I laugh heartily, trying to ease her tense mood.
“Well I peeked into your room, and you were sleeping so softly and then, just as I was thinking what a peaceful night’s sleep we’d both get, you let out this massive snore that sounded like a freight train in an old west movie!”
“I… what? I do not snore!” Cora sputters out indignantly.
“Oh yes, you do.” I laugh again, bemused by her huffy reaction. “I almost recorded it, it was such a frightening and yet almost operatic sound.” I grin mischievously. “But I decided that wouldn’t be the gentlemanly thing to do.”
“I do not snore,” Cora sputters again, her entire face a lovely shade of red. “I don’t believe you.”
“Well, in any case, I decided I wouldn’t let your nighttime opera sounds bug me too much, seeing as I needed a place to sleep.” I shrug. “In fact, almost as soon as I got into bed you curled right up into me and stopped snoring. So I guess it worked out for both of us.”
I wink at Cora and she merely huffs at me.
“You’re ridiculous.” She sits up straighter and tries to look regal, which I find funny given that she’s wearing comfy clothes. “I was cold, so it only makes sense that I’d gravitate toward warmth.”
“Oh sure, completely reasonable.” I smirk again and Cora laughs lightly. I could listen to that laugh all day.
“So we’ll just agree that you needed a non-soaked place to sleep and I don’t snore.”
“Sure, I can agree to that.” I shake my head in amusement as I dig into my pancakes again.
After a few minutes of companionable eating, Cora again breaks the silence. “Please don’t take this the wrong way.” I look up mid-cut of flapjack. “But why are you here? We never really got that out of the way last night.”
I put my fork and knife down and look at Cora. I really don’t want to upset her, I realize, but I have to tell her. So I decide to preface my explanation with as much kindness as I can.
“Cora, I don’t want to upset you in any way, and I debated even coming here,” I begin, feeling strangely hesitant. “I mean, obviously I’m glad I showed up when I did, but trust me that wasn’t planned.” Okay, you’re rambling Matt. “I’m here about the engagement ring,” I state firmly. “The one Marky gave you.”
Cora blinks for a moment.
“The – oh, the engagement ring.” Cora’s whole body, which seconds ago was roaring with laughter, seems to wilt a bit.
“I don’t mean to hurt you, Cora. I know everything is still so fresh and raw.” I lean toward her across the breakfast table, but I refrain from touching her. “But the ring is a family heirloom, and I couldn’t risk something happening to it.”
Plus I really wanted to see you, I admit to myself.
She shakes her head.
“No, of course. I’m sorry I didn’t leave it at my mom’s house. I guess I didn’t even think about it?” Cora shakes her head and I can see that her normally joyous brown eyes are troubled.
“I wouldn’t have come if it weren’t so important.” I smile, trying to look confident, yet feeling awful inside.
“No, I’m glad you did.” She returns my smile with her own feeble one and looks down at her left hand. My eyes follow hers. No ring.
Alarmed, I look back up at Cora’s face, searching for any indication that she may have done something drastic, but she seems just as surprised as I am to see it missing from her slender finger.
“Wait, where is it?” Panic starts to seep into her gentle voice.
“Where’d you last see it?” I ask, trying to conceal my own concern.
“I don’t know. Wait, yes, I do. I think. I remember that when the fire started to get out of hand, I must have taken it off when I took off my clothes. It was so hot and smoky, and I guess I was getting confused…” Cora looks around the table, as if in a daze.
“It’s okay, we’ll find it. Things happened so fast with the fire. I’m sure it’s around here somewhere.” I try to soothe her, but to no avail.
“No, it’s got to be in the kitchen. I mean, I’m positive I was wearing it last night and then I definitely remember taking it off at some point. I think it was when I took off my sweater?”
Cora springs up from her chair and desperately begins searching the kitchen. She goes straight to the counter, shuffling around papers and boxes, but no ring. She frantically opens drawer after drawer, but no luck in those, either.
“Matt, I’m so sorry. I promise I didn’t do anything nefarious with it. I’ll find it. I will. I promise.” At this point in her frenzied search, Cora starts to cry hysterically.