Page 27 of Just One Spark

"We were just talking about it, and you weren't even listening."

Mom had joined Clara and Hattie, and I wanted to know what they were talking about."She's not a distraction.She's everything to me."

"That's what I'm talking about—" Malcolm began, but I was already walking toward Hattie.

I put an arm around her."What are we discussing over here?"

Clara raised a brow."Hattie was just saying that you hadn't had a chance to go shopping for a ring yet."

My heart rate picked up.We hadn't discussed the ring."We've been busy."

"She has to have a ring, Rowan.Even if a woman says she doesn't care about getting one, she does," Mom said.

"We were hoping there was a family ring we could use," I said, drawing Hattie closer.Her body was slightly stiff, and she kept herself from relaxing into me.

"I intended for Gran's ring to go to Clara.I don't have another one."

"We'll need to go shopping then."I squeezed Hattie's shoulder.

"Oh, you don't have to go to any trouble," Hattie said.

I lifted her hand and kissed her empty ring finger."I want my ring on your finger."

Clara placed a hand over her heart, and Mom sighed.

"How sweet.I just love that you two are engaged.From childhood friends to lovers," Mom said, and I grimaced.

"Please don't say that word again."

Mom waved a dismissive hand."Don't be a prude, Row.I'm going to find your father.He's talking business again.I can never seem to get him to stop.And we're supposed to retire someday."

Hattie giggled, and Mom left.

I liked that Hattie enjoyed Mom's company."Did I save you from anything?"

Hattie's gaze moved from my mother's retreating back to me."She was concerned about my bare finger."

Clara gave me a pointed look."A girl must have a ring."

I couldn't help but wish that this was real.I liked hanging out with Hattie and my family."We're doing things in our own time.There's no need to rush.I want to enjoy this."I glanced down at Hattie's face when I said that, and her eyes widened slightly.

"You two are sweet," Clara said, and my gaze swung to hers.

"It's no different than you and Beck."I was happy for my sister, who'd found love before any of us.

Her lips pursed."Don't change the subject.When are you planning to tie the knot?"

I glared at her."We want to take our time."

She huffed out a breath."Fine.You're not in a rush.But I want to know when my brother is getting married."

"You'll be the first to know."That was the safest thing to say.

"Ugh.Fine.I'm going to go see Beck.He was wrapped up in business calls all day."Clara drifted away, and Hattie moved out from under my arm to face me.

"Your family is asking a lot of questions.Questions that we don't have the answers to."

"You don't think that saying we're not in a rush is enough to put them off for a few weeks?"