Tears welled up in Maree's eyes."I missed you too."
"I was sorry the second you left,"Nick began to tell her."I was just too proud and angry to talk to you."
"I know I did a stupid thing,"Maree began, but he interrupted her.
"I wasn't mad at you."He reached out and gently touched her arm, stroking it with his thumb."I was mad at myself. Mad that you felt like you couldn't turn to me. I didn't care that you kissed Zac, I understood why you did it. What I couldn't get over was that I'd failed you. I was already beginning to fail Jade, and I would have if Taylor and Isaac hadn't been there to tell me what to do."
"You didn't fail me. I just didn't know how to trust you that much. How to lean on you for support when my mom starting drinking again. I just didn't know how,"she whispered, starting to cry.
Nick pulled her into his arms."You don't have to cry. I'm not going to let you go this time. I refuse to miss this chance."And with that he tipped her chin up with his hand and pulled her in for a kiss that told her just how much he had missed her since she left.
Maree pulled away slightly, marveling at how right his hands felt on her waist."There's something I need to show you,"she said, and pulled on the long silver chain she wore around her neck.
Nick stared in surprise. There, when the necklace was pulled out of her dress, was the simple silver ring he had given her the night before she left. That had been the night he'd asked her to marry him."You kept it,"he said in amazement.
"I told myself someday I would send it back to you, when I was ready, but,"she paused, looking up at him as she fingered the ring,"I was never ready."
After one more kiss, Nick unfastened the chain and pulled the ring off."Maree, can I put this ring back where it belongs?"
There was no mistaking what he meant by that question. She gave herself a moment to ponder, but there really was no doubt as to what she would answer.
"Yes."
****
When the photographer took the last photo of the evening, of the bride and groom preparing to leave, he didn't notice the couple standing behind them, gazing at each other instead of the newlyweds. However, when Jade and Isaac examined their pictures, they had that section of the picture singled out and framed.
They gave it to Nick and Maree for an engagement present.
**NOTE** I know this is much shorter than I Feel Like Crying was, however the story seemed to tell itself only four chapters. I felt that I had to make Nick happy before I could move on to Zac. His story is already begun. Its titled There's a Sadness Inside Me. Happy Reading!