Universal

Chapter 11

The ring was beautiful. The band was a wide gold strap with intricate geometric designs that encompassed three large stones all in line with the band. The stones on the left and the right were diamonds while the stone in the middle was the most beautiful deep green emerald. Patricia would love it, Troy thought as he put the ring back into its box and slipped it into his pocket. Her birth stone was emerald and he had always known that it belonged on her finger. His original plan was to buy the land before he got the girl, but recent events had changed his perspective. There was nothing in Heaven or Earth that could keep him from asking her to marry him. He was so filled with happiness and excitement that he had almost forgotten that he was angry with Judson. He wanted to go tell his friend of his plans to propose to Patricia. Troy pushed those thoughts from his mind and set off down the road, again. This time his destination was the diner. 

.................................

Patricia was taking the order of an older couple when he walked in. He didn't want to disturb her while she worked so he went to take a seat at the soda counter and waited until she noticed him. It didn't take long. As if she could sense his presence, their eyes locked as he climbed into the tall chair. Both of their faces cracked almost in half with a smile. 

"No work today?" She asked him. 

"Not today." He wasn't sure yet if he would tell her the events that took place with Judson, but he did know it wouldn't be today. Today he would do his best to put all of that out of his mind, and focus on his sweetheart. Judson had paid him enough over the past months in his employ and even after giving his parents money, he had managed to save a good bit. He would start asking around for work tomorrow. "I came by to see if I could take you out tonight?" He said to her. 

Patricia couldn't have played hard to get if she tried, when it came to troy. She smiled and nodded. "I get off at 6." She said as she kissed his cheek and went into the kitchen to put in her orders. 

Troy beamed as he left the diner. There was only one more thing he had to do before asking her to marry him. With long strides Troy made his way across town to pay a special visit to  Buddy Stanfield, Patricia's dad. 

Buddy was a painter, and was working  on the new homes being built on the other side of town. He was about the same size as Troy, but his build showed the muscles that several more years of work had earned him. Troy loved the Stanfield's, and was excited to become a part of their family. The only thing that worried him was Patricia's age. At 15, she was barely 2 years younger than Troy. She had been an only child until 3 years before when her brother was born and had spent her life being the pampered princess of the castle which was her home. The Stanfield's lived a comfortable life. They weren't rich, but they didn't know strife like Troy and his family. Troy worried that Buddy would not be overjoyed with the thought of allowing his only daughter and the apple of his eye becoming a wife. Girls her age were getting married all the time, so hopefully his worries were for nothing. 

Troy found Buddy halfway up a ladder with a brush loaded with stark white paint. He was using even strokes to apply the paint to the side of a house in the new neighborhood. 

"Afternoon, Mr. Stanfield." Troy called up to the man. 

Buddy turned from his perch on the ladder to look down at the boy below him. "Troy!" He said with a grin. "What brings you this way?"

"I was wondering if I could talk to you for a minute, Sir."

Buddy began his decent down the ladder. "I was about to take a break for lunch." He winked. "You caught me just in time!"

Troy followed Patricia's father to the back of his pickup truck where a metal tin containing his lunch was found. "Wacha' wanna' talk about?" The older man asked as he took a large bite from his sandwich. 

Troy was nervous, but he pulled out the courage and asked, "Can I marry your daughter?"

Buddy's eyes widened and he coughed as the sandwich slid its way down his windpipe. When he caught his breath he grinned at Troy and said, "Well,  sure you can!"

Troy was surprised! "I can?" 

"Yeah! When you two get a little older, I'll throw ya'll the biggest wedding Bethlehem has ever seen!"

The young man's heart sunk to his boots. "When were older?" The question was barely more than a whisper. "I was hoping to marry her sooner than that."

Buddy had no doubt that Troy loved his daughter, and he had no problem with the two of them getting married someday. He just didn't think they were ready quite yet. "Well, Son." Buddy began, "I know you got your heart set on now; but I'd like to see you a little more settled before you plan on startin' a family."

Troy was crushed, but he wasn't going to argue the matter. He left before his disappointment came out in the form of tears. He didn't think it would show Buddy that he was old enough for marriage if he started crying like a child when they didn't get their way. This day sucked. It was full of people constantly telling him how he needed to live his life. He was angry. As his anger grew, so did his defiant confidence. If he could ignore the calling of an almighty being, he could definitely ignore the words of a man. He wouldn't lie to Patricia about her father's feeling in the matter, but he would still ask her to be his wife. Whatever answer she gave would be the deciding factor.