Illusions Complete Series (33 page)

I woke up again, and Ryan was gone. I made my way downstairs, and found him in his boxer shorts and t-shirt, making breakfast. He smiled at me. “Good morning, Sunshine.”

I relaxed. He seemed friendlier.

“Uh, do you want to talk?” I asked him.

“Sure. Here. I made you a screwdriver.”

I sat down while Ryan finished off the breakfast, and brought it out to the dining room.

“So,” I began. “I guess you're mad at me?”

“No, not mad. I'm just really confused.”

I nodded.

He continued. “I'm just confused on how I can show you that you not only mean the world to me, but that you're good enough for me.”

“I have my issues,” I admitted.

“And how.” He shook his head. “I just don’t know how you still have these issues.”

“They don’t just magically disappear overnight.”

“Granted. But come on, we've been together now for almost a year.”

I looked down at my hands and said nothing.

“Anyhow,” he said, and kneeled in front of me. I could feel my pulse quickening, and my breath caught. Like when we first met.

He took my hand. “Maybe I can convince you about how much I love you. Iris, you've made me a better man. Before I met you, I was lost and broken. You’ve fixed me. You've helped me find my way. I, quite frankly, can never imagine my life without you now. Nor do I want to. So now, I have to ask you the question that I have wanted to ask you from the moment I saw you in that bar.” He produced a small jewelry box, and opened it.

Inside was the most magnificent ring that I had ever seen. But it was not the ring that was described to Rochelle. This ring had a princess-cut red diamond in a platinum setting. The red diamond was several carats and was offset by tiny white diamonds. I had never seen anything like it, and I knew how rare red diamonds were.

I didn’t want to know how much he paid for this ring.

“Will you make me the happiest man ever and do me the honor of being my wife?”

I was shaking uncontrollably. I nodded my head, unable to say anything at all. Once again, I had no voice.

He slipped the ring on my finger. I stared at it. It was beautiful, the most beautiful thing that I had ever seen in my life. I suddenly realized that I was crying uncontrollably. I wrapped my arms around his neck and sobbed into his shoulder.

Ryan was laughing. “I'm starting to get used to your odd reactions to happy events.”

I couldn’t say anything at all, but I was nodding my head violently. He held me for what seemed like an hour, while I strangled him, not wanting to let go.

I finally finished crying, then looked down at my rock. My hand was still shaking violently.

I finally spoke. “Uh, what is this stone?” I somehow knew that it was a diamond without him telling me. It was definitely not a ruby.

“It’s a diamond.”

“I've never seen a red diamond.”

“That’s because they're very rare, love.” He paused, looking me in the eye. “Like you.”

“I thought – “

“That I got you a five carat diamond ring at Tiffany’s?”

I nodded.

“I did. But the more I looked at it, the more ordinary it seemed to me. It just didn’t suit you at all. You're one of a kind, and the ring should reflect that.”

I looked into his eyes. “I love you,” I said.

He kissed me long and slow. “I love you too.”

At that, he picked me up and carried me into our bedroom.

We made love the rest of the day.

Chapter Thirty-Seven

Two days later, Ryan and I made our way to the state hospital to visit Maggie. I'd already told my parents, but, of course, they already knew. Ryan, ever the old-fashioned gentleman, had asked my father for my hand. My father, confused about why Ryan would bother asking him, said yes, of course.

I smiled. Of course, my father doesn’t know about that old tradition. I doubt that he did the same when he asked my mother to marry him. In fact, I know that he didn’t – my maternal grandfather was a drunk who left the family when my mom was only 15.

Now it was time to tell sweet Maggie. And give her a double dose of good news – she was finally going to be released. Sheldon had secured this, and Ryan had found her a room in a group transition home.

It was going to be a good day.

We went through the usual routine – taking off our watches, taking off our shoes. I set off the metal detector because of my ring. I begged the security guard not to make me take it off. He saw my pleading face and let it go.

I was relieved. I never wanted to take off the ring, however unrealistic that would be in the future. If I got back into law there would be many more metal detectors. But, for now, I was secure in not having to take it off. Score!

We made our way up to Maggie’s room. She was playing cards with Rosey, the lady who was bound in leather straps the last time. Now Rosey looked normal. Maggie lit up upon seeing us.

She came up to us and gave us both a big hug. Rosey did the same with Ryan, then turned to me with a smile. “Hello. You must be Iris.” At that, Rosey hugged me, too.

Ryan and I took a seat in the room. “You wanna play some gin?” Rosey asked us both.

I looked at Ryan. Ryan said “Maybe later, Rose. I need to talk to Mom right now.”

Rosey nodded. “I'll go visit Michelle down the hall.”

“Don’t go far,” Ryan called to her. She nodded as she walked down the hall.

Ryan took a deep breath. Maggie looked at us, looking at one, then the other. “What’s going on?” she asked.

“Do you want the good news or the better news first?”

“The good news.”

“Sheldon has secured your release. You'll be getting out of here next Monday.”

“Oh, that’s wonderful. Where will I live?”

“I found a really nice transition group home for you. If things go well, you can move out of there in a year, and live on your own.”

