Certain.
"Thank you," I say. "Both of you."
"Don't thank us," Charm says, still wiping tears. "Just make her happy. That's all we've ever wanted."
"I will. I swear I will."
"When are you planning to ask her?" Fenrir asks.
"Today. If I can find the right ring."
Charm's face lights up.
"You don't have a ring yet?"
"No. I wanted to get your blessing first. And I was hoping—" I hesitate. "I was hoping maybe you could help me pick something out. Something she'd love."
"Are you kidding?" Charm grabs her purse from the couch. "I've been waiting for this moment since she was born. Fenrir, we're going ring shopping."
"We?"
"Fine. Gunnar and I are going ring shopping. You hold down the fort." She kisses her husband on the cheek, then hooks her arm through mine. "Come on, future son-in-law. Let's go find my daughter the perfect ring."
Charm knows exactly where to go.
A small jewelry store about fifteen minutes from the clubhouse—family owned, three generations, the kind of place where they know their customers by name.
"I've been coming here for years," Charm explains as we walk in. "They did my wedding ring. Astrid's too. They're good people. They'll take care of you."
An older woman behind the counter looks up when we enter.
Her face breaks into a smile.
"Charm! It's been too long. What brings you in today?"
"My daughter's getting engaged." Charm's voice cracks slightly on the words. "We need a ring."
The woman—her nametag says Eleanor—beams at me. "And you must be the lucky young man. Congratulations."
"Thank you."
"Now, tell me about her. What's her style? What does she like?"
I open my mouth to answer, but Charm beats me to it.
"She's classic. Elegant. Nothing too flashy—she'd hate anything ostentatious. But she has fire in her, too. She needs something with personality. Something that stands out without trying too hard."
Eleanor nods thoughtfully. "Color preference? Traditional diamond, or something with more character?"
"Emerald," I say.
Both women look at me.
"Her eyes," I explain. "They're green. This incredible shade of green that I've never seen on anyone else. I want something that matches. Something that reminds me of her every time I look at it."
Charm's eyes fill with tears again.
"Oh, Gunnar."
