Chapter 66 The Tarnished Ring

Chapter 66 The Tarnished Ring
Jeffrey held Shayne’s hand softly as he led her out to his Grand Am. He kept her close to her body as they crossed the lot. He opened the car door for her and she slipped into the seat quickly and quietly. She could feel the anxiety rolling of him but she wasn’t sure what he was nervous about. He didn’t say anything as he ran around the car to get into the driver’s seat.

He didn’t volunteer to tell her where he was taking her for dinner and she didn’t ask. Shayne was concerned that his edginess might be a result of being able to feel her heartbreak. She knew she had to separate her concern about the sorcerer's prophecy from her normal everyday emotions or they would overwhelm both of them. Shayne began to focus on drawing a magical line between herself and the sadness. She could almost see the barrier form in her mind. She felt the mental wall snap into place, caving her grief into the recesses of her mind.

She knew she wasn’t ready to tell him about the vision of Glennys and the curse. There were just too many open questions. At the same time she was aware that if she didn’t somehow hide her emotions, he would be able to read her like a book. This wall was the only way to prevent him from knowing that something was wrong and keep him from rightfully demanding answers.

By the time they made it to the steakhouse that he had chosen, Shayne felt fairly confident she had managed to wall off most of her emotions. If Jeffrey noticed the change, he didn’t say anything. Instead he seems to fidget with his keys and drum the steering wheel absently.

After they had parked, Jeffrey jumped out of the car and rushed to open the door for her. He took her arm like the hero always did in the old movies she sometimes watched with Brian and led her into the restaurant. Despite the nervousness, she could also tell he was very proud to have her on his arm. It was an emotion she was unaccustomed to.

When he got to the hostess stand, he told the blonde he had a reservation. Shayne was sure she recognized the girl as a classmate but for some reason it felt like high school had been ages ago rather than just a couple of months.

The hostess led Shayne and Jeffrey to a quiet corner in the back of the room. They sat down and a waiter appeared with menus and asked for their drink order. Jeffrey settled for a Coke, while Shayne went with her standard glass of ice water. The waiter disappeared and left the two of them alone.

Jeffrey nervously rolled and unrolled his napkin. He squirmed around in his seat and Shayne was beginning to get tense herself. She began to mentally prepare for bad news.

Jeffery must have sensed her stress, because he immediately reached across the table. “No, it’s nothing like that.”

“Do you want to tell me?” Shayne asked with her voice full of concern.

Jeffrey chuckled. “I want to say it so badly it hurts.” He let out a frustrated sigh. “But I also want to say it right.”

“That’s cryptic,” Shayne quipped. She was trying hard not to freak out.

“Okay,” Jeffrey said. “Please hear my heart on this.” He took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

When he opened them again he took both of her hands in his. “I have known since the second grade when you scratched me from under that desk, that this day would come. I tried to fight it and I tried to run from it. Because you have always seen more in me than I ever saw in myself. Every time you caught the dodgeball that I threw when everyone else ran away, every time you called me out for coming to class hung over, and every time you gave me relationship advice, that I ignored, I pretended I didn’t feel what I felt. I have not been a good man. I have been hard-headed, jealous and childish. And through it all, you have always been my friend. You taught me to hope and that I can change. I want to be the man you deserve, the one I should have been all along. The one I see in your eyes, when you look at me.” Jeffrey choked up and took another deep breath.

“I cannot imagine one minute of my life without you. I love you and if you will have me, I want to be your husband.” He slid out of his seat and down on one knee. He held up the two boxes to her.

“One of these boxes contains my heart and the other a combination of the past and future. Shane Anderson Burdette, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?” he said as his voice broke with emotion.

Shayne couldn’t breath. There were so many things she needed to say. It reminded her of another time and place, another love and another promise. She wanted to say yes, she wanted to be with him. But there were things about her that he still didn’t know.

She thought about the riddle that the sorceress had given her. She wondered if it would it be fair to try to continue in this romance if she knew it would only end in death and heartbreak. She looked down at him and gazed into his eyes. All she saw reflected there was hope.

She accepted that in that moment, it didn’t matter. It didn’t matter if she had another two minutes with him or another two lifetimes, it would never be enough.
Only a foolish woman would throw away a single second with him. No matter what the future may hold, it didn’t change the fact that she loved him and wanted to be with him more than anything.

“Yes,” Shayne managed to choke out between happy tears. “Yes, I will marry you!”