The Ring at the Bottom of the Box
Chapter 12 - The Ring at the Bottom of the Box
The cabin held one more secret.
Lily found it while searching through an old dresser.
A small wooden box.
Inside was a silver chain.
Hanging from it was Daniel’s engagement ring.
Emily had kept it.
Daniel sat on the edge of the bed, stunned.
He remembered placing the ring in Emily’s hand beneath the stars at Lake Winona.
She had said yes before he finished asking.
When Thomas told him she had left, Daniel assumed she returned the ring through her father.
Apparently Thomas had lied about that too.
Lily turned the ring between her fingers.
“Why did Mom keep it?”
Daniel swallowed.
“I think because some part of her still remembered what it meant.”
Lily handed it to him.
“You should have it.”
Daniel closed her fingers around it.
“No.”
She frowned.
“It was hers after I gave it to her.”
He touched the necklace gently.
“You keep it.”
Lily’s eyes filled.
“Why?”
“Because you’re the part of that promise that survived.”
Lily threw her arms around him.
Daniel froze for half a second.
Then held her.
It was the first time she had hugged him without hesitation.
Thomas watched from the doorway.
His face was wet with tears.
He quietly stepped away.
That night, Lily slept early.
Daniel found Thomas outside beside the lake.
“I’m going to sell the house,” Thomas said.
Daniel turned.
“Emily’s house?”
“I can’t stay there forever.”
“Where will you go?”
“Somewhere smaller.”
Daniel thought for a moment.
“There’s a guest cottage behind my place.”
Thomas stared at him.
Daniel shrugged.
“Don’t make me regret saying it.”
Thomas almost smiled.
“You’d let me live there?”
May you like
“I said there’s a cottage. I didn’t say I’d enjoy it.”
For the first time in twelve years, the two men laughed at the same thing.
