last days together before she left. Before she left, and I was certain she was never coming back. At the thought, I felt an involuntary shiver down my spine.
Except, I reminded myself, Edythe wasn't leaving this time. I'd fixed it that way, so there was nothing to worry about. Or at least, I kept telling myself that.
"You can't be serious," Edythe murmured, cutting into my thoughts. "Don't tell me they don't even have the same name."
I blinked, looking at the screen, trying to figure out what she could be talking about. Then I remembered.
"Yeah," I said. "Victor Frankenstein is Henry Frankenstein here."
Edythe was incredulous. "Why?"
I shrugged my free shoulder. "Maybe Henry just sounds more like a good guy name than Victor."
Edythe considered that, and I knew she was probably thinking about the other Victor we both knew. "Maybe it's just as well," she muttered.
We watched the film in silence for a while longer, until we reached the reveal that the assistant had bungled things up and used a murderer's brain in the experiment instead of a normal one, and Edythe said with a roll of her eyes, "You weren't kidding. This isn't anything like the book."
The movie seemed to go by quickly. I was glad I was here with Edythe, and we were able to talk and I was able to let my mind momentarily wander from the events that would come tomorrow. However, a couple of times I caught myself wondering what kind of joke Jules would crack about the special effects if she were here. I just shook my head, trying to shake that from my mind.
Before I knew it the film was drawing to a close, the final scene fading to black before the credits began to roll on the black-and-white, slightly twitching screen.
Edythe shook her head. "And so, happily ever after for Henry Frankenstein. If you ask me, things tied up very neatly for someone who got his assistant, a doctor, and a little girl killed. Even if he hadn't attacked the monster and locked it in a dungeon, he's still the one who created it. If there was any justice in the world..."
I smiled. "Maybe we shouldn't watch any more movies. You get too emotionally involved."
Edythe laughed softly. "Well, what would you want to do instead?"
I turned toward her at the same time she turned to look up at me. Abruptly her inhumanly perfect features were inches from mine and, caught off guard, for a moment I couldn't think, caught once again in the familiar trance of her glittering eyes, like scorching pools of liquid gold.
I reached up to stroke a finger along the smooth marble of her face. "I can think of a few things," I murmured.
Edythe gazed back at me, eyes fixed on mine, almost as though she were as mesmerized as I was. My hand touching her cheek shifted to cup it instead, and as I bent my head toward hers, she didn't pull away.
As always, her lips were icy against mine, yet I felt like I was burning. Maybe it was the fact we were alone for once—really alone—but the taste felt different than usual. Less guarded, less restrained. I felt one of her arms slip around my back, and I felt her fingers in my hair. As it often did, my brain had disconnected from my body now—I couldn't think. I pulled myself close, wrapping an arm tightly around her waist until I could feel every stone contour of her granite body against mine—
Suddenly I felt Edythe's hands on my shoulders, pressing me back. "Maybe...not," she suggested lightly, and her eyes were troubled.
I realized I was breathing heavily, and despite the ice of Edythe's skin, I was hot. My mind was in a fog, and for a moment, I couldn't move. Mentally, I counted to five.
At last, sighing very deeply, I slowly unwound my arm and reluctantly drew back, leaving a foot of space between us.
"Too much for your self-control?" I asked. My voice sounded a bit more sullen than I meant it to.
"Well, yes," Edythe said. "Though not in the way you probably mean that."
We were both silent for a moment, staring at the television screen. The movie had ended, and the screen had gone dark.
"Edythe," I said quietly, hesitantly. "I...have a question." I could feel the old familiar splotches of red creeping up my neck, and I kept my eyes fastened to the blank screen.
Edythe read my expression and regarded me warily.
"We're getting married when I'm still human, right?" I asked.
Edythe nodded slowly. "I believe so." She smiled a little ruefully. "I notice you still haven't told anyone. When are you going to tell Charlie and Renée? Some advice, it might go a little better if you don't wait until the day of. Unless the real reason is you still think you might renege..." She was still smiling, but she regarded me with suspicion.
I shook my head, annoyed. I'd given my word, hadn't I? I'd walk through a pit of fire to keep it if I had to—which might actually literally be the case when my mom found out. I could picture volcanoes with less explosive potential.
"I know," I said. "It's got to be soon. We should put a date on it. Let's say—after the battle tomorrow, when we get back. We'll tell them then."
