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Choices of the Heart

Chapter 4

"So, you REALLY want to see it?" Frank Hardy asked his brother, eyes twinkling, as they headed off the beach and towards their car.

Joe laughed. "Are you sure you want to DO it?" he asked back, teasing his brother.

Frank approached the car, popped the trunk open, and threw in his beach attire. Joe did the same. Sliding his sunglasses down over his tanned face, he opened the car door and smiled at his brother, his teeth glistening white against his tan skin. "Joe," he said, truthfully, "I've never been so sure of anything in my entire life."

Joe teased his brother by reaching over to pinch his cheek. "AWWWW… how sweet!"

"Knock it off!" Frank said, swatting Joe's hand away from him.

Joe sat back and laughed at his brother as Frank pulled smoothly away from the curb. He was trying to hide it, but Joe was elated for his brother's decision to get engaged. Frank had told him about it well over a month ago, but tonight was going to be it—the big proposal. At first, Joe had reacted to the news with shock; the thought of his brother being old enough and responsible enough to get married had blown his mind. But then, as he got used to the idea, he felt himself getting almost as excited as Frank. Although in their teen years, he and Callie had their share of disagreements, as they had gotten older, they had become close friends. She really was a perfect match for his brother—beautiful, smart, ambitious, and funny.

Now, as he sat beside his brother, a thousand memories came flooding back to him about growing up with Frank. He couldn't wait to be there for this huge milestone, either. He really had begun to think of this engagement as not losing a brother, but gaining a sister.

"Um, earth to Joe?" Frank questioned, as he drove into traffic on the way to the jewelry store to pick up the ring.

Joe looked up, and snapped out of his reverie. "Sorry, Frank. I guess I just started thinking, that's all," he said.

Frank chuckled. "There's a first time for everything," he quipped.

"Shut up!" Joe replied, laughing. "Okay," he continued, "I mean, tell me again how you came to be 100% sure about this decision."

Frank rolled his eyes. "Joe, We've been over this a thousand times," he answered, holding back a smile. Joe was like a little kid sometimes; he liked to hear the same stories over and over again. Seeing the look on Joe's face, he had to smile. "Okay, Joe."

Joe clapped his hands in excitement. "Cool!"

Frank shook his head, bemused. "Callie and I have been together for years, Joe. You know that. I don't know what to say, other than that – you know—there's never been anyone else for me. I really love her—she's everything to me. I don't know what I'd do without her." He blushed, realizing that he said more than what he'd intended to.

Joe broke the tension. "I hope she says 'yes', then," he responded.

Frank laughed.

"Okay, so when's the wedding?" Joe's excitement was getting the best of him. He wanted to know all the details. "And I AM the best man, of course, right?! I mean, think of the bachelor party I'm gonna throw you!" He sighed contentedly.

Frank couldn't help laughing. His brother was one of the most amusing people he'd ever known. When he finally calmed down, Frank finally answered Joe. "Well, Joe, first Callie has to agree to this. Let's hope she does. Then, we'd wait probably a year or a year and a half, so we could graduate college and save up and plan everything. As far as being the best man goes, you're supposed to wait to be asked. And finally, the point of getting engaged is not to worry about things like bachelor parties!"

"You know you want a good one!" Joe smirked. "I am the best man though, right?" he asked, again.

Frank raised his hands quickly from the steering wheel in exasperation.

"Yes, of course."

"Cool," Joe said, satisfied.

Frank glanced at Joe out of the corner of his eye. He said, slowly, "Joe? You're okay with this, right?" He hoped he didn't sound silly, but he had to know.

Joe said, seriously, "And if I wasn't? What choice would you make?"

Frank froze, unsure of how to answer that. He then caught the twinkle in his brother's eye, and relaxed. Jokingly, he said, "I guess I'd have to say goodbye to Callie, huh? I mean, so many girls, just one brother, right?"

Joe smiled back. Becoming a bit more serious, he said to his brother, "Frank, bro, I'm behind you 100% with this decision. Callie's really a great girl, and you're both perfect for each other. I couldn't imagine either one of you without the other."

Frank was touched. "Really?" he asked.

"Really," Joe replied. Still, he had to joke with his brother. "Good response on the choice question, though!"

Frank again rolled his eyes. Joe was so silly sometimes! "So…" Frank began, with a sly look on his face, "When are you and Vanessa taking the plunge?"

Joe feigned horror. "Frank! PUH-LEAZE. I still have to sow my wild oats. The old ball and chain will still be there if she's lucky enough to have me."

Frank snorted. Joe and Vanessa were a walking comedy routine. "Nice, Joe," he replied.

"Nah," Joe said, a bit more seriously than before. "I love Vanessa. I'm not all private like you and Callie, either-and I don't care who knows it. She's really the best thing in my life. I'm a lucky guy. Maybe in a few years, we will get married. I'm not ready yet… but I'm pretty sure I will be."

Surprised at his brother's candor, Frank just nodded, impressed.

Finally, he asked him, "So, Joe, how did you swear Vanessa to secrecy? She'd better not let this slip!"

