(Jack)I never had any trouble buying things but as I stared back at the cases upon cases filled with rings of different sizes and designs, I didn’t know what to do.“Mr. Lombardi, is there anything to your liking?” the store manager asked.I was at Tiffany & Co. and the staff had kindly shut the entire store for me, just for privacy as I tried to think about what kind of ring I should buy for Ruby.I wanted to propose to her for a while now and was just waiting to see what my mother thought about her. Mother's attitude at the twins' birthday had made my fears settle down. She was nice to Lydia, Ruby, and their mother.Perhaps it was too soon to make a decision like this, but I wanted to marry Ruby. I wanted to start a life of my own and also have beautiful children like my own brother.I never imagined to find someone like Ruby and now that I have, I don’t want to lose her.I spared another look at the case in front of me filled with opulent and showy crystals atop golden and silver
(Lydia)I woke up early today even though it wasn’t me who had to drop off the kids at school. I had left them at Thomas’ yesterday and came home in a panic after Ruby had called.The rest of the day was spent cuddling together with Ruby and Mama. We had watched a couple of movies and ordered in because we were just too lazy to get up and make something.It felt nice to just lie down with my family and do nothing. I did not have many chances to do that recently.I had also called Jonathan Nilson to let him know that I would be joining him for the tour. He was happy that I decided to come and immediately called a meeting of the cast members to discuss our schedules.Apart from Nathan Andrews, there were a couple more B-star actors who had a lot of fan-following. As for me, I don’t think I had any fans, however, the media had surely been interested in the kids because of everything that went down.I don’t know how, but Thomas took care of the people who were following the twins around a
(Jack)When I walked into the living room, a bit late in the morning, my mother was sitting quite stiffly in the living room.“What’s up, mother?” I asked, pressing a kiss to her cheeks as I waited for our cook to prepare some breakfast for me.Mother did not say anything and instead, turned to face me and just stared.“What?” I asked again, my suspicions rising.Quietly, she slid her phone towards me. Confused, I picked up the phone to see what had made her so weird early in the morning.What I saw left me a bit slack-jawed.It was a picture of me leaving the Tiffany & Co. store and then getting into my car. I pressed my lips together and returned the phone.“So?” I asked her with my rows raised, “I know you want to say something, just tell me what it is.”“Who is she?” my mother asked, her lips trembling.I looked at her with a sardonic smile on my face, “Don’t act like you don’t know already. It’s Ruby, who else would it be?”She bit her lips for a while and then said, “I didn’t kn
(Ruby)I was in my room, preparing one of the pieces for the boutique I had hopes of opening soon when there was a knock on my door.“Come in!” I shouted. The door opened to reveal Lydia with a look in her eyes that I did not quite catch.“What is it?” I asked her, returning back to my work because I should have been starting on another piece today but yesterday we had spent lazing off and now I was behind my set time of finishing the piece.“You’re not too busy are you?” Lydia asked sheepishly as she came to sit on the bed beside me.“No,” I told her, then looked at her suspiciously, “Why have you suddenly started to grin so weirdly?”“I have something to show you,” she whispered, darting her eyes to the door. I know mother had come back from her chemo and was resting in her bed, so what had Lydia almost vibrating?“Did Thomas ask you to be his again?” I asked teasingly and received a smack on my head in return.“No!” Lydia said almost in a panic.“Chill, I was only joking,” I told h
(Lydia)I didn’t know what to wear to my dinner with Nathan.I had asked him to meet up on the same day because I wanted to spend the rest of the time with my kids before I left for the tour.I had already informed Thomas that I would be picking them up tomorrow after school and then they would be living with me until the day I depart.Just the thought of leaving them was making my heart heavy. I don't know what I would do once the time for me to leave actually comes.I rummaged through my closet in frustration and then sat on my bed which was filled with all kinds of clothing. Only after driving myself crazy did I think about the fact that I was thinking too hard about this dinner.This was just a casual meet-up between two coworkers, hence, that meant that I didn’t have to dress so formally.Just then my phone pinged with a notification and I realized that it was Nathan providing me details on the meet-up.He had planned to meet up at a posh steakhouse, which meant that I definitely
(Thomas)Mabel and Miles were eating their mac and cheese happily.The meal was their favorite but what made it even more special was that I had cooked it with them. Making mac and cheese wasn’t a hard task but I hardly cooked for myself.Although cooking with my kids evoked a very different kind of joy within me; I felt warm from the inside, which I rarely felt until recently, after my kids and the love of my life came back into my life again.“Uncle Thomas!” Mabel called out to me, breaking me out of my daydreaming, “Can we make cookies next time?”Miles nodded vehemently in agreement. I grinned at them and acted like I was thinking hard about it. I had an index finger on my chin with my mouth pursed. “Let me see, what would we need for cookies?”“Oh, I know, I know,” Miles jumped up, raising his arms as he left the table to get something.“No running, Miles! And you don’t leave the dinner table without finishing your food!” I called out to him.He slowed down to climb up the stairs
(Jack)I honestly could not tell you why I had agreed to do this.Mother's tears had worked on me like magic. I felt guilty because I felt like there was some truth to her words. However, I wouldn’t have let it get to this if she had not seen those pictures of me getting out of the jewelry store.I should have been more inconspicuous when I went out to shop. So many things had happened in our family in this past year that the media’s eyes were always on us.I thought Thomas had taken care of them but it seemed like they were still on our tail. I might have to take matters into my own hands.The way to the steakhouse was spent agonizing over what I should tell Ruby. Should I be honest with her and let her know that I would be going on dates for at least another month or should I let this month pass, find very good reasons to reject every girl mother shows me, and then take Ruby away on the holiday I had planned.Nothing in my life has ever been smooth so I know it would not be the case
(Lydia)The moment my eyes landed on Jack, it felt like the world was falling apart. My mouth fell open as I stared at him in shock.He took a seat right in front of a blonde girl and passed her a smile.What was happening?They were conversing together after ordering. Well, the girl was talking but Jack was nodding along, listening to her words.Was this a business meeting?But then again, the way she was batting her eyes at Jack, it did not feel like a dinner to discuss business at all.“Do you know them?” Nathan’s voice cut my attention from Jack and his company.I whirled around to face him, “Yes? Did you say anything?”“I asked you if you know them,” Nathan repeated his words, albeit a bit slower this time.An embarrassed smile crossed my face as I shook my head. “No, sorry. I was just looking 'cause the girl’s dress is just beautiful, don’t you agree?” I lied straight through my teeth. If I were to be honest, I would have to take another peek to notice what color the girl’s dres