After a few minutes, I finally realized my mother was wearing a silver snake
ring on her small finger. The ring twisted into the same design embossed on the
black clothing she wore in the image the spirits showed me. I could not
remember seeing her wear the ring before. I held the picture closer, scrutinizing
the intricate design of the snakes.
Thinking back, my mind drifted to my father. I could not remember him
wearing any jewelry, except for his wedding band. He never even wore a watch.
I recalled asking him why he didn't wear one, especially since Gramps wore his.
He had told me the only time he needed to tell was by the beat of our hearts.
Shaking me from my memories, Cole called out from the ladder, “Taking a
break already?”
I quickly folded the picture and shoved it in my pocket. I needed to find out
more before I shared it with Cole.
“No, I was just finishing up.” I quickly got to my feet. “Come look around
and tell me what I missed.”
Cole picked up several stuffed animals and put them back onto Meg's bed.
He added them to her collection, which included a mermaid, variously dressed bears, dragons, and other animals. He finished making up Meg's bed, and then pulled a necklace from under it.
“Is this yours?” he questioned.
I looked at the twine string with various charms attached to it. Taking it back,
I replied, “Yes, I have been adding to this since I was twelve.”
Eventually, when we had more time, I would share with him how I began
adding charms soon after I began to think of him as more than just the boy I grew up with – when I first started considering him mine. I would tell him how the first charm I added was the screw nut that fell out of his pocket when he constructed the rope swing on the large sycamore tree in our front yard.
I placed the necklace inside the box, set it on my dresser, and then relayed to
him everything that had happened the night before. I started with my acceptance
of the ring and the promise to protect magic. As I told him my story, he sat on
Meg's bed, just listening. When I told him about the blessing, he smiled.
“I know this may sound crazy to you,” I said, “but I still feel the elements around me. Just before I finished the climb up the stairs, I was feeling so angry
that I thought I was going to explode. I asked the element, Air, to remove my negative thoughts, and I was surrounded by wind.”
“I don't think any of this is crazy. I have always known you were special.”
Cole reached into the pocket of his jeans and held the ring out to me. “I hope you
won't be adding this to your jewelry box.” Cole kissed my hand before he
slipped the promise ring onto my finger.
I started to respond, but he stopped me.
“Before you say anything, let me speak. I spoke to your grandmother this
morning about us. She warned me that the tattoo she gave me was not only to protect me from harm, but it would also protect you and your family. If my heart
isn't pure and my promises to you are false, I'll feel a pain like no other, she warned.” The bright eye in the center of his wrist seemed to change colors as if
confirming Gram's promise.
“She then took my hand and called the elements. I felt each one as they
surrounded me. I don't know whether she wanted to scare me off or prepare me
for our future. The entire time, I just kept thinking about you, so I'm going to ask
