Almost Like Being in Love by Beth K. Vogt Page A

kitchen.
    â€œIt’s only a couple of blocks. A walk sounds good.”
    â€œSure.”
    The humidity rose up from the asphalt, not quite reaching the chill settling around Alex’s mood. The two of them kept to the side of the road, shoulder to shoulder. He got his six-foot-five height from his father’s side of the family.
    â€œSo, what’s going on with you and Caron?” His father’s question cut through Alex’s silence.
    â€œWhat do you mean, ‘What’s going on?’ ” Alex kicked a rock so that it skittered farther down the road.
    â€œWhen are you going to propose to that girl?”
    â€œWhat kind of question is that, Dad?”
    â€œA good question. I’m asking what’s going on. You and Caron have talked about getting married, haven’t you?”
    â€œYes.” Not that he ever thought he had to report back to his father.
    â€œI thought so. Then why haven’t you proposed?”
    Alex shrugged. “I don’t have a ring—”
    â€œWhat’s the matter? Do you need money?”
    â€œNo, I don’t need money.”
    â€œI can loan you money, if that’s a problem—”
    â€œThere’s no problem, Dad.”
    â€œWell, there’s got to be a problem if you haven’t proposed yet. You two are perfect for each other. You’re smart enough to know that.”
    â€œI’m saving up to buy a ring, okay?” Alex moved two steps to the left, farther into the road. “You’re the one who always preached about not using a credit card.”
    â€œWell, you’ve got a point there.” His father scratched at the tuft of gray chest hair poking out just above the collar of his polo shirt. “How much are you planning on spending on this ring, anyway? You don’thave to pay a ridiculous amount of money, you know.”
    â€œI’ll decide how much I spend on Caron’s engagement ring.”
    His father stopped walking. “You know, there’s always your mother’s ring.”
    â€œWhat?”
    â€œYour mother’s ring—the first one I gave her. I replaced it on our tenth anniversary with something better. The first one’s got a small diamond. I think it’s a third of a carat. But it’s a good-quality diamond.” His father’s bass voice rose as he warmed up to the idea. “It’s in a safety deposit box down at the bank. We can go look at it later this week if you’d like.”
    â€œI’m sure Caron would like to choose her own ring—”
    â€œWell, how do you know? Have you asked her?”
    â€œWe haven’t even gone looking at rings yet—”
    â€œAlex, your mother would love it if you gave Caron her engagement ring.”
    His father’s words dropped like an invisible noose around Alex’s neck. His mother would love it. Alex twisted his head from side to side, sucking in a deep gulp of the moist night air.
    â€œLet me think about it, okay, Dad?”
    â€œI just want to see you happy, son. Caron’s a wonderful girl. You two will have a great life together. Don’t blow this by wasting your time.”
    â€œI’m not wasting my time. I just want things to be right.”
    He was entitled to that, wasn’t he? To choose when and how he proposed to Caron? To choose what was right for him . . . for them.
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    Midweek dinner at her parents’. With Alex and his parents. While it wasn’t their normal Sunday schedule, it should still be a nice, relaxed evening.
    Except she’dquit working for her father two weeks ago.
    And she had to tell Alex about what she won in Colorado.
    Caron locked her car doors with a quick click of the automatic key. Whose Audi SUV was parked in her parents’ driveway? Had Alex’s dad splurged on a new car? Not likely. Mr. Madison was content to drive one of the work vans around town, maintaining the