Isaac

"It's not like that," I overheard Beth saying. I could see them standing in the living room, backs toward me. Not wanting to draw attention to myself, I stood still. I hoped she had hidden the ring, but her aunt's words made it clear she hadn't.

"I understand. You're young. You think you're in love, but who's to say it will last?"

"We'll make it," Beth said. Her aunt sighed.

"You think it's love, but how can you be sure? You spent all that time tutoring him when you could have been pursuing your own talents, and now that you are at Harvard, it's happening all over again. Just think of the skills you might have developed if you had focused your energies there instead of on that boy."

"I don't want to be ..." Beth began.

"Let's be honest. You and I both know the only reason he is even here is because you were clever enough to help him with that essay. He wouldn't have ever been accepted on his own. When you find a man to love, he should be your equal. Don't throw your life away on a dreamer. He has yet to prove whether he will ever amount to anything."

She pulled Beth's hand toward her for a closer look at the engagement band.

"Was this his mother's ring? Because if it was, it's kind of disgusting. You shouldn't wear the ring of a woman who mocked everything holy that marriage stands for. You deserve better."

"It's his grandmother's ring. And I think..." 

Her aunt snorted, cutting Beth off again.

"Now there's another marriage made in heaven. Violetta is a good woman, but her husband abandoned her when she was pregnant. No, Beth, if he can't even afford a proper ring, he can't afford to take care of you. You don't need this kind of baggage in your life. You need to give this infatuation up, for now at least. You're too young to know what you want for sure. There is no need to rush an engagement. You need to complete your education without that kind of distraction. He should do the same. You know as well as me that you need your freedom. Do you really want to move straight from a situation where your father controls you to a life where a husband calls all the shots?

"This is the time to live for yourself, to have fun, to discover who you are and what you want to be without a husband to constantly place demands on your time. You may think you're fine without taking that time, but trust me, the day will come that you will look back and wish you had lived for yourself for awhile. There's no need to rush this. There will be plenty of time for the demands of marriage after you have your degree and have charted the course you want. You never know what might happen, and you want the confidence of knowing you can take care of yourself. Don't be reliant on a man."

My hand curled into a fist. I knew I wasn't Beth's equal, but to act like our love wasn't real just because we were young ticked me off. I wasn't doing that, was I? It's not like I'd begged for her help. And I had worked hard for my place here.

The way Beth's aunt kept calling me boy was especially grating. I was no boy, I was 20, and I could take care of her niece just fine, thank you. Who did she think I was? I wasn't stupid enough to give her my mother's wedding ring, even if she hadn't been buried with it. And just because my family was screwed up didn't automatically make me a screw up.

Beth's aunt refused to shut up.

"I know what's it like to give up your identity as a young wife. Like so many of my friends, I married young. The worst part was I didn't even see it in myself, until my husband died and left me a widow when I was only 30. I was devastated to lose him, but the most difficult part was realizing that I had given up my education to play the role of supportive wife. I had no way to take care of myself because I didn't have a single marketable skill. He didn't ask me to give it all up, but in the end, all the demands on my time made it inevitable. You don't understand what it is to be a wife, Beth. Your life is not your own anymore. And then when children come? I suppose he has mentioned children?"

"Yes, but..."

"Trust me, when children come, your life will almost completely belong to your family. There won't be time then to get a degree or establish a career. I hadn't been able to have children, so I didn't have to put them in day care when I went back to school. It would have been so much better if I already had my education when my husband died, and that's what I want for you. I want you to be able to have a family without having to give up your dreams in the process."

I wondered why Beth didn't correct her? On this point, Beth's aunt and I actually agreed. We wouldn't have children until we were ready to take care of them. Just as I prepared to open the door and give Beth's aunt a piece of my mind, she spoke again.

"I must admit the ring has distracted me from the reason I came. Beth, your father is very ill. The doctors aren't sure what's wrong with him. It came on suddenly and has become progressively worse. I suggested he hire a live-in nurse, but he refused."

I snorted silently. Knowing Beth's father, it's more likely he fired the nurses for not meeting his impossible standards.

"He says he's fine, but he's not. I would care for him, but you know of the commitments I've made to my publisher. I can't back out of them. Besides, his doctor has told me in confidence there is a strong possibility your father won't live through this. He's lost 45 pounds, and he didn't have them to lose. Sometimes when I hear his dry, rattling coughs and see his emaciated body, I wonder if they might be right. The doctor thinks he should stay in the house in Nantucket, and I agree. If so, Beth, you know I want what's best for you. I know you and your father aren't close, and if this is his time to go, I know you will want to spend time with him. I know he hasn't been the perfect father, but he loves you in his way. There may be a time you regret not spending those final months with him if you choose not to stay with him. And if he lives? You'll always know you took the time to be with him during what might have been his final days. No regrets. I wish your sister and her husband could stay with him, but there's no way her husband can leave his job in China. Olivia shouldn't be away from her father. Plus, to be frank, we all know how poor of a nurse your sister would make.

"All I am asking you to consider is taking one semester off to be with your father. I've already spoken to the school and they have agreed to hold your scholarship. By the end of the semester, he will either be better or much worse. We'll figure out the next stage then. Either way, you will return to Harvard. My book tour will be finished by then, and if needed, I can take over caring for him. Knowing you will be back in school soon is the only way I can even in good conscience suggest this."

"But what about Isaac? I can't just leave him," Beth said.

"Quite frankly, I'm disappointed you went behind our backs to continue to see that boy. I made it clear that I didn't think he was a good match for you. I still stand by that. He has never even seen an example of a healthy marriage in his family. He still has a long way to go to prove himself worthy of you. Regardless, blood is thicker than water Beth. Your father needs you right now. Your family needs you. I know when you look in your heart, you'll make the right decision."

The anger was bubbling inside. Beth's aunt was attempting to poison Beth's mind again, to doubt me, to question our love. She claims I'm using Beth. That I'm unworthy of her. That I'm beneath her. I felt like ripping the door open and letting her aunt know exactly what I think, but it wasn't my place. Beth needed to be the one to stand up for herself and me. I doubted her once, in the ballroom when her aunt ordered me to leave. I didn't think Beth would stand up to her, but she did. I knew she'd stand up for me now.

Her aunt paused, and I waited for Beth to defend me.

I was stunned by the silence that followed, and for the first time, dread began to creep into my heart.

Why wasn't Beth saying anything? Didn't she think we were worth fighting for? That I was worth fighting for?

"Okay," I heard Beth say. "Let me pack my things."

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Thanks for reading! If you enjoyed it, I would appreciate a vote.

Here's a picture of the ring, as I promised. I've included a beautiful version "Demons" by Imagine Dragons. I love the original, but this version has a special quality to it. 

Dedication today goes to @Nablai. I have so appreciated your insightful comments throughout the story. It's been such a pleasure to share this story with you!