Chapter 12 - The Ring Leo Didn’t Buy
Leo proposed four years after they met.
Of course, he initially did it wrong.
He bought a diamond.
Huge.
Clara stared at it.
“No.”
Leo went pale.
“No to marriage?”
“No to that ridiculous rock.”
He looked offended.
“It’s tasteful.”
“It could pay Evan’s tuition.”
“Evan has scholarships.”
“Not the point.”
Leo sighed.
“I should have known.”
“Yes.”
“What do you want?”
Clara thought.
Then smiled.
“Come with me.”
She took him to a tiny antique shop.
Inside a glass case sat a simple vintage ring.
Small diamond.
Thin gold band.
Price: $680.
Leo stared at the tag.
“Six eighty?”
Clara grinned.
“Apparently sixty-eight follows us.”
“You’re impossible.”
“Do you want to marry me?”
“Yes.”
“Then buy the ring.”
He did.
Outside, Leo got down on one knee.
Clara laughed.
“You already asked.”
“I’m doing it correctly.”
People stopped.
Leo ignored them.
“Clara Hayes.”
“Yes?”
“You gave me blood when I had nothing to give you back except danger.”
Her eyes filled.
“You taught me that owing someone is not the same as loving them.”
He held the ring.
“You asked me for no bodies when everyone else asked me for blood.”
A tear slipped down her cheek.
“You made me become someone who could deserve the life you accidentally saved.”
He looked up.
“Will you marry me?”
Clara smiled.
“Yes.”
Applause erupted from strangers.
Leo stood.
Clara kissed him.
Then whispered:
May you like
“You still owe my father twenty dollars.”
Leo groaned.
