When She Came, the Wedding Feast Was Over

"The gardener says it'll bloom next spring. When it does, let's make flower-petal cakes together, okay?"

A video only two minutes long.

I stared at the screen. Not one word of romance in it.

And still my nose prickled.

So this was what it felt like, to be held in someone's heart.

No. Wait.

I was already ready to move on.

Just as I was about to reply to her, another message popped up.

Molly had sent a photo.

A pair of ice-jade signet rings, tag facing up, six figures.

"This pair's a far better grade than that old antique at home. I'll make it up to you when I'm back. Cool off."

A few seconds later, another one came through:

"Send me the size."

I stared at the screen, frozen.

She didn't know my ring size.

Yet she knew perfectly well that Henry's fingers were slim enough to slide into Grandpa's ring.

I didn't reply.

Instead I scrolled to Henry's photo grid.

Same jewelry house. Same display case.

His hand rested lightly against the glass, fingertips pointed straight at that pair of ice-jade pieces.

Caption: "Good taste needs someone to vet it. Snicker."

So the apology ring meant to smooth things over with me had been picked out with him along.

The whole thing was so absurd that even anger felt like a waste.

I tapped a like without thinking.

Once the sky had gone fully dark, Grandpa's call came.

The old man's voice was badly hoarse.

"Derek, Molly called the old house this morning. Threw a fit."

"She's convinced this marriage was something I schemed up behind her back."

I gripped the phone and said nothing.

"I didn't argue with her."

The line paused a moment.

"Sixty years ago, I waited for someone too."

"She told me to wait. Wait until I'd earned enough for the betrothal gift, wait until her father relented, wait until I'd made something of myself."

"What I waited for, in the end, was the flowered wedding sedan of the rice-merchant's son carrying her off."

Grandpa spoke slowly.

"All my life I've held to one truth."

"Someone who truly means to give you something never says the word wait."

"That Matthews girl, I had my people look into her."

The old man's voice was steady. "She's worthy of you."

"The wedding, in a few days. Save a seat for your grandpa."

"I'm going to drink at my grandson's wedding."

My grandson.

The tears came down and I couldn't hold them back any longer.

The line went quiet.

He waited until my breathing evened out before he spoke again, slowly.

"Derek, let's forget that signet ring."

"A ring sits on the hand. Close your fist and it's gone."

"A jade belt is bound at the waist."

"The moment you walk in, the whole hall sees it."

"You deserve to be seen."