“Um…yeah. It was Lukas’ mom’s,” Autumn says. “She liked antique stuff.”

“Can I see it?” Maya places a hand forward, and my heartbeat accelerates.

I’m not a superstitious man at all…except when it comes to my mother. She had said many years ago that once you put a ring on your finger, it shouldn’t be taken off, and for some reason I could never forget those words.

When Autumn’s grandfather had declared his last wish was for us to be married, I’d had no time to buy a ring. But I had my mom’s ring on a chain, and in front of her family and Mr. Big, I split it open.

I slid the heart and one of the two interlocking hands onto her finger and couldn’t stop myself from whispering, “Once put on, this shouldn’t be taken off.”

“I’m sorry, Maya. I don’t take it off,” Autumn mutters nervously, making my heartbeat skyrocket.

She remembers.

Our host takes everything like a good sport. “This is beautiful. And it’s so nice of you, Lukas, to include your mom on your wedding day. You must love her a lot.”

I nod and clear my throat. “She’s not with us anymore.”

Autumn’s hand rests on my thigh, and I realize I’m clenching my jaw and grinding my teeth. Maya leans back in her seat, and Andy puts four shot glasses onto the table.

“Let’s do some shots in honor of love.” Andy slides a glass forward while I’m lost in the memories of my mother from decades back.

“I’m gonna give it to Dad,” Mom says, dancing on her toes as we step out of the antique shop.

“I thought men were supposed to gift jewelry to women, not the other way around,” I mutter, inspecting the ring she placed in my hand. With a little twist, the ring opens into three. The two hands that were held together open to reveal a tiny heart.

“Love isn’t about receiving but giving selflessly, Lukas. Someday you’ll meet a girl who’ll become the center of your whole world. Everything you do in life will be for her happiness.”

Even then, as a kid, I knew my mother was what they call a hopeless romantic.

“I’m planning to propose to your father on Valentine’s Day,” she says. “And many years later, we’ll give this ring to you when you fall for some pretty girl. But remember, Lukas, once put on, it shouldn’t be taken off.”

She blows raspberries on my cheeks, and I allow it because it makes her happy.

I love hearing my mom’s laugh, which is getting more and more rare.

But we didn’t know then that she wouldn’t be around to celebrate Valentine’s Day.

17. Autumn

17

AUTUMN