“It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. Delacroix,” I say to the tombstone, as happy tears cascade down my cheeks. “Your son is pretty awesome. I mean, his wife is pretty awesome too. I can see why you liked her. I’ll try my best to treat him well, and never disappoint you.”
“You could never disappoint anyone,” Gabriel says.
“Also, Mrs. Delacroix, I promise to encourage your son to write more authentic books, because he clearly does not believe that DEATH IS FINAL if we’re having this conversation with you right now. Also, how can he claim that LOVE IS DEAD and the institution of marriage has no place in modern society, and then also go and orchestrate this super romantic proposal? He’s a bit hypocritical right? I mean, he actually likes marriage so much that one wife at a time isn’t even enough for him!”
“Oh, sorry, there’s a bunch of static on the line,” Gabriel says, making fake static noises. “My mom didn’t hear any of that. Actually, she had to go, she has another call waiting. She’s a very busy lady, very busy.”
I laugh softly at this. He grins. We just stare at each other again, for a while, with our eyes shining. We almost don’t even need to say anything.
“So how did you manage to break into my apartment?” I ask him.
“I called a company that specializes in romantic surprises, and they talked to your landlord and set it all up for me.”
“It’s incredible. The nicest thing anyone has ever done for me.”
“I’m glad you like it,” he says softly.
“I just wish I could be near you right now,” I tell him with frustration.
“I wish that, too… more than anything,” he says. “Someday, Milla. Don’t lose faith. Just believe in me.”
“I do.”
Chapter 10
“I can’t believe he proposed to you,” Veronica is saying as we sit to eat in the breakroom. “That is absolutely insane.”
“It was so romantic,” I tell her. “I really couldn’t ask for more.”
“Where’s the ring?” she asks me. “I haven’t seen you wearing it.”
“Yeah…” I pull it out of my pocket guiltily, and place it on my finger before extending my hand to show it to her.
Veronica lets out a low whistle. “That is gorgeous, Milla! It looks like a family heirloom or something.”
“It is,” I tell her softly. “I just… haven’t felt comfortable wearing it around Evie, so I’ve been keeping it in my pocket at work.”
She nods understandingly. I’ve been very concerned about Yvette lately.
After about three weeks on a ventilator, the odds of ever breathing on your own again become significantly worse and worse. Evie’s been on for about six weeks now. She’s lost a lot of weight. But she still somehow looks more beautiful than ever—maybe it’s all the spa treatments.
I refuse to give up on her. Maybe feeling the ring burning a hole in my pocket has been motivating me to try harder. So, I’ve been doing everything I can to help her, for the past few days. I’ve been reading a lot about little strategies to help care for ventilated patients. Every once in a while, I turn Yvette onto her stomach, in hopes that more oxygen will get into her lungs. I leave her there for a few hours every day, usually when the doctors aren’t paying much attention so they don’t get upset at me for overstepping. I noticed that it seems to be making her oxygen levels go up quite significantly. It seems to be positively impacting her heart.
It might be just wishful thinking, or all in my head, but I think it’s making a difference. So I’ve asked Veronica and some of the other nurses to continue flipping her over whenever they can. But her body is very frail. Today, I noticed some bluish bruises on her skin, and I am afraid that we have been too rough with her. All the flipping and turning can’t be very comfortable—but it’s worth it if it’s helping her to heal, and giving her a better chance of recovery. It’s also probably preventing bedsores.
“Well, it’s still a beautiful ring,” Veronica is saying as she tilts my hand from side to side, admiring the diamond catching the light. “I hope someday you’ll always feel comfortable wearing it.”
“I hope so too,” I tell her.
Doctor Mike enters the breakroom in that moment, holding a coffee mug. He is about to move over to the coffeemaker to fill it up, but he pauses when he sees the rock on my finger. “Milla?” he says with surprise. “Is that an engagement ring?”
“Yes,” I tell him proudly.
He walks over to study my hand. “I didn’t even know you were seeing someone.”
“Well… I kind of met him online,” I explain with embarrassment. “He’s in another country right now.”
“So, you’ve never actually met him in person?” Mike asks with a raised eyebrow.
Shit. I’m feeling so judged. I exchange a look with Veronica.
“She doesn’t need to meet with him to know he’s the one,” Veronica says, coming to my rescue. “They have some kind of magical, epistolary relationship.”
“Like… you guys exchanged a lot of text messages?” Mike asks skeptically. “What if the sex is horrible?”
“Highly unlikely,” Veronica says in my defense.
“Impossible,” I correct. “Sometimes you just know.”
“Uh, well… what if he’s small down there? Have you at least seen a picture? You can’t buy a car without looking under the hood…”
Veronica laughs, and I blush.
“It’s 2021, Mike. I’ve obviously seen a picture.”
“Oh, well, good,” Mike says, clearing his throat. “I just wouldn’t want you to be disappointed by some unpleasant surprise. I should go. I just came to grab a coffee…”
Mike abruptly walks out of the room and shuts the door behind him.
“Is he jealous?” Veronica asks with surprise. “He seems jealous.”
“I have no idea,” I say with a shrug, staring at the ring on my finger with contentment.
The door to the breakroom opens again, and Mike enters again. “I forgot
