Chapter 19 - No More Promises
Emma did not wait.
When Nathan returned from Manhattan, she placed the box on the kitchen table.
His face fell.
“You found it.”
“Yes.”
“I wasn’t going to ask yet.”
“When?”
“I don’t know.”
“Nathan.”
“I swear.”
Emma crossed her arms.
He almost laughed.
“Bad word choice.”
“Yes.”
Nathan sat.
“I bought it because I knew if I ever asked again, I didn’t want the old ring.”
Emma’s anger softened slightly.
“I don’t want to marry you because we survived something.”
“I know.”
“I don’t want Grace to become the reason.”
“I know.”
“I don’t want some grand proposal where I feel pressured because everyone’s watching.”
“No one would be watching.”
“I don’t want a promise that you’ll never hurt me again.”
Nathan went quiet.
Emma’s eyes filled.
“Because you might.”
He looked at her.
“And I might hurt you.”
“Yes.”
“That’s marriage.”
“Yes.”
Emma sat opposite him.
“What I want is smaller.”
Nathan waited.
“I want you to come home when you say you will.”
“I can do that.”
“I want you to tell me when you’re afraid.”
“I can try.”
“I want to be allowed to be angry without you treating it like abandonment.”
Nathan swallowed.
“Yes.”
“I want us to stop pretending love makes people mind readers.”
“Yes.”
Emma looked at the ring.
“And I want to choose you because I know who you are now.”
Nathan’s eyes filled.
“Do you?”
Emma smiled through tears.
“I’m getting there.”
He pushed the box toward her.
“Then keep it.”
“What?”
“No proposal.”
“Nathan—”
“Keep it until you know.”
She stared.
“And if the answer is no?”
“Give it back.”
“You make everything sound simple.”
“It isn’t.”
He looked at her.
“But I don’t want fear making the decision for either of us.”
Emma picked up the box.
For weeks, it stayed in her desk.
Nathan never mentioned it again.
That mattered more than any speech.
Three months later, Emma traveled to Manhattan with Grace.
Nathan’s first major board meeting since returning as CEO ended at six.
At 6:20, the elevator doors opened at the penthouse.
Nathan walked in.
Grace screamed:
“Daddy!”
Nathan dropped his briefcase.
Emma froze.
Grace had said variations before.
Da.
Dada.
But never that clearly.
Nathan knelt.
Grace ran toward him.
He caught her.
Then looked at Emma with tears already filling his eyes.
Emma laughed.
“You cry constantly now.”
“Your fault.”
“My fault?”
“You made feelings legal.”
“Terrible decision.”
Nathan stood with Grace in his arms.
Emma looked around the penthouse.
The same room where she had found the medical bill beneath the nightstand.
The same apartment she had fled without jewelry.
The same city where she had believed her marriage ended.
Nathan watched her carefully.
“You okay?”
Emma nodded.
“Yes.”
And realized she meant it.
The place no longer controlled her.
The memory no longer controlled her.
Nathan no longer controlled her.
That was why she could choose.
Emma walked to her suitcase.
Opened the side pocket.
Removed the ring box.
Nathan stopped breathing.
She returned.
Placed it in his hand.
His face went white.
“Emma?”
She smiled.
“Ask me.”
Nathan stared.
“Are you sure?”
“Ask me before I change my mind.”
He laughed through tears.
Grace clapped because everyone else seemed excited.
Nathan put her down gently.
Then looked at Emma.
No knee.
No performance.
No speech.
Just him.
“Emma, will you marry me again?”
Emma looked at the man she had left.
The man he had become.
And the man he would still have to choose to be tomorrow.
“Yes.”
Nathan closed his eyes.
“One condition.”
He laughed.
“Of course.”
“No promises about forever.”
His expression softened.
“What do we promise?”
Emma held out her hand.
“Tomorrow.”
May you like
Nathan slid the ring onto her finger.
“Tomorrow,” he said.
