For several seconds, I simply stared.
Then Alice smiled.
“Mom.”
She lifted her left hand.
A diamond caught the porch light.
“Dad. This is my fiancé.”
Behind me, Patrick nearly dropped his glass.
“Your what?”
Alice gave us an awkward little smile.
“Surprise?”
I stared at the ring.
Then at her.
Then at the stranger standing beside her.
“You’re engaged?”
“Yes.”
“You went to London for one summer.”
“Almost three months.”
“Exactly.”
She laughed.
“That’s not helping your argument.”
“Three months is barely enough time to learn where somebody keeps his toothpaste.”
The man beside her smiled.
Not arrogantly.
If anything, he looked as though he understood exactly why I was reacting this way.
Alice touched his arm.
“Mom, this is Aaron.”
He held out his hand.
“It’s really nice to meet you.”