Edythe smiled. "It probably seems like an age away now, after the life-and-death crisis, but it's closer than you think."
I sighed. "And in fact, I think that might turn out to be the real life-and-death crisis."
Edythe laughed again, softly, fingers stroking mine.
"So," I said after a pause. "As I was saying." I could feel my face heating up again, and I kept my eyes fixed on the dark screen. "We're getting married while I'm still human, so I've been kind of wondering..." I licked my suddenly dry lips, then finally blurted it out in a rush. "If—if we're going to have a real honeymoon while I'm human, too."
There. I'd said it. Something I'd been wondering for awhile. I wasn't sure what color my face was, but it could have been on fire.
Silence. Edythe was still as a statue. At last she said, very slowly, "I'm going to change you soon after we get married. That was our agreement. Why would that matter?"
Her voice was polite, careful, but it had a chilly, almost threatening edge to it.
I kept my eyes fastened to the empty screen, as if it were the most fascinating thing in the world. "It's just that," I began, trying desperately to organize the thoughts that had been going through my mind. "When I change, I'm not exactly sure who I'll be or what I'll want most, at least at first. Right now...I love you. You're the most important thing in my life. But when I change...from the sound of it, the thing that's going to be most on my mind is blood. Blood and how to get it. And if that's true, I just don't see how it can be the same."
Edythe finally turned to look at me. I could see the pain and anguish in her eyes, but her features were still hard.
"I...can't say how you'll feel," she said slowly. "How you'll be. It's different for everyone. But I can't risk killing you, Beau. That is the one thing I know." Her eyes turned pleading. "Please, Beau, don't ask me to."
I continued to stare at the screen for a long time. At last, I nodded once, stiffly.
We sat for a minute longer before I said, "Well, I'm just going to take a human moment...then maybe we can start the next movie."
"...Okay," Edythe answered. Her voice was barely above a whisper.
I headed to the bathroom upstairs. I splashed some cold water on my face, then leaned over the sink, staring at my own face in the mirror. I glared at my reflection.
A part of me knew I shouldn't have asked that. But I couldn't help it. What was I going to be when I became vampire? I knew I wanted to be a good one, like Edythe and the rest of the Cullens, and my resolve was set. But that was only for now—how might I be in the future? What if I did become a monster, and I wasn't myself? Maybe I wouldn't want the same things, experience them the same way.
My eyes dropped away from the mirror. They fell instead on my hand, clenched in a fist against the counter top. I noticed a dark bit of leather against my too-pale skin, and a sliver of wood dangling from it—the leather bracelet Jules had given me, along with the wolf figurine.
I wondered why I was noticing that now. Maybe because I knew what Jules would say if she knew what I was thinking.
If you're so afraid, then don't change. It's obvious. You wouldn't have to change for me.
I sighed. If only things weren't so complicated with Jules. I could definitely use a best friend to talk to at times like these.
I went back downstairs, feeling much cooler-headed, and determined not to ruin the entire night acting like a dork. I took up a seat right next to Edythe, so close we were touching, and I laced my fingers through hers. When she glanced toward me, I smiled, and she smiled back.
Tomorrow was the battle. If everyone could just make it through that alive, then I could deal with anything else. Even if that meant being forced to be a little patient. After all, no one ever promised that love would be easy—especially not when it involved vampires.
I leaned my head against the top of hers, closing my eyes, and breathing in.
I fell asleep at some point, and when I awoke I was stretched across the couch, a blanket draped over me and a pillow under my head. I was surprisingly comfortable.
Edythe was sitting in a nearby armchair, and as I sat up blearily, Edythe was immediately at my side.
"How did you sleep?" she asked, taking my hand.
"Not bad...I think," I answered, still a bit out of it.
"I fixed you breakfast," Edythe said. "Nothing fancy, but lots of protein. You'll need your strength. Both for today and tomorrow."
I grimaced. "Why do I need my strength? I'm not going to be doing anything."
"You'll be making the trail today," she said. "Besides, even though it's unnecessary I know you'll be getting a head start on worrying today, and worrying takes a lot of energy."
I ate my eggs and bacon without protest. I gazed out the window thoughtfully, and noticed the way the treetops were swaying with unusual force, and how the clouds scuttled across the sky. It was going to be windy today. I wondered if a storm was on the way.
