Another Beginning

• TWENTY •

Fiancée , Maine is my fiancée . I like the sound of that, but I think I like wife more. Soon Richard, soon.

"Let me see the ring!" Frances screamed back, both girls are excited, making Katie giggle.

Maine flashes her ring to her best friend and I hear a soft gasp from Frances.

"Richard, you did good. You did very good!" She tells me, giving me her approval of my ring choice.

The ring. Well, let me tell you about the ring. Yesterday, we went to the Tiffany & Co. store along Magnificent Mile. I've already called in advance, I was hiding in the bathroom when I made the call, and asked them if they have engagement rings that are readily available. The gentleman I talked to, Dillan, was very helpful. So when we went, he already have the rings ready for me to look at. I secretly borrowed one of the rings Maine have in her crystal ring holder on top of her dresser in her walk-in closet, for the size.

When Dillan figured out the size, he narrowed my choices to six, since I want to buy it now. And out of all the six rings he laid in front of me, the ring Maine is wearing right now, is the one that really caught my attention. It is a 2.5 carat Tiffany Legacy. It is a cushion-cut diamond surrounded by diamond bead set. And don't ask me about the price, because seeing the happiness on Maine's face when she saw her ring is so worth it.

And looking at her now, showing her ring off, is priceless.

"Daddy, why ish mommy and Auntie Fwances so loud and cwying?" Enzo asked, tugging the hem of my suit. I lifted him up in my arm and he immediately grasped his hands around my neck.

"Because they are happy son, mommy is very happy."

"I wike it when mommy is happy." He whispered.

"I like it too son, I like it very much." I whisper back. "What do we do again when we make mommy happy?"

"Fish bump!" He exclaimed, giggling. We did our fist bump and I set him down on the floor.

I grab Maine's waist and pulled her against me.

"Can I borrow my fiancée for a minute?" I asked Frances.

"She's all yours."

"Hey, are you happy?" I asked Maine.

She circles her arms around me and let out a long sigh, "not just happy hon, I am the happiest right now. Thank you." She nuzzled her face against my chest and I just held her.

"I love you." I whispered on top of her head.

"I love you too."

Just then a slow music started playing.

"Can I have this dance, my fiancée?"

"My pleasure." She replied.

I gather her in my arms again, and we danced and swayed to the very beautiful song of Eric Benét's, The Last Time.

"Did you asked them to play this?" She asked, as Eric Benét sings the first stanza of the song.

"Yes hon, listen to the words of the song. This is my song for you." I tell her, as I sway her to the music.