Chapter 9 — The Ring Finally Reaches Lily
Lucas arrived twenty-seven minutes later.
He did not sneak inside.
He did not use somebody else’s name.
Richard personally added him to the guest register.
LUCAS COLE — 8:07 PM.
This time, the record described reality.
Eleanor saw him first.
“You’re late.”
Lucas hugged her.
“Apparently my invitation had administrative difficulties.”
Eleanor looked toward Thomas.
“I’ve heard.”
The brothers stood several feet apart.
Lucas finally held out one hand.
Thomas looked at it.
Then shook it.
Not a dramatic embrace.
Not instant reconciliation.
Just a beginning.
“Sorry,” Thomas said again.
Lucas nodded.
“I also should have stopped being stubborn and told Mom how far things had gone.”
Thomas looked surprised.
Lucas continued.
“Keeping Lily’s surprise secret was one thing.”
“Letting you spiral because I was angry was another.”
“You still shouldn’t have accused me.”
“Agreed.”
“Good.”
That was probably as affectionate as the Cole brothers were capable of being in public.
Then the foundation program began.
Eleanor was called to the stage.
Lily stood beside the podium.
She spoke about her grandmother.
Not as a volunteer.
As the woman who took her to nursing-school interviews.
Who called before every exam.
Who somehow knew Lily’s results before Lily remembered to tell her.
The audience laughed.
Then Eleanor took the microphone.
“Before they give me an award for being helpful, I need to embarrass my granddaughter.”
Lily covered her face.
“Grandma.”
Eleanor smiled.
Maya brought the antique jewelry box onto the stage.
Lily stared.
“Is that…?”
Eleanor opened it.
The sapphire ring glittered beneath the stage lights.
“My grandmother gave this to me when I finished nursing school.”
Lily’s eyes filled.
“No.”
“Yes.”
“Grandma, I can’t take that.”
“You can.”
Eleanor slid the resized ring onto Lily’s finger.
Perfect fit.
Lucas smiled.
Thomas stared at the ring.
Six weeks of suspicion.
Arguments.
A canceled invitation.
All around an object that had been missing only because Eleanor was preparing to give it away.
Thomas felt very foolish.
Exactly as his mother predicted.