No Letting Go [Completed]

Fifty-Three

I pull up to Riley's school and wait for 2:30 to roll around. It's a couple days before Valentine's Day and I'm going to pick up the ring. I didn't end up telling Riley because I month was waaaaaayy to long in advance to tell her, and I was afraid she couldn't hold it in.

I am however taking her to the jeweler to pick it up. Somehow I feel this can be a bad idea only because the ring may not be the only piece of jewelry I come out with. She's going to con me into getting her something, I can already feel it.

I look at my phone and it's 2:30 on the dot. I step out the car and stand on the side walk the the other parents that wait. By this time, they've gotten use to seeing me almost everyday, so no one looks like they're about to explode, or ask me to take pictures or get an autograph anymore. That happened like the first week then they got use to it.

"Daddddyyyy!" Riley says in sort of demonic, yet energetic tone.

"Hey bear. Ready to go?"

"Yup."

"Let's go then."

We get to the car and I get her buckled into her booster seat.

"Alright little one, we have one stop before we go home."

"Chick-fil-a?"

"Nah. Mommy cooked today...but we're going to get a present for mommy."

"Why, it's not her birthday right?"

"Nope it's not her birthday. But you'll see why. Just sit back and ride, okay?"

"Okay." We pull up to the jeweler I usually go to. Majority of the time, he comes to the crib, but he can't because Aaliyah is there.

I park and turn the engine off. "Little bear?"

"Hm."

"Think you can keep a secret."

"From who?"

"From mommy."

"Yeah."

"That means you can't tell her anything about what we're about to pick up. Like nothing."

"I won't daddy. I promise. So what are you buying her?"

"A ring. And I'm gonna ask her to marry me."

"Really!!?"

"Yup. And we're gonna have a nice wedding and you're gonna be apart of it. You're gonna wear a pretty dress and everything."

"When?"

"I don't know. I gotta get the ring first, then ask her...then she has to say yes."

"Daddy, mommy's not crazy. She's gonna say yes." I laugh.

"Jesus, you're a lot like her you know that." I look at her through my rear view mirror and she smiles. "Let's go get this ring."

"Big mike. What's up." I say walkin in.

"What up Kap...this little one must be Riley."

"Yup. That's my girl....so you got the ring?"

"Right here brother. All shined and ready to go." He says handing me the box.

"Damn...I already know she's gonna like it."

"I wanna see!" Riley says standing on her tippy toes. I bring the ring down to where she can see it and her eyes drop. "It's so pretty."

"Think she'll love it."

"Mhmm." She says nodding her head.

I already paid cash for it when I ordered it a few weeks back.