When I was done, I headed upstairs to get dressed. When I checked a clock on the way, I was startled by how late it was—but then, I had stayed up pretty late. Archie had picked out a pretty good lineup—I'd have to tell him when I got the chance.
The Cullens got back around noon. There was an almost official, business-like atmosphere around them, and I could tell that while they'd been away on the hunt, they'd been gearing up for the battle tomorrow.
Archie seemed a bit subdued, grumbling to himself. There were even more holes in his visions than usual, thanks to the wolves' involvement, and this seemed to aggravate him to no end.
"Be sure to pack some winter gear," he advised. "There's going to be a storm. I can't see how it's going to be where you are, but might want to err on the side of caution." He grimaced. "Augh, listen to me. Any vaguer, and you might as well just turn on the news and watch the local weatherman."
Edythe's eyebrows came together as she saw what he saw. "Snow?" she said. "Isn't it June?"
Archie nodded. "Just up in the mountains, but that's exactly where you're going."
"Great," I muttered. "Just the thing to cheer me up."
The Cullens had all the gear we could ever need and then some—all stuff they'd bought at the Newton's store, as part of their human charade as a family of nature-lovers who loved backpacking up in the mountains. Edythe gathered up a sleeping bag, a small tent, and several packets of dehydrated food, then expertly fit them all in a specialized pack. It was a monster of a bag, and I doubted I could have taken it ten feet without throwing out my back, let alone heave it up an uneven trail for miles, but Edythe shrugged it onto her shoulders as though it weighed ten pounds. Somehow, it looked perfectly natural there.
While Edythe added a couple more things to the already crammed compartments, I noticed Archie had wandered into the garage. For some reason, his arms were folded and his mouth pursed, as though he were considering something. I thought he probably had something to say to Edythe, but his eyes settled on me, and stayed there.
Archie didn't normally intimidate me in the slightest, but as he was normally chattering a mile a minute, his silence as he stood there, leaning against the wall just inside the entrance, had me a little apprehensive.
Edythe ignored him as she turned to me and offered me her cell phone. "You better go ahead and call Julie Black to let her know we'll be ready for her in an hour or so. She knows where to meet us."
Turning my back to Archie, I punched in the familiar number.
Jules wasn't at home, so I got Bonnie, but she promised she'd find someone to pass the message along.
"And don't worry about your dad," she added. "Charlie will be here with me. He'll be safe as anyone in Forks—probably safer."
"I know. Thanks, Bonnie." She was right, I knew Charlie would be safe. It was her daughter and the rest of the Quileute wolves I was worried about.
When I hung up the phone I found Edythe and Archie were staring at each other, and seemed to be having some kind of silent conversation. Or, from the looks on their faces, maybe an argument.
"Um, Bonnie told me to tell you good luck tomorrow," I said, a little awkwardly. I looked between the two of them for a moment, and when neither responded, I finally sighed. "Okay, what is it?"
Edythe finally moved, sighing and rubbing her temples with two fingers, as though she suddenly had a headache. "Are you sure you want to know?" she asked.
Something in Edythe's tone made me suddenly not sure, but my curiosity got the best of me and I turned to Archie. "What?" I asked again. "Is it something about the battle?"
Archie shook his head, as though in disappointment. "No way, man, this is way more important than that."
"Um, okay." I glanced at Edythe for some hint.
Archie gave Edythe a pointed look. "Think you could leave us alone for a sec? We have...guy stuff to talk about."
Edythe looked slightly incredulous. "Archie, can't this discussion wait? If you even have to have it at all."
Archie folded his arms across his chest again, scowling. "Oh, I've waited," he said in a low, tremulous voice. "As you already know. And waited, and waited. This is probably the most patience I've ever shown in my entire existence. I've been discreet, I've been quiet. But there comes a time when, bam—the store of patience is all used up, and all that's left is action."
"You have been patient," Edythe admitted grudgingly. "And shown discretion I never knew you were capable of. I'll have to hold you to a higher standard from now on." She added, "Of course, it doesn't change the fact that I think we would all be better off if you learned how to reign in your perpetual need to meddle in my affairs."
Archie shrugged. "Yeah, well, unfortunately for you, being the incurable busybody that I am, I think we both know that's not going to happen. So, that means the immediate future's only got two possible ways of going that I'm seeing." He held up one finger. "One, you accept this conversation's going to happen with good grace, and just give us a bit of privacy, like I asked." He held up the second finger. "Or two—you stay here and try to stop it, and fail."
