comes along and takes your heart, you commit to her freely.
Once we Brothers are initiated, we receive a charm of sorts, a little sword crusted with jewels hidden in a red leather Bachman’s box. One to tuck away for the day we find our life partner. One that symbolizes our willingness to lay our life down for that person.
I can’t wait for Tori to have my ring around her finger and my sword around her neck. Legally and forever bound to me.
Have I told my queen about her new castle? Not yet. I’m planning to surprise her. Take her to the Village for the first time, propose right inside the walls that will be our home together.
Make love to her on our bed.
And spend our first night together in the Village.
When she is my fiancée, Rockland’s given me the go-ahead to have Victoria with me in the Village, though she’ll be under my watchful eye until she’s made her own vows to the family and changed her last name.
Mrs. Victoria Bachman.
Once we’re engaged, our apartment over Gotcha’s will become Jet’s, and we’ll begin our Happily Ever After together. First things first. I’ve got a visit to make with Charlie over at Bachman Jewelers.
My baby girl needs a diamond.
Whistling as I make my way down the street, I find the air to be refreshing. The trees to be beautiful. The day to hold promise.
The bell rings as I open the door. Charlie is waiting in the center of the store, dressed in a floral outfit and pearls, perfectly posed behind a counter.
“Mr. Bachman! So good to see you. I’ve got everything prepared.” She scurries over to me, leading me to the back of the store. Laid out on the counter are black velvet trays, laden with enormous diamonds. “I’ve pulled every ring I remember Victoria drooling over when she trained me.”
“Excellent. I’m lucky to have an insider helping me choose.”
Her hand hovers over all the white sparkling rings, then stops when she reaches the smallest one in the display. “There were so many she liked, but this one was her favorite.”
She holds it up for me to inspect. It’s a gold ring, an elaborate pattern of carvings etched into the band. In the center is one brilliant, stunning diamond.
But it can’t be more than a carat. Taking in the diamond, I say, “It’s merely a chip.”
A knowing smile crosses Charlie’s face. “I know, but I caught her mooning over it more than once. I’ve even seen her try it on, which is against the rules, by the way, don’t tell her I told you—it’s her perfect size.”
Twisting the ring between my fingers, I watch as the diamond dances in the light. “Of course she would love this one best. It may be the smallest of the diamonds, but it’s the most exquisite. Just like her.”
Charlie claps her hands. “Aww! That is so sweet. She’s going to be so surprised. Want me to box it up?”
I stare at the shimmering gem. “No. I’ll keep it with me, thanks.”
Her brow knits with displeasure. “Are you sure that’s a good idea?”
Holding the ring in my fingers, I can no longer wait. “I won’t be needing the box. Bill me and thank you for your help.”
Scratching my plans for an elaborate proposal, I burst out of the doors of the shop, off to find the love of my life.
I arrive at our door and take a deep breath.
This is the moment. The single most important act of my life. When I ask Tori to become my wife.
A happiness I can’t contain wells in my chest, spilling out into a grin that stretches over my whole face. When I enter the apartment, ready to propose, I find Tori sitting on the bed.
But the scene is nothing like I imagined.
She’s holding a letter in her hands and tears are running down her cheeks. Seeing her cry breaks my heart. Slipping the ring into my pocket, I cross the floor to her.
Kneeling before her, I ask, “Baby girl, what’s wrong?”
She wails, “Charlotte just delivered this letter. She was visiting back home, and someone gave it to her to give to me.”
I ask, “Did something happen to someone you love?”
Throwing her hands over her face, she sobs, “No. Worse.”
I ask, “Someone in your family get hurt? Die?”
“Way, way, way worse!” she cries.
Shaking her shoulders, I demand, “What is it? Tell me.”
She throws her head back and wails, “My mother’s coming to visit!”
Tori hasn’t told me much about her mother