The Ring (A Short Story) – Part 2

THE RING

A Short Story By Golden Keyes Parsons

Part 2 (Click HERE to read Part 1)

They met one last time… “Come away with me. I can get a job anywhere coaching. You’re not happy. We were meant to be together.”

Allison shook her head. “I can’t. My kids—I love them too much. As unhappy as I am, Sam is a good father and provider.”

Perry’s countenance darkened.

Allison continued. “With you I feel whole. I can be who I was meant to be. I know I’m safe and secure with you.” She caressed his cheek with the back of her hand and pushed his blond hair out of his eyes. “You were my first love. You are my only true love.” Tears streamed down her face. “But my commitment to the Lord … and my children.” She hesitated, her voice interrupted by a swallowed sob. “Divorce … divorce is not an option. I … I just can’t.”

Perry grasped her shoulders. “If there is ever any possibility, tell me now. I will wait for you.” He pulled her tight to his chest. “No matter how long it takes, I will wait. If you need me, I will come to you. Just send the ring, and I’ll know.”

Numb with emotion Allison nodded. She broke away from his desperate clutch and left him standing with the arms that had just held her, hanging limp at his side.

She never heard directly from him again. She followed his football career in the paper. He moved up to college football, then accepted an assistant coaching position in the NFL. She watched his team’s games on television, hungry for any glimpse of his face.

Sam’s heart attack was sudden and fatal. He fell dead at his desk in the law office. The funeral was over quickly. The children all had lives of their own. Allison was alone.

She kept up with Perry’s career by reading the sports section of the paper, but lacked the courage to contact him. One Sunday she noticed an announcement of his impending retirement on the back page. The reporter asked, “Why retire now when a head coaching position for a top NFL team most probably is right around the corner?”

“I’ve had a successful career and there are some things that I’d like to pursue at this point.” There was no picture or mention of a family.

Now here she was on a plane, like a lovesick teenager, thinking they could simply rekindle their love, as if they had never been apart. Allison fidgeted in her narrow seat. What was she thinking? Why didn’t she just send the ring to him? If he were still in love with her, he would come for her—like he said.

The seat belt sign came on signaling an imminent landing. She felt like she was going to be sick. She put her head down in her hands.

Allison checked into her room at the hotel. She tried to nap, but no luck. She dressed and stepped back to examine herself in the mirror. Not bad for a middle-aged woman with grown kids. She looked glamorous in the simple, black dress and chandelier, diamond earrings. She slipped the ring on her finger.

Easing into the back of the banquet hall, she searched the room for him. Of course, at the head table, flanked on one side by another coach, whom she recognized from the televised games, and an attractive redhead, whom she did not. He looked wonderful. He had maintained his athletic physique, his hair graying some, but still falling over his forehead, making him appear much younger than his actual age. Allison stared at the party seated at the head table and watched as Perry chatted with the companion by his side. The glamorous woman threw back her head and laughed. He put his arm around the back of the chair and leaned toward her. Allison excused herself after the salad course. What did she expect after all these years? She packed and went downstairs.

“Checking out so soon? Was everything satisfactory in your room?”

“Oh, yes. I, uh, I simply am not able to stay.”

“May I call you a taxi?”

“Thank you.” Allison put her hand in her coat pocket and felt the ring box. “Oh, there is one more thing.”

“Yes?”

Allison took the ring off her finger and put it in the worn velvet box. “Would you put this in with Coach Larreau’s messages?”

“Will there be a note to accompany it?”

“No, just put the ring box in with his other messages.”

It had begun to rain, cold pelting droplets of moisture. Allison’s hair dissolved into a stringy mess as she walked to the waiting, yellow taxi not bothering to take her umbrella out of her bag, not caring whether she became drenched in the downpour. It didn’t matter now.

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