Chapter 7 - The Proposal He Chose Not to Make
Three weeks later, he took her to the coast.
No photographers.
No gala.
No rival watching.
Just wind, gray water, and a small rented cottage with windows facing the ocean.
On Saturday morning, Claire woke before him.
She stood barefoot in the kitchen drinking coffee while Nathan slept upstairs.
His jacket hung over the back of a chair.
When Claire moved it, something fell from the inside pocket.
A small velvet box.
Her heart stopped.
For several seconds, she could not breathe.
Then Nathan appeared on the stairs.
Barefoot.
Hair disordered.
He saw the box in her hand.
“Oh.”
Claire stared at him.
“How long?”
“A while.”
“You brought a ring.”
“Yes.”
“Were you going to propose?”
“Yes.”
Her chest tightened.
Nathan came down slowly.
“But I’m not going to now.”
“What?”
He took the box from her hand.
“Because that face isn’t happiness.”
Claire pressed her lips together.
“I love you.”
“I know.”
“I want you.”
“I know that too.”
“But marriage…”
“I know.”
Tears filled her eyes.
Nathan put the ring on the counter without opening it.
Claire whispered, “Aren’t you disappointed?”
“Completely.”
She laughed through the tears.
He smiled.
“I’m serious. I had a whole speech. It was excellent.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t.”
He touched her cheek.
“Don’t apologize for not being ready to answer a question I haven’t even asked.”
Claire leaned into his hand.
“What if I never am?”
Nathan’s face changed.
Pain flickered there.
Real pain.
He didn’t hide it.
“Then that will hurt.”
Her breath caught.
“But I won’t marry you by making you afraid to lose me.”
For a long time, neither spoke.
Outside, waves struck the rocks below the cottage.
Claire looked at the unopened box.
Then at him.
“Ask me someday.”
His brow furrowed.
“When?”
“When I can hear the question without hearing four canceled weddings behind it.”
Nathan nodded.
“Okay.”
“Is that enough?”
“No.”
His honesty startled her.
“No?”
“No. I want to marry you.”
He smiled sadly.
“But wanting something doesn’t give me the right to rush you into giving it.”
Claire began crying then.
Not dramatically.
Quietly.
May you like
Nathan held her.
The ring stayed unopened on the counter until he eventually put it back in his jacket.
