“But Montana does.” She winks. I see what she is doing. I just shake my head.
Our next stop is a jeweler. A jeweler. I brace myself.
“That necklace.” Caroline gasps, pressing a hand to the glass. Its sparkles are blinding, and the diamonds are huge.
“Stunning.” Everly gasps.
“I don’t have anywhere to wear it,” Caroline adds.
“You go to a million and one galas every year, you will find a place to wear it,” Everly tells her.
“No harm in trying it on, is there.” Caroline smiles widely. And she does. And it’s gorgeous. Usually, something like this is on loan for a starlet for an awards show, I’ve never seen a normal person wear something like this. I see the price tag in Swiss francs, quickly do a calculation, and nearly die.
“Mom. It’s stunning,” Everly tells her.
“Your father will kill me, it’s too much,” she says, running her fingers over the diamonds.
“No, he won’t. Like he says, diamonds are an investment, and you have two girls to pass them onto and maybe in the future, grandkids.” You’re playing dirty, Everly.
“So true.” Caroline grins. “I’ll take it,” she tells the assistant. “Do you wear rings, Derrick?”
“I … um …. Sometimes.”
“Oh, let’s try on engagement rings,” Everly says excitedly as the assistant brings out another bottle of champagne for us and a tray of diamond engagement rings. Everly tries them on as if it’s her personal dress-up box. “What kind of ring do you want?” Everly asks.
“Honestly, I haven’t thought about it,” I tell her.
Everly gasps. “Derrick, you are a fashion girly. You can’t tell me you haven’t thought about what your engagement ring should be.” She’s got me there. “Can you bring out men’s rings, please?”
“Everly.”
“Mom just dropped a fortune, we can play around with the diamonds,” she leans over and whispers to me. Fine. Looking at diamonds keeps my mind off the pain in my body.
The assistant brings out a tray of rings for me, and the choice is overwhelming. I pick up the one that is all diamonds. I always thought something sparkly on my hand would look good, and I wasn’t wrong. The way the diamonds catch in the light is breathtaking.
“That suits you,” Everly states.
“It’s gorgeous.” I grin, unable to take my eyes off it. Then I try on another ring with a diamond in the center on a platinum band. Then there’s another that has diamonds zig-zagging across the band. “As long as it sparkles, it’s a winner for me.”
“What do you think Charlie would like?” Caroline asks.
“Probably something plain but different. I know he’s liked the black wedding band of one of the Dirty Texas guys.”
“Yes. I could see him in something like that.” Everly grins.
“But nothing too flashy because he wouldn’t want to get it caught when he’s riding.”
“So true,” Caroline adds.
“Guess we got some good ideas then.” Everly smirks as they take the rings away.
“One more shop. There’s something I’ve been meaning to get for the family to celebrate this milestone,” Caroline says. We walk out of the jewelers and into another store, next thing I know, she is ordering love bracelets for all of us.
“This is too much,” I tell her, shaking my head. I can’t accept a ten-thousand-dollar bracelet.
“Derrick, I will not have you fight me on this,” she tells me sternly.
“Caroline. Please. I can’t,” I plead with her.
