Dolphin Tale 4

Chapter [18]

Spencer Nelson stared at Lorriane. "What ring? What do you mean?"

Lorraine raised an eyebrow. "The one on your ring finger, Spencer. Who gave you that ring?"

Spencer frowned. "What are you talking about? You are the one who gave me that ring. I married you, Lorraine, and you gave me that ring. Don't you remember?"

"I didn't give you that ring, Spencer. You know how I know?"

Spencer shook his head. He glanced down at the ring on his ring finger nervously. "How do you know that it's not yours?"

Lorraine sighed. She reached into her handbag and brought out a small velvet purse. From within, she pulled out a silver ring, sparkling in the dim light. "This is the ring I gave you, Spencer. This is the ring that you threw on the ground the day you left. That day, you said that you never wanted to see us again, and you threw this ring on the ground. This is the ring I gave to you, Spencer. This is the ring I picked up off the ground after you left, hoping that you'd return. Now, however, I wish you had never returned."

Spencer Nelson shook his head. "I still don't know what you're talking about. What game are you playing at? The ring in your hands is not the one you gave me. The ring in my hands is the ring you gave me. Don't you remember?"

"I remember," Sawyer said suddenly, joining in with the argument.

Spencer sighed and gestured at Sawyer. "There you go, Lorraine. Living proof that the ring in my hand is in fact the ring that you gave to me, and not the ring in your hand."

Sawyer glared at his father. "I was actually going to say that I remember that day you had that argument. I remember that day when you took the ring off and threw it onto the ground, before you stormed away. I remember that day when my mother bent down and picked up the ring on the floor; the ring that is now residing in her hands. The ring that resides on your finger, Dad, is not the one my mother gave to you. So, who does it actually belong to? Who is the woman?"

Spencer Nelson gritted his teeth. "I still don't know what you are talking about. Are you suggesting that I cheated? That my love extends farther than my own family? Is that what you are suggesting?"

Lacie rolled her eyes. "Well, the evidence is right in front of us. It's right in front of you. We should all be able to see it, unless of course, you're blind. I would trust Sawyer with all my life, so if he says that the ring on your finger is not the one his mother gave to you, then he's right. So, who is the woman you married?"

Spencer opened his mouth to speak, but was cut off by Lacie. She stood and walked towards him, her eyes staring beadily at the offending ring that currently resided on his finger. She held out a hand expectantly.

"May I see it?"

Spencer obliged, slightly unnerved by her detective-like mannerism. He slipped the ring off his finger and handed it to her.

Lacie frowned. "I think I've seen this ring before, but I can't remember where." She fell silent, staring intently at the rounded piece of metal... "Oh. I saw this style of ring in one of those "reject" stores. You know, the ones where everything costs less than, like, two dollars. Wow, Mr. Nelson, your current wife must love you so much to buy you a ring that is possibly worth less than what I earn at Clearwater Marine Aquarium. Even I could have bought a better ring than that, and that's saying something. I suggest you break it off before she turns tail and somehow manages to run off with all your money—that is, if you have any."

All three Nelson's stared at her, their mouths agape in shock, astonishment, and marvel.

"What?"

Spencer laughed drily. "You remind me a bit of Sherlock Holmes, with all your seemingly clever deductions. That is not a good thing, by the way. I hate anything to do with Holmes. If I had to choose a character, I would be Moriarty."

Lacie rolled her eyes. "Well, every fairytale needs an evil villain, doesn't it? You fit that description perfectly. And, for your information, I will never be as clever or wise as Sherlock Holmes. Never. But, I take it as a compliment."

"You are not welcome," Spencer growled. "And what makes me a villain? Just because I prefer Moriarty over Holmes doesn't mean that I'm overly evil, does it?"

"Ah, but what we say, what we do, and how we act, defines us as a person. Most of the time, anyway. You're just that sinister shadow lurking amongst the other shadows. The only difference is that you're darker. Deadlier. Devilish."

"Whatever. You can keep the ring if you want."

Lacie thrust the ring back at Spencer. "Why would I want this cheap thing? Keep it. It's yours anyway. But, honestly, if that's the best your current wife can do, I reckon you would be better off with Sawyer's mother."

Spencer shook his head. "Just keep it. You're right. I should end it, right here, right now. I've been meaning to for a while, now, but I've never known how to do it. That's the reason I came back, you know. I thought that if I saw you guys again, I'd find the courage to say "it's over", you know?"

Lorraine sighed. "What's her name?"

"Leah. She's really nice, and she loves me. Well I think she does. I just didn't know how to end it. But, I'm going to call her and end it. Right here. Right now."

"Look, Dad. We've heard enough from you. Why don't you go to your hotel room and make the phone call? It's just that we need some time to think. Some time alone."

"I would, but I didn't book a hotel room. I came with the intentions of staying here in this house. I hope you don't mind having an extra person around."

Sawyer shook his head and glanced at his mother. They shared a look of annoyance and disapproval.

Lorraine turned to face Spencer. "We shall think about it. Give us a few hours."

Spencer smiled. Lorraine frowned.

"Don't get your hopes up, though. I'm not promising anything."

Spencer sighed, frowning. "I was afraid that you were going to say that."

***

Hazel had been doing some thinking during the past couple of days. She had been thinking about her now non-existent relationship with Sawyer. He had begged for forgiveness, but she had not given it to him. Now, when she thought back on that moment in time, she felt so selfish. And that selfishness had lured her into a cesspool of guilt and shame. Guilt at the thought of ending their relationship. Shame at the thought of her selfishness. The guilt was pressing her; pushing her until she would eventually break. But Hazel didn't want to break. Hazel didn't want to live with the guilt. She didn't want to live with the shame. She wanted to make things right. She wanted to start over. She wanted a new beginning, and she hoped that Sawyer would give her one.

With resolution and new-found determination, Hazel stood and walked over to the door. She turned the door knob and opened the door, stepping through and shutting it behind her. Hazel had just walked through an open door—an open opportunity—and shut the door behind her, demolishing all hopes of turning tail and retreating back into the past. This was the future now. This was a new beginning. Hazel could only hope that it would be a good beginning.