| � Happy Birthday, Dustin,� Heather said carefully carrying the candle lit two layer chocolate caramel cake from the kitchen to the dining room table. � Is that all for me?� He smiled looking up from the note book he�d been writing in. � Uh huh, and I got you a present too,� � Heather. That wasn�t necessary-� � I know it wasn�t necessary, but I had to do something,� She said sitting the cake on the table. � Besides, it�s store bought,� � Well I know that,� He laughed. � I know you can�t cook worth a damn,� � Hey now. I�m getting better. Last week I didn�t have to use the fire extinguisher once,� � Really? Wow. You are getting better,� Heather smiled and sat next to him. � Make a wish,� Dustin closed his eyes and made his wish, blowing out to candles shortly after. � Yea!� Heather clapped. � Now for your present,� � Is it a car?� � Nope,� � What about a villa in France?� � Nope,� � A yacht?� � Nope,� She said sitting the small box in front of him. � Open it,� He looked at the small package before lifting it gently with his fingers and opening it. Inside rested a platinum ring encrusted in diamonds. � Heather, this is too much,� He said softly. � Oh, but a Villa in France wouldn�t be?� She joked. � Where did you find this?� He smiled. � I�ve been looking all over for this ring-� � I remembered you wanted it. When we were in London and you saw it, but didn�t have the money at the time-� � But I went back and they said they didn�t have it,� � They lied� well technically they didn�t. I�d already gotten for you. I wanted to you to have it Dusty. So I bought it that day, and I�ve had it ever since,� � Heather, that was a while ago,� � I know. When I gave it to you I wanted it to be special-� � It is. Thank you,� He said wrapping his arms around her. � Thank you so much,� � You�re welcome Dusty,� She smiled. � So� go ahead. Put it on,� � Okay-� He said just as the phone rang. � Hold on,� Heather said standing up. � I�ll get it,� He grabbed the phone from the kitchen counter. � Hello?� � Heather, hi,� Nick said. � Nick,� � How are you?� � I�m fine. Today�s Dustin�s birthday and I got him a cake so we were celebrating-� � Well if you�re busy, I�ll let you go-� � No, please. I haven�t talked to you in a while, and I have something I need to say,� � Fine, but before you do I have something to say too,� � OK,� � I�ve been keeping something from you, Heather. I was afraid to tell you because I didn�t want to lose you, but in the end I think I may have already done that,� � Nick-� � Just let me say this while I have the courage, please. A couple years before I met you, I wasn�t a very nice person. I did some things I�m not very proud of and ended up having to-� � Wait, Nick are you talking about Emily?� Next Page |