I lift my hand, scrubbing it down my face. “Why don’t we tell everyone?” I mutter.
“Ask her now, and you won’t have to tell anyone because everyone will see,” Angel says as if it’s that simple.
“I haven’t even told her I love her yet.”
All three women recoil as if I’ve said something utterly insane.
“What?” my mother whispers in a growly tone.
“Are you crazy?” Aunt Angel says.
“Idiot. All a bunch of idiots,” Fran mutters.
Ma reaches out and touches my arm. “Do you love her?”
“I do, more than anything.”
She gives my arm a light squeeze. “Then you need to tell her and then put a ring on that finger.”
“I want it to be special,” I say.
“It doesn’t matter how you ask or where, sweetie, but you need to do it before she starts to think you’re never going to get to that point. She knows about your history, your lack of commitment, and you don’t want any doubt creeping into her mind.”
I glance over at Arlo as she’s laughing with my cousins. “She doesn’t look like she has any doubt.”
“She’s surrounded by married women who have their place in this family solidified. Eventually, maybe not today or tomorrow, but soon enough, that seed of doubt will be planted, and you don’t want it to grow roots.”
“What’s wrong?” my grandmother asks, coming into the conversation late and unable to stop herself from knowing what we’re talking about.
“We’re talking about Carmello asking Arlo to marry him.”
My grandma smiles. “She belongs here.”
“I need time to find a ring. It has to be perfect.”
My grandmother lifts her hand, working her engagement ring from my grandfather off her finger. “Give her this,” she says, holding it up to me.
I blink, staring at her. “Gram, that’s your ring.”
She pushes it closer to my face. “I know, sweetheart, but I want you and Arlo to have it.”
“But…but…” I stammer, unable to move. “Shouldn’t it go to the oldest or one of the girls?”
“It’s my ring, and I get to decide. Arlo’s a woman without a family, and what’s more welcoming and important than her knowing she’s part of our family by having my ring that your grandfather gave to me all those decades ago. It brought us great luck and so much love. I want to pass it on to you and her so it brings you the same.”
Gram doesn’t wait for me to take the ring. She grabs my hand, placing the platinum and diamond ring in my palm and closing my fingers around it.
“Doesn’t matter when you ask, but don’t wait too long, sweet boy. I need more great-grandbabies.”
“Gram,” I whisper, unfolding my fingers and glancing at the beautiful ring. “I don’t know what to say.”
She touches my face, placing her palm against my cheek. “You don’t need to say anything. Just love her deeply and forever. You had a rough start, my boy, and you deserve happiness for the rest of your years.”
I grab her, lifting her off the floor in a hug. “I love you, Gram. So, so much. I don’t know how to thank you.”
“I love you too, baby, and thank me with babies. Lots of babies.”
I place her feet back on the floor and kiss her soft cheek. “Got it, Gram. I’ll do my best.”
She pats my side. “I know you will,” she says with a wink.
“What trouble are you stirring up?” Dad asks, standing behind my mother.
Ma sways backward, leaning her body weight against him. “Mello’s in love, James.”
Dad bends his neck, looking down at my mom the same way he’s looked at her my entire life. There’s nothing but love in his gaze, the same way I look at Arlo. “You just figuring that out?”
She lifts her arm, smacking him on the shoulder with the back of her hand. “I knew. I just can’t believe it. He’s going to ask her to marry him.”
“Whoa. Whoa. Whoa. I need a little more time. I still have to tell her I love her.”
Dad lifts his head up, staring at me as he wraps his arms around my mother’s middle. “You better get on that. Stop wasting time, son.”
I shake my head, over family time for this week. “I know. I know. I already had the entire lecture.”
“You take that woman home, tell her how you feel, and put a ring on her finger,” he tells me like it’s that easy. “And in case you’re wondering, it is that easy.”