Edythe stood where she was a minute, arms folded, almost looking ready for a fight. However, after a moment, she sighed in defeat, and turned toward the garage door. She leaned up to kiss me on the cheek as she passed, and whispered in my ear, "You know he won't give up until he gets his way. Just listen politely, and then we can go ahead with our plans."
For some reason, this slightly cryptic remark left me feeling a little alarmed, but before I'd mustered the wherewithal to beg her to stay, she was out the door and gone.
With a deep sigh, Archie's shoulders suddenly slumped. He turned away from me, and went to sink down on the edge of the hood of his Porsche.
"Come here a second, would you, Beau?" His tone was heavy, and serious. "I think it's about time you and I had a talk, man to man."
I definitely didn't like the sound of that, but at the look on Archie's face, I found I couldn't say no. Warily, I went and took up a place on the Porsche hood not too far from him.
Archie was leaning forward, elbows on his knees and I found myself mirroring the posture.
"I was going to wait until you told me," he began. "But, as that's obviously not going to happen..."
"Tell—tell you what?" I said, trying to keep my voice casual.
Archie gave me a sideways look. "Just one question," he said. "Who's going to be best man?"
Silence, for a minute. Then I groaned loudly, pressing a hand to my suddenly aching head. I should have known we couldn't keep this from Archie.
"How long have you known?" I asked with resignation.
Archie raised his eyebrows. "When did you make the decision?"
My mouth twisted in a grimace. Was there nothing private in this world?
I muttered something unintelligible, then said, "Yeah, okay, it's true. Edythe convinced me. And of course you can be best man if you want. Probably isn't going to be a whole lot to see, though."
Archie made a face. "Yeah, I'm seeing your lavish Vegas venue now. Complete with seedy-looking minister doing the vows."
I perked up a little. "Really?" I said. That didn't sound half so bad as I'd been picturing. However, after a second I morosely shook my head. Edythe had thrown the idea of Vegas out there, but while that would suit me just fine, I figured if I was going to be getting something out of this deal, then my sacrifice should be a little bit bigger than that. A little.
"That," Archie said as he watched my face, "or something pathetically small. Almost sad. Your parents, us, and the minister."
"Small and sad," I said. "Just how I like it."
I eyed Archie suspiciously. I knew him well enough to know that he was going somewhere with this. "What?" I said. "Don't tell me you're going to ask me to let you plan it. A graduation bash is one thing, but I think this is the maid of honor's department."
Archie shook his head. "Nah. Not that I wouldn't do an amazing job—but if you don't go to Vegas, Edythe will probably officially name Eleanor or Jess maid of honor, or maybe both of them, then just take care of all the behind-the-scenes work herself. This kind of thing just isn't Eleanor or Jess's area of expertise."
I nodded. In a way, that didn't really surprise me.
Archie paused, then slowly turned his head to stare at me for a long minute. At last he said, "Seems like Edythe is probably going to keep it simple—almost stupidly simple. Just a few sparse decorations, a spartan guest list of just a few immediate family members. A very short ceremony, not much of a reception..."
"That sounds good to me."
Archie studied me a minute more, then suddenly sighed as though I were being dense. He leaned in and slung an arm over my neck.
"Look, Beau, my man," he said. "Can I just give you some advice?"
I had a feeling he was going to give it to me whether I agreed or not, so I said reluctantly, "Fine."
"Look," he said, "See—we both know Edythe always wants to give you what you want, and goes way out of her way to do it. But in this case...I think you should insist on something different. A girl's wedding is her dream day. It's more for her than for you. I'm not saying to push for something huge and overly extravagant, because she probably wouldn't want that either, but—you know, she was born in 1901, and if she had a choice, she'd probably like something traditional. Not that she'd ever tell you that."
He turned to look me in the eye. "Trust me, I know you don't like formal occasions—but do it for Edy. Don't cut corners."
Archie had gotten me right between my armor plates and he knew it. I always felt like it was always Edythe giving to me—making sacrifices, giving me everything, and I never gave anything back. It was true, a girl should get to choose what her wedding was like, and Edythe probably would like a traditional wedding. With everyone we knew there, a white wedding gown, all the ceremonies of the cutting of the cake, the full version of the reading of the vows... It would finally be a way for me to give Edythe something she wanted, instead of the other way around.
