The Engagement Ring

Joe and his girlfriend, Susie, had been going steady for over two years. They had talked about marriage, but the time and income just weren't right. With layoffs everywhere both their jobs could be in jeopardy. Susie wanted to go back to school so she had to save for that. Joe worked for a local engineering firm, and his job was probably solid, but nowadays you just didn't know for sure.

They had lots of fun the way things were, living at home with their parents and saving money. At least Joe was satisfied. Joe knew Susie sometimes worried that he might find other girls more interesting. Just last Wednesday night they'd had dinner at Romero's. Bonnie and Charlotte had stopped by their table to say hi and he knew Susie felt left out.

Bonnie, Charlotte and Joe worked together and had lots to talk about. He tried to bring Susie into the conversation, but sometimes she still got jealous and upset. Marriage would probably solve that.

And Joe felt Susie might be a little too independent. He thought of that time she just took off to the beach with her girlfriends and never even told him until the next day. He had to find out from her parents. That was embarrassing. He didn't want Susie to be dependent on him but she should at least be considerate.

Then something terrible happened. Joe's parents were in an automobile accident. A drunk driver had broadsided them at an intersection killing his dad instantly. His mom was unconscious and in critical condition. Getting the call at work he rushed to the hospital to be by her side. Thinking of his dad and never seeing him alive again, he had to will his legs to walk down the hospital hallways. Supper trays were being brought to the rooms, and the smell of the food was sickening to him. As he neared the intensive care unit where his mom lay fighting for her life, old Dr. Thompson was just emerging from the solid green doors.

“Joe, I’m glad I caught you before you had time to go in. I don’t want you to be shocked by how your mom looks. She was badly bruised and beat up from the impact, but she’s a fighter and she has a chance to recover. Don’t give up. She hasn’t regained consciousness yet, but that doesn’t mean she won’t. That’s just the body’s way of healing. She could open her eyes any minute.”

With tears in his eyes, Joe hugged Dr. Thompson. “You don’t know how much that means to me Doc. You’ve given me some hope.”

Having been their family doctor for years, Doc Thompson knew how hard this was hitting Joe. He wouldn’t have been able to say otherwise no matter what.

Joe remained at the hospital for three nights. He slept beside her bed in one of the old pale green leather lounge chairs. With a hospital blanket thrown over him and a hospital pillow under his head, he slept fitfully and had terrible nightmares, but there was no way he would leave and miss his mom’s waking.

Susie was a rock through it all. She brought his clothes and food and was always encouraging. He wouldn't have gotten through it without her. He realized now how important she was to him.

Finally, his mom did awaken, but she knew she wasn't going to make it. She loved Susie like a daughter and told Joe her last wish was for them to be married. She even gave Joe her engagement ring and made him promise to give it to Susie when she said yes. And then she was gone.

The next days were a jumble to Joe. Funeral arrangements and profound grief left him drained and dazed. Life was unreal. Both parents were taken from him so suddenly he had no time to prepare for their loss.

Weeks passed before he remembered the engagement ring. Maybe now was the right time for him and Susie to marry. He did love her and he knew she loved him. He decided he would ask Susie to marry him on Saturday night, Valentine's Day.

But where was the ring? He couldn't remember what he had done with it. He had been so upset at the hospital. Had he put it in his pants pocket? He panicked. Had he lost his mom's engagement ring? He went to his closet and searched through every pants pocket. No ring!

Then he remembered Susie had done some laundry for him while he stayed at the hospital. Maybe she found it. Would he have to tell her about the ring before he asked her to marry him? And suppose she hadn't found it. What a mess he had made. Why hadn't he been more careful! It would be awful to have to admit to Susie he had lost his mom's engagement ring - Susie's engagement ring. But what else could he do? At least he would do it in person and right now!

He went downstairs and put on his coat to go. He reached in his pockets and pulled out his gloves. Something dropped on the tile. It was his mom's ring!

It was too much. He collapsed on the floor and just sobbed. He was happy and sad at the same time. He thought of his mom and dad on the night of their engagement and the strong marriage they had had. Now with the encouragement from his mom, he and Susie would begin their life together.