Tattoo (Take It Off #7)(50)
Author: Cambria Hebert

“When I went to ask your father for his blessing, he gave it to me.”

My eyes filled with tears. “You asked my father?”

Brody nodded. “I respect him. He loves you.”

A tear escaped and rained down across my cheek. I couldn’t stop staring at the ring. It was more stunning than even I recalled.

“I didn’t realize he had this,” I said, fingering the delicate gold band.

“He told me right before she died, your mother took it off and gave it to him. She made him promise that when the time was right, he would make sure you had it and that you knew how much she loved you.”

A sob caught in my throat as even more tears flooded my face.

I couldn’t speak. I could barely breathe when he took the box from my hands and removed the ring. I continued to cry and make a mess of myself as he positioned the ring to slide it over my finger.

“What’s your answer, Tay?”

“Yes,” I said, the word barely even comprehensible through my sobs.

It slid over my knuckle with ease, fitting into place like my finger was exactly where it belonged. I stared down at the unconventional ring, my chest expanding with joy. It wasn’t a diamond, but instead, the large square center stone was a blue-green tourmaline that reminded me of the ocean waves. On each side of the stone was a cluster of three seed pearls. It was all set in a delicate eighteen-carat gold band that lovingly held tight to the stones.

“Oh my God, Brody, you have no idea what this means to me.”

He smiled and reached up to stroke my cheek, wiping away some of the tears. “I’m going to love you forever,” he vowed.

And he did.

THE END