Oliver nodded his agreement at that assessment of their mom and Mason’s relationship.
He’d obviously stressed about this talk a lot more than needed. The boys were happy their mom was happy. They liked being with him. Sierra and he had laid the foundation for the boys to know this was coming and they accepted it because they were all happy being together.
“Do you guys want to help me pick out a ring?”
Both boys sat up straighter.
Danny’s eyes filled with excitement. “Really?”
“What kind?” Oliver asked.
“A sparkly one.”
They slid out of their side of the booth, ready to get the job done. He thought about asking Amy to help him with the perfect ring for Sierra, but he wanted the boys to be a part of everything they did, including getting engaged.
Mason tossed some bills on the table to cover their lunch and the tip and ushered the boys out of the diner and across the street to the jewelry store. He’d gotten several recommendations from the ladies who worked in his office as well as a couple clients. The place was pricey but they were known for their custom designs. He wanted Sierra to have something special.
The boys walked along the cases, checking out all the pieces.
“May I help you?” the woman behind the counter asked, smiling at him and keeping an eye on the boys.
“I’d like to see your engagement rings.”
Her smile widened. “Of course. They’re at the end.” She waved her hand toward the back of the store and walked along with him that way. She stopped in front of a case filled with diamond rings in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Some simple. Others ornate and ostentatious.
The boys flanked him and stared into the case.
Oliver looked up at him. “Very sparkly.” He pointed at a ring that had about thirty diamonds. It was huge. “That one.”
Mason inspected it for a moment, then scrunched his lips into a half frown. “I see why you like it. It’s got a lot of sparkle, but I think your mom might like something simpler.” He glanced at the saleswoman. “She’d probably like something classic, but . . . pretty.” He didn’t know how to explain it.
Danny pointed to a set of three rings. “That one.”
Oliver stared, too. “Yes. That’s it.” He leaned down and pressed his face to the glass, then looked up at Mason. “Get that one.”
The woman opened the case and pulled out the three rings stacked on a cylindrical holder. Mason loved the classic round diamond solitaire, but the two bracketing bands really made it special. The gold had been molded to look like a twining vine set with four blue diamond-shaped sapphires on each band.
“It’s a three-carat certified diamond. Marquis-cut sapphires in the bands. The set together is classic, delicate, and very pretty with that standout diamond.” She turned the dangling price tag. “The GIA certification details as well as the price.”
He expected the hefty price tag and didn’t even blink or hesitate when he realized he could buy a car for the amount of the rings. If he’d been here alone, he’d have picked this set for Sierra. That the boys picked it, too, for her made it even better.
He thought he might have to steer the boys to something that would suit Sierra, but they knew what their mom would like just as well as he did.
Oliver seized Mason’s hand and pulled it down so he could inspect the rings up close. Danny hovered over them, too.
“Are they good enough for your mom?”
“She’ll really like it,” Danny confirmed.
“Very sparkly.” Oliver touched his finger to the diamond, then moved Mason’s hand so the diamond caught the light and sparkled even more.
Mason glanced up at the clerk. “We’ll take them.”
“A beautiful choice. She’ll love it.” The woman looked at both boys. “You guys have great taste. That’s my favorite set.”
The boys stood taller, pride lighting their eyes.
“Thanks for your help, guys. I couldn’t have done this without you. I really wanted to be sure I got your mom the very best.”
“I can’t wait to give it to her.” Oliver clasped his hands at his chest.
Mason handed the rings along with his credit card over to the saleswoman. “Um, listen, buddy, we need to keep this a secret for a little while. I want to ask your mom to marry me in a special way.”
“When?” Danny asked.
“I was thinking next weekend.” The house would be done and ready for them to move in. He wanted his ring on Sierra’s finger when that happened so she’d know he meant for them to be together forever.
“Do you guys think you can keep a secret that long? No hints. No telling her what we bought, or that I’m going to ask her to marry me.”
Danny and Oliver both looked a little reticent about having to wait but they nodded.
“I’ll need your help with the proposal, too.”
That perked them up.
“You think you can help me surprise her?”
Both boys nodded, their heads bouncing up and down with their renewed excitement.
Mason signed the sales slip.
The clerk opened the beautiful wood box, revealing the three rings inside, cushioned in white velvet. “Congratulations.”
He smiled, knowing that Sierra’s yes was a given, but still nervous about making the proposal perfect for her.
The woman placed the box inside a small white bag with the jewelry store’s logo on it. “I hope you have a long and happy life together.”
Mason held the bag by the strings, took both boys in hand, and walked out of the store with them beside him, excited to give Sierra the rings they’d picked for her and so ready to start the rest of his life with her.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Sierra met her mom at the bottom of the stairs. Something in her eyes made Sierra suspicious.
“Is everything okay? Where are the boys?” They were supposed to go horseback riding with Mason before they surprised the boys with their redecorated rooms.
“Today’s the day.” Her mom looked both happy and sad about them moving into Mason’s house.
“We’ve been talking about it for weeks. Mason says all the work is finished at his place, though he hasn’t let me come over and see any of it this past week.”
“It’ll be a surprise for all of you.” Dede touched her arm. “You’ve been so resilient. I’m amazed at how well you’ve managed to deal with everything. I know it hasn’t been easy, but I see how hard you try to stay focused on what you want and the future.”
“It’s the only thing I can do. Being with Mason makes it easier to let it go and move on.”
“He makes you happy.”
Sierra didn’t understand the trace of a question in that statement, but it was easy to reassure her mom. “Yes. So happy. I see him with the boys and I fall deeper in love with him. He’s made us a priority in his life.” Mason still worked hard, but now instead of spending late hours at his office because he didn’t have anything pulling him home, he was happy to find a work-life balance for himself.
Her heart melted every time she saw him and his eyes lit up. Then he’d give her a wide smile and kiss her like he hadn’t seen her in forever.