TANNER*
As Kaysen drove away, a thought popped into my head. I rushed in and threw on some clothes for dinner with Kaysen and her parents. Then I locked up, got in my truck, and drove to the nearest jewelry store.
“This one here is perfect. Her ring finger is the size of my pinky finger, so that should help with the size I will need,” I said to the salesman. I had searched everywhere, but I couldn’t find a ring I loved until I walked into Zales.
“Alright, try this one on, and see if it fits. If not, I’m sure we have that size available. If not, we can get one sized for you,” the salesman said as he handed me the ring.
The ring fit except for being a tad loose. “Can you put this ring on hold for me? I’ll put a deposit down on the ring if needed, so you know I’ll return?”
“I sure can. When will you return?”
“Tonight with my girlfriend. I will let her pick out a few and then surprise her later when I propose. I know she will love this one, though. This isn’t how things are supposed to progress. But our relationship isn’t your typical relationship by any standards.”
After paying a two thousand dollar deposit for the salesman to put the ring on hold for me, I texted Kaysen. ‘Would your parents be able to watch Cora for a moment so I could take you somewhere real quick before dinner?’ After five minutes with no answer from Kaysen, I thanked the man who had helped me, left the store, and crawled into my massive truck. My phone pinged and after starting the vehicle, I clutched my phone to see her reply.
‘Yes, but we will need to be quick.’
‘Ok, I’ll be there earlier than expected, then. Except me there in about fifteen minutes.’
‘See you then.’
***
I arrived at Kaysen’s house, and Mr. Richardson answered the door. “Tanner, come in! It’s nice to see you again so soon. I hope you’re ready for some good ole fashioned pot roast. Nancy has had it in the slow cooker all day, and it smells amazing, don’t you think?” Mr. Richardson asked, shaking my hand and ushering me inside.
“Yes, sir, the food smells amazing. I don’t have time to eat a good home-cooked meal often. Just every Saturday of the month when I go to my aunt’s for family night dinner,” I said, looking around for Kaysen and thankful she’s nowhere in sight so I could talk to her father.
“Call me Clark, son. Mr. Richardson makes me feel old, and I haven’t even reached my fifties yet. What do you eat if you don’t eat home-cooked meals? You don’t look like you’re starved or anything. If you stick with Kaysen, you’ll gain a few pounds; she and her mother love to cook. As you can tell by my midsection here,” Clark said, patting his hand on his plump belly, chuckling.
I couldn’t keep myself from chuckling at him as I shook my head. “Don’t worry, sir, I’m not starving to death or anything. I eat out a lot, and with my profession and working out, I stay at a steady two hundred pounds. As far as sticking with Kaysen, I want to ask her to marry me, so I won’t be going anywhere unless she is with me.”
“You want to ask my daughter to marry you, but I just met you this week? How long have you known my daughter Tanner? Kaysen has decided she’s not getting married again, and she wants to raise Cora alone; that’s what she’s told me and her mother. Would you be willing to take on a child that is not of your blood, and would you be able to provide for my daughter and Cora?” Clark asked, furrowing his eyebrows as we sat down on the couch in the Living Room.
“We’ve known each other for a couple of months, but we just started dating this week. I love her more than anything in this world. My love for Kaysen has been there all along, but I just figured it out,” I said, and Clark nodded his head with a smile.
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Tanner's Unrelenting Soul (The Cunningham's Book Two)
RomansaTanner, who has sworn off relationships altogether after his breakup with Mae, his partner of three years, has no interest in marriage or children. Instead, he finds solace in a revolving door of women in his bed each week. However, everything chan...
