“I’m so excited,” he said. “And nervous. I feel like I’m ten years old again.”
“Well, then, tell me now,” I said. “What exactly has you so excited?”
He reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small burgundy box trimmed in gold.
My heart stopped. What was he doing?
He handed me the box. “Open it.”
My hand wanted to trembled, but I willed it to remain steady. I popped it open and found a large and gorgeous pink diamond set on an intricately worked gold ring.
“This is amazing,” I muttered. “Quite beautiful.”
“I hesitated and almost got the chocolate diamond. It really is quite special. Then I looked into a blue diamond but couldn’t really imagine that it would be fitting. If I could, I would have loved to find a red diamond. Being so rare, I simply couldn’t find one, at least, not in a timely manner.”
“I understand,” I muttered, not understanding at all. What were all these colored diamonds about?
“Besides, I actually think the pink one is much prettier than the red one.”
“Right.”
“So. What do you think?Speechless, right?”
“You could say that.”
“Do you think Susie will like it? I mean, I tried to see what type of jewelry she likes. She tends to wear delicate necklaces and small drop earrings. Nothing big and ostentatious.”
I gagged. I really had no idea about Susie’s jewelry likes and dislikes and had no desire to learn about it. I quickly recovered from my desire to throw up and was able to nod and I did my darndest to look happy for him. “She is sure to love it. It really is beautiful. Dainty...elegant.”
“Do you think I should have gone with a traditional diamond? You know, like white, clear...colorless I think they call it. Purity. Clarity. Whatever their terms are.”
“This is very pretty, Matthew. And Susie, while discreet, is still the type of girl who stands out, who stands apart from the rest. The ring is original and the pink diamond...I’m sure she’ll love it.”
“She’d better. This little bauble set me back just over a million pounds.”
I swallowed my shock and fought so hard to hide how truly devastated I was. A million pounds? For a ring?
“Are you alright?”he said, seeing me choke up.
The rain began to fall; a smattering of fat raindrops that splattered as they hit the paving stones. A precursor to the downpour to come.
“Yes,” I said through tears that suddenly flowed despite my staunchest effort. I tilted my face up to the rain, hoping to dissimulate my tears.“I’m just so happy for you, Matthew.”I said, turning to look at him. “You deserve a girl like Susie, and I do hope she’ll accept this ring and that you two will be happy together.”
I closed the box and handed it back to him, surprised by my steady hand. “I wish you all the best, Matthew. I really do.”
He re-opened the box and stared at the ring inside for a long and thoughtful moment, then clucked his tongue, closed the box again and shoved it in his pocket.
Did he have reservations? Was he unsure he was doing the right thing by proposing to Susie?
Did he not see me sitting right there in front of him, wanting him to see me as more than just a friend?
He nudged me playfully with his elbow. “I’d be willing to bet that Ricky is preparing to pop the big question as well.”
I looked at him, not understanding at first. Ricky? No. We were far, far away from exchanging any rings of any kind. We’d just barely had our first kiss.
“You are quite smitten with him, aren’t you.”
The rain intensified.