I felt sweat break out on my palms at the mental image and I couldn't answer.
Archie slapped me lightly on the arm. "Just something to think about," he said, sliding casually off the Porsche hood, hands in his pockets. "Up to you, of course. Your decision."
He headed over toward the exit of the garage, then called, "Okay, Edy! You can come back now!"
I didn't doubt Edythe had heard every word of the conversation, and that suspicion was confirmed when she appeared in the entrance of the garage entryway, arms folded and looking extremely irritated. She had left the pack outside.
"Edythe—" I began, but Edythe cut me off, glaring at Archie.
"Why don't you mind your own business?" she demanded.
Archie was openly grinning now, and looked completely unabashed. "Because it just so happens that your business is more interesting than my business." He added, "Welp, I guess we've got a battle to think about. You might not be in it, but you two better get your heads in the game, just in case. See you before long." And with that, face still plastered with a smug, triumphant grin, he turned and sauntered out of the garage.
Edythe glared after him a minute, then turned back to me, looking deeply apologetic. She quickly crossed the garage to stand beside me. Taking in my guilty, uncertain expression, she took my hand and said earnestly, "Don't pay the slightest attention to him, Beau. Archie just likes things to be big and flashy. I want what you want. This is our day."
"Edythe—" I tried again, but she leaned up to lightly press her lips to mine to halt my protest. When she pulled back, her eyes were inches from mine, filling my entire vision and making it impossible to think clearly.
"It will be our day," Edythe repeated in a murmur. "I want whatever will make you happy." She laughed softly. "We can go to Vegas, Beau, if that's what you prefer. Just so long as we are bound by at least one human measure, I don't care where it is, or how it's done. I don't want you to worry about anything."
She leaned up to kiss me again, then pulled away, though she kept her fingers entwined with mine. I decided to leave the topic for now, though I knew we would be coming back to it later. I still wasn't fully mentally prepared to argue hard for a traditional, large formal wedding. But I would work myself up to it. Even if Archie was operating under his own ulterior motives, he was right.
This was my chance to give Edythe something she wanted. It was an opportunity I knew, if I passed it up, I'd regret for eternity.
Archie suddenly reappeared, popping his head back in. "By the way, when are you going to get the ring?"
Edythe gnashed her teeth. She grabbed something so fast I didn't see what it was and hurled it at him.
Archie casually dodged, then said, "I'm just saying."
I'd gotten up off the car, and put an arm around Edythe's waist. "That's true," I said slowly. "We really should go ring shopping before long..."
"We don't need to think about that right now," Edythe assured me, still glowering at Archie. "In fact, we really should get going."
Even as she started to pull me toward the garage exit, I found myself trying to think of what kind of ring would suit Edythe. And abruptly, a thought crossed my mind—something I couldn't believe I hadn't thought of until now.
My grandmother, Gran, had passed away quite a few years ago, back when I was barely out of diapers. Before Gramps had followed her years later, he'd shown me the engagement ring he'd given her, and had passed it on to me. He'd told me I could give it to the girl I proposed to. At the time, girls and marriage and been the last thing on my mind, so after rolling my eyes and some overexaggerated embarrassed groaning, I'd taken it and put it somewhere I figured I wouldn't have to look at it again. I'd forgotten all about it until just now.
I tried to recall what it had looked like. I thought I remembered a delicate silver band, and just a small diamond. The more I thought about it, the more I couldn't help but think it would be perfect for Edythe.
Archie's face went blank for a second. "Oh," he said. "You're right, she'll love that."
Edythe, who saw the vision as soon as Archie had it, couldn't quite curb her curiosity. "A family heirloom?"
"Argh!" I groaned, pressing a hand to my head. "Sometimes that is so frustrating!"
Archie grinned at my expression, while Edythe looked immediately penitent.
"Sorry," she said.
I sighed. "It's not you." It was my turn to give Archie a sour look.
Edythe slipped a hand under my arm. "We'll talk about it later," she said. "I really do think we ought to get going. Or a certain dog will no doubt be irritated...Impatient people generally do not like to be kept waiting."
I couldn't help it, and I found myself smiling a bit at that.
"Remember to take your coat," Archie called after me as we left the garage and Edythe went to retrieve the pack. His voice was a touch more serious now. "I may not be seeing everything, but from the looks of it, I think it's going to be...unseasonably cold."