Joe grinned. "Nah, she won't say anything, although she's about ready to burst. You know those two -chat chat chat. I'm sure Vanessa's dying! I promised her if she was quiet, though, she could pick out the colors for the bridal party, so I'm pretty sure she'll keep mum."

Frank shook his head. "Oh, Joe," he sighed, dramatically. "Don't you think you might- oh, I don't know- ask CALLIE about that?"

Joe replied, totally earnestly, "I'm sure I'll convince her of it. It just takes a little of my magic charms."

Frank muttered back, dryly, "Already off to a great start as one big, happy family, aren't we?"

"Of course!"

"Mmmm."

Joe glanced sideways at his brother. "Hey! How'd you get Callie not to come today with us? I mean, you even asked her."

Frank grinned sneakily. He said, "Because I know her so well I knew she wouldn't come. She's so responsible, and she'd want to get this project for school done before allowing time for herself. She's just like that. Even though we're on vacation here on the beautiful Jersey shore, she'd still enjoy it only AFTER she did what she needed to. So… I feel good about asking her to come, she feels good about being asked, and no one is any the wiser about the proposal." Frank couldn't help but to feel giddy at the very word.

Joe smiled at his brother's enthusiasm as they pulled into the parking lot of the jeweler.

Getting out, Joe followed his brother into the shop where a nice- looking young girl was working. "Well, hey there!" Joe said, flirting. He loved Vanessa, but he knew he'd always be an innocent flirt—it was just part of his nature.

"Well, hey yourself," she cooed back at him.

"Ahem!" Frank interrupted.

Joe shot a look at his brother, and flashed the girl his brightest smile. "That's my brother," he began apologetically. "We're here to pick up a ring - an engagement ring—that he had ordered. Is it in yet? The last name is Hardy."

"I'll be happy to check," she said sweetly to him. "Did you- um- need one too?" she asked, a little too innocently.

Joe caught the hint. "No. I'm as single as they come," he said with a wink.

"Really?" Frank cut in, exasperated. Only Joe could manage to upstage him on one of the biggest nights of his life. "That's not what Vanessa, your girlfriend, would say!"

The girl's face fell. Joe whispered, under his breath to her, "Ex- girlfriend." He saw no reason to make her feel badly since nothing would come out of it anyway.

"Oh," she said, eyes wide. "I'll be right back, Mr…?"

"Hardy. Remember, I'm his brother. You can call me Joe, though."

"Joe it is, then," she said, and disappeared behind the counter.

Joe turned around and was met by a look of amusement, disgust, and awe by Frank. "What?" he asked.

"You're just something else," was all Frank could think to reply.

"Thanks!" Joe said brightly. Frank sighed inwardly. Only Joe could interpret that as a compliment.

Finally, the young girl appeared with the ring in the box, and Frank finished paying for it with his check. "Whew!" Joe whistled, looking over his brother's shoulder. "That is going to set you back big time!"

"Joe, don't I get some privacy?! Don't ever tell Callie how much this cost!"

Joe smiled. "It was pretty bad, Frank, but I've seen worse."

Frank looked his brother in the eyes. "Joe, that amount you looked at was my last payment of four in equal amounts."

Joe's face paled, and he gulped. "Well," he said shakily, "There's just one more reason I won't be getting married anytime soon!"

Frank smiled, took the ring box, and headed out of the store.

In the car, Joe asked Frank to see the ring.

Frank slowly reached into the pocket into which he'd placed the ring, and pulled out the box. As he opened it, he felt his hands tremble a little. Despite all his joking, he was horribly nervous. He was pretty sure Callie would say yes, but there was always that little bit of doubt in the back of his mind. Unexpectedly, Frank felt tears in his eyes, which he quickly blinked back. Isn't the girl the one who's supposed to cry? he thought, silently. He knew his life was about to change forever. He had only one chance to make this evening perfect, and he was determined to do it. He loved Callie so much; she deserved the perfect evening.

Joe was too distracted as he looked at the ring to notice the slight quaking of Frank's hand. "Whoa! Now that's a ROCK!" he burst out. The ring glittered in the sunlight. It was a beautiful princess cut diamond set high on a platinum band, which itself was set in small diamonds. "She'd have to say yes to that."

Frank took a deep breath. "You know, Joe, I really think if I asked her, she'd say yes without a ring. Callie's never been materialistic. I really believe that would be the case. Still, I knew that I'd get her a ring, and I might as well get her something she'd really like."

"She'll love it," Joe said, looking at his brother. He suddenly felt a bit choked up. Reaching over, he impulsively hugged his brother tightly. "Congratulations, big brother. Thanks for letting me be a part of this. I love you."

Frank, never as comfortable showing emotion as he brother, was strangely not bothered by it. "Thanks," he said, returning the hug. "Don't congratulate me yet- pray for me!"

He pulled away from Joe, and placed the ring in his pocket.

As they drove away, the brothers sat in silence for a while, each lost in his own thoughts.

At random, Frank said, "I love you, too, Joe, in case I didn't tell you."

Joe just smiled.