Forbidden

Chapter Nineteen

 **THE RING ->>>>> **

Six Months Later . . .

“You about ready?” Kenley asked.

                Olivia did a once over in her vanity mirror deciding she looked presentable.

“As ready as I’m gonna be.”

                Kenley took Olivia’s hand and walked down the stairs where Liz stood waiting. Olivia noticed today, more so than any other day, how beautiful her mother looked. Sure, she looked tired and upset and she hadn’t smiled in God only knew how long but still, she looked beautiful. Olivia dropped Kenley’s hand and grabbed her mother’s before heading out the front door.

                It was February now and the skies were as clear as ever. Olivia had first found out about her father’s condition in mid September and had it not been for Nick and Kenley, she probably wouldn’t have made it this long. She had a multitude of mental breakdowns but someone was always right by her side helping her cope with the inevitable. And now, the day had finally come where Marshall would be laid to rest. Olivia and Liz had both attended grief counseling throughout the last three months which actually helped the process in an indescribable way. The grief counseling prepared them for the inevitable.

                Olivia felt stronger now, knowing that although she had lost her father, he was looking down on her, smiling his carefree and confident smile, feeling no pain. That meant the most to Olivia; that Marshall felt no pain. Olivia’s memory was still crystal clear over the last five and a half months. She could still see the home nurses coming in and out of the house, trying to make Marshall as comfortable as possible. She could still see her father lying in the bed, sleeping most of his days away.

                Olivia remembered a conversation she and Marshall had in November. She had fallen asleep in a chair right next to her father’s bed, holding his hand and she had been awoken by him squeezing it.

“Hey, Daddy. How was your nap?” she had joked. He had been asleep for close to fourteen hours.

                He smiled, before clearing his throat.

“I never get tired of your humor, baby girl,” he managed to say before coughing hoarsely. Olivia lifted a glass of water and put the straw to his mouth.

“Darlin’, I just want to tell you that your momma and I appreciate so much what you’ve been doin’ to help out. And . . . in case I don’t—I don’t—ya know. . .  make it to Christm—“

“Daddy, stop saying senseless things like that, okay?”

“In case I don’t . . . there’s something I want you to have.”

                Olivia watched as he pulled a blue box out of the side table before laying it in Olivia’s hands.

“What is it?” she asked.

“It’s your grandmomma’s wedding ring. She gave it to me to pass to you for your big day. Now, I know you don’t like it when I say senseless things,” he smiled, “but the fact is that I won’t be there to walk you down the aisle, baby. Whomever you choose will be the luckiest man in this world and I would completely trust your judgment.”

                Olivia’s mind quickly flashed to Nick.

“Just know, whoever he is, you have my blessing, darlin’. Your grandmomma wanted this kept in the family, so maybe one day, you can pass it down to one of my grandbabies.”