Page 104 of Faith

“Well…wait, what?”

“I’m trying to propose.”

“Like in marriage?”

“Yes, like in marriage.”

“You don’t want to get married.”

He nodded. “I do. To you.”

“No.”

He blinked. “What?”

“I said no.” She would not take his pity. That would be worse than indifference.

“Why not?” he asked, his voice in a near shout.

“Because you are doing this because you feel sorry for me.”

He studied her for a long moment. “That’s the biggest load of rubbish I’ve ever heard, and that’s saying a lot.”

“It isn’t. You never wanted to marry.”

“I did, once upon a time. I didn’t have anyone in mind, but I always wanted to marry, before I fell down the hole with a needle in my arm.”

“Why did that change your mind?”

“I didn’t think any woman would take a chance on me. I could hardly blame her. I’m a drug addict who has already had one relapse.”

“Threeyears ago.”

“And you were the one who pulled me out of that.”

She shook her head. “I helped, but you did it yourself.”

“See, it’s that faith you had in me. You never doubted me.”

“I gave you a choice. I did offer to kill you.”

He chuckled. “That’s true.”

“But the real work was by you.”

“This isn’t an act? You really don’t know, do you?”

“What?”

He took her hand again. “Nicola, you are the center of my universe. I can’t think of losing you to anyone whether it’s that bastard Alfie or two gay wankers who want to have a baby.”

“Yeah?”

“Yes. That’s why I made sure Mother had this with her.” He dropped his hand, then pulled something out of his pocket. It was a small jewelry box. “It’s not new. It was left to me by my grandmother.”

He opened the box and turned it so she could see it. Set against the ruby background sat one of the most beautiful rings she had ever seen. The diamond was round cut, but smaller diamonds created a square frame. The band split slightly, each side of it also had diamonds.

“I know platinum isn’t the first choice these days.”