Jason crept into the Bible Room. Everything was dark except for the lights blinking on the Imagination Station. Dad must be inside, he thought. I'll just have to wait.
He paced the room, absently touching displays, making them come alive. Soon the room was filled with a cacophony of voices, the sound of crashing waves, trumpets, and howls, barks and roars.
He headed toward the secret computer room to turn them all off, but he only got a few steps before the door of the Imagination Station opened. "What's going on—" His father strode up to him, speaking over the noise. "Hi, Jason. I thought it was a malfunction that set off everything at once."
"Sorry. I just—was waiting and—needed some company. Or distraction."
"Are you okay, Jason?"
"I'm fine. It's just that—"
Whit held up one hand. "Maybe we should turn off these displays so we can actually hear each other."
"Good idea."
Whit went into the computer room, and after a moment, the sound cut off. Silence draped the room.
Whit walked back. "What is it, Jason?"
"I called Bill today."
"You—oh. Jason! You asked him about Connie?"
"Yeah. You wouldn't believe how nervous I was."
"What did he say?"
"He said yes. I still can't believe it. I could…ask her tonight, if I wanted to."
"Will you?"
"I haven't thought that far ahead yet. She'd probably want something more elaborate than I can come up with at the spur of the moment. But I don't know if I can wait that long."
"I think I know what she'll say."
"I don't know if I'd say yes to me."
"Then it's a good thing she's not you." His father smiled. "I don't think you have anything to worry about."
"I just know that I love her, and there's something between us that's special, that we don't have when we're separate—It's worth fighting for."
Whit nodded.
"Anyway, I came over because I wanted to ask you if it was okay. Because she's like a daughter to you, and—"
His father threw his arms around him. "What did you think I'd say?" he said, voice hoarse with emotion. He stepped back, his hand clasping Jason's shoulder. A tear shone in his eyes. "I was wondering when you were going to ask her.
"Come with me."
Jason followed him into his office. Then, his father took the picture of a safe off of the wall, revealing the safe behind it. He opened it, lifted out a small blue box, and held it reverently in his hand. Flipped it open.
A diamond glittered inside, a star against the black velvet.
A jolt hit Jason's heart. He'd seen that ring before.
"Is that what I think it is?"
"Jenny's," said his father softly.
"I can't—I mean, it's Mom's."
"I think….she'd want you to have it."
An ache pierced Jason's heart. He fought back tears. He took the box in his hand. It was so light—too light, considering how much of his world lay inside it.
He gave his father a hug. "Thanks, Dad. For everything." Then he dashed down the stairs, down through the shop. The door jingled above him and he stepped out into the evening, the sky painted with brilliant strokes of fiery orange.