Total pages in book: 23
Estimated words: 22331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 22331 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 112(@200wpm)___ 89(@250wpm)___ 74(@300wpm)
“Alright. Now we’re going to get you a ring. We’re keeping that tradition, aren’t we?”
“Gotta, since we’re skipping over the whole extended courtship thing. That’s usually a big part of getting married, you know.”
“Seems tedious. I'd rather just cut to the chase.”
We head out of the empty shop and shut the door behind us, and it locks electronically just as the realtor said it would.
Hand in hand, we walk through the streets of Home. She’s still pink in the face from all the people around us who knew her as a little girl, seeing her hand-in-hand with a man now, seeing how life has been going on. People I’ve known all my life are seeing me too, and I couldn’t be prouder to be seen with her.
We reach Kelly’s Jewelers and head inside. It’s about an hour before closing and the shop is pretty empty.
The older woman behind the counter, Kelly herself, looks toward us, and her eyes widen behind thick glasses. “Is that you, little Fig Rough? And Hank Black? Holding hands?”
“Yes and yes,” I reply.
“Would have never expected you two to get together. I haven’t even seen you around town recently.”
“I’ve been off at college,” Fig says.
“And I’ve been a firefighter over in Spokane.”
“Please tell me you came back to get married and you’re here to pick out a ring.”
I nod. “I want whichever one my darling lady here wants.”
“Really? Not giving me a limit?” Fig says.
“There’s no limits on how I feel about you, and hence no limits on what ring I should get you.”
She smirks, amused. She looks over all the rings, including the ones with oversized diamonds that frankly look like they’d be a pain in the ass to wear day-to-day.
“I like this one the most,” she says, tapping on the glass over a small diamond set in a sleek silver-platinum band.
“You don’t have to restrain yourself for my sake, Fig.”
“I’m not. I like that ring the best. The big diamond ones are gaudy. I like my fashion subtle, and this ring says what it needs to. It doesn’t need to scream it to the high heavens.”
“Of course you have opinions on this, Ms. Fashion Major.”
“It’s going to be Mrs. Fashion Major soon, thank you very much.”
Kelly takes the ring out of the display and Fig tries it on. It’s a perfect fit and she loves it, so I ask Kelly to ring it up. She waves me over to the register to pay for it and I hand over my card.
Fig looks at it with concern. “Uh… you’re not running up a massive credit card bill for this, are you?”
“That’s a debit card, actually. It’s coming right from my bank account.”
She raises an eyebrow. “And you’re sure you can afford this on a firefighter’s salary? The ring, the house…”
I laugh, and lead her out of the store. “Hardly. The department pays well, but it’s not enough to buy a house and fancy diamond ring with cash.”
She looks at me. “I didn’t think your family was that rich…”
“They’re not, but for one exception. My uncle passed away last year. Was a stock trader, but really proud of me for going into firefighting. Something he always wanted to do but was too scared to try. He named me the primary beneficiary of his estate, so I’m set pretty well. Well enough to pay for our house and your ring anyway.”
“I never planned on marrying a man for his money, but damn.”
“I can help you get your business started too, Fig. But I have a more important question for you right now.”
“Do you? And what could that be?”
“You saw all the houses today. I can make a purchase and close the sale within days thanks to the money my uncle left me, and we can start to move in. We can start the next chapter of our lives. We just need to choose.”
“Buying a ring and picking a house on the same day? You’re not messing around, are you?”
“Hey, I wouldn't have asked if I wasn’t serious.”
She sighs. “How do you feel about that little cottage? The white one with the pink front door? Do you think your masculinity can take that sort of hit, walking through a pink door every day?”
Out on Main Street, there are people walking past, all going about their business. I turn to Fig, wrapping my hands around her hips and pulling her close. “I don’t remotely care, Fig. The whole place could be hot pink and the lawn could be filled with flamingos, but if I’m there with you? There’s no place on this earth I’d rather be.”
“Then if you’re letting me pick? That one. It’s the perfect place to start a family. But I’ll think I’ll pass on the flamingos.”
“Good choice. Figures you have excellent taste.”
We laugh, but only briefly. I can’t resist any longer. I kiss her. Right on the sidewalk, with the world going on around us. I want them to see us. I want to shout it to the world. My love for her is sudden, but it’s so intense that I want the whole damn world to know about it.