Maggie looked a little sad. “I'll miss the people here. Especially Rosey.” Then she smiled. “But I'll be able to see you more. And Sarah.”

Sarah. I would have to meet her, too, now that Sarah was going to be family.

Maggie looked at us again. “And the better news?”

Ryan lifted up my left hand. Maggie let out a little shriek of joy, then hugged us both. “Welcome to the family!” she said to me in my ear. Then she looked closer at the ring. “A perfect red diamond. I've never seen anything like this!” She kissed me on the cheek. “I think that you'll make a wonderful daughter-in-law.”

I nodded, smiling.

We stayed the rest of the day. Rosey came back in after about a half hour, congratulated us, then we all played cards. I didn’t know too many card games, but everybody was patient in teaching me. I did know how to play poker, so we did that, too, with Maggie bringing out her poker set with chips. None of the chips were worth anything, but that wasn’t the point. Hanging out was the point, and we all had a great time.

Finally, we left.

On the way home, Ryan said “Well, now, Iris. Uh, Nick is…Nick will be my best man. So – “

I smiled. “Let’s meet.”

I was, at long last, going to meet the infamous Nick.

The story continues with
Deeper Illusions
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End of Illusions -
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Acknowledgments

To my mother, Dolores, for always believing in me. To Joey, for supporting me through all the craziness. To Debbie, Florence and Carol for giving me courage and confidence. To Nancy for giving me courage, confidence, and some wicked ideas. To my father, Thomas, for giving me my writing ability. To my sister, Christine, just for being you. I love you all.
 

Deeper Illusions

by

Annie Jocoby

Copyright © 2013 Annie Jocoby

Published by Annie Jocoby at Kindle

All rights reserved

ISBN:
1491268778 

ISBN-13: 978-1491268773

Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of the above author of this book. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead, locales, or events is entirely coincidental.

Chapter One                                                                                                                                              
Iris

It was the Friday after Ryan had asked me to marry him over breakfast, and Ryan and I made plans for Nick and his wife, Rielle, to join us for dinner at our house. Now that I had a ring on my finger, I finally accepted that the house was “ours.” Funny, Ryan deeding the house to me as a joint owner didn’t make me feel that the house was “ours.”

The ring made all the difference.

I was nervous, so I drank some wine before they arrived. Ryan noticed me looking nervous, and put his arm around me protectively.

I smiled. “Don’t worry, I'm fine. This is a first, though, I must admit.”

He nodded. “Nick is a great guy. I promise you, you'll love him. And he, you.”

“Does Nick, uh. Does he, uh.” I blushed scarlet.

“Use your words,” Ryan teased.

“Does he love you?”

“As a friend, of course. But I've a feeling that's not what you're asking.”

I nodded.

“We've talked about that. We do have feelings for each other, I'm not going to lie. But it's different than how I feel about you, and how he feels about Rielle. I hope that makes sense.”

I nodded again, bringing the wine up to my lips once more.

“Does Rielle know?”

“Nah. She wouldn’t understand.” He looked at me longingly. “Most people wouldn’t understand this. I admit, it's unconventional, but it's more common than you might think.”

Finally, the hour was upon us. I heard the doorbell ring, and, taking another sip of wine, I answered the door.

Nick was just how I pictured him. Sandy blonde hair, blue eyes, a very muscular frame. Extremely handsome, like a young Robert Redford. He was the same height as Ryan. He smiled at me, giving me a hug. I noticed his dimples right away. I was always a sucker for a guy with dimples. “Iris, so good to meet you! And congratulations!”

His wife, Rielle, was a little cooler. She was not as effusive as Natalie was, although Nick was as effusive as Nate. Or, for that matter, she wasn’t as friendly as Alexis, who was around less and less now that she and Todd were becoming more serious. Rielle was a rail-thin brunette with enormous brown eyes and alabaster skin. She wore little makeup, but didn't really need to. She reminded me somewhat of my former roommate in college who looked better without makeup than with it. At any rate, like everybody who I have met through Ryan, she was gorgeous, and well-dressed.

She held out her hand and smiled. “I'm Rielle. I've heard a lot about you.”

“Well, don’t believe everything you hear,” I joked. Rielle nodded and didn’t pretend to laugh.

I had the feeling that I would get along fine with Nick. Rielle, not so much.

Nick had a bottle of vintage Scotch in his hand. I saw him in the kitchen, putting his arm around Ryan as they poured out two glasses. “What are you drinking?” Ryan addressed myself and Rielle. We were standing in the living room together, not saying a word. It was very uncomfortable.

“I would like a mojito,” Rielle called.

“That sounds good, I'd like the same.” Beer than liquor, never sicker? I wondered if it was the same with wine. I guessed that I would find out.

At that, Ryan went out the back door to pick some mint leaves. Nick motioned me to join him in the kitchen.

“So, you and Ryan.”

“Yeah. Crazy, huh?”

“Sure. Let me see that ring.” He looked at the ring, then gave a low whistle. “Leave it to Ryan to show the rest of us schlubs up. This baby is custom designed. Must've cost a pretty penny. A VERY pretty penny.” He had a look on his face that I couldn’t quite discern. Jealousy?