The young woman turned her attention to Beth and beamed. ‘I just love the holiday displays in here – this one is so wonderful, andOzis one of my favourite movies!’
‘Thank you. I love that movie too.’
The customer reached out and picked up one of the silver heels. ‘But much as I love them, I don’t think sparkling ruby slippers will quite work for what I need,’ she giggled. Her face flushed happily, and she looked ready to burst with excitement.
Beth recognised that look. ‘Ah, so you’re planning a wedding then?’ she ventured coyly, before the younger woman could say anything more.
She burst out laughing, and glanced at her companion. ‘Well, yes, I suppose I am –weare. Though I didn’t realise it until a couple of hours ago… we’ve just got engaged!’ She offered her left hand, which, sure enough, was home to a gorgeous princess-cut diamond.
‘How wonderful. Congratulations.’ Beth looked back and forth between them. ‘Nice job on the ring,’ she added, offering the guy a wink. ‘It’s beautiful.’
He ran a hand through his dark hair and a blush crept up his neck, finding a home on his cheeks. ‘Thanks.’
His fiancée grinned. ‘I still can’t believe it! We just arrived in the city yesterday for some holiday shopping. We were taking a stroll in Central Park this morning, and when we reached the Bow Bridge, it started to snow, and then out of the blue, Josh…’ she giggled, indicating her companion, ‘got down on one knee, and it was like… time just froze. It wassurreal. I mean, we have been together for ages now – three whole years – and of course we’ve talked about it… but I mean, wow. So unexpected. And right there, with the snow falling all around us, it was so romantic it almost felt like something out of a—’
‘Movie,’ she and Beth finished in unison and they both laughed. The bride-to-be (clearly a kindred spirit) who introduced herself as Katie, was overjoyed and Beth was only too happy to be taken up in the excitement. She came across many would-be brides in this line of work, and she loved meeting couples at this newly engaged point, when everything was still fresh and romantic, before all the wedding preparations became overwhelming.
She also knew that such a time was strictly for browsing, with a heavy dose of wish-fulfilment thrown in.
Well, she could understand that.
‘I’m so happy for you both. What a lovely time to get engaged. Have you set a date?’
‘We’re thinking this time next year. A Christmas wedding maybe?’
‘Perfect. Well once you start planning, and find your dress, I’d be delighted to help you with shoes and accessories, if you want. I see you like those Kate Spades.’
‘They’re so beautiful. And thank you; that would be great. I know it’s too early to be looking now. It’s strange, though, because as soon as he asked me, I could almost envision the whole day in my head… what Josh would look like as I walked down the aisle… and I have this vision of me too, of what I will look like on the day, the dress I’ll wear, and the shoes on my feet.Especiallythe shoes. Is that weird?’ She glanced from her fiancé back to Beth.
Beth threw a quick look of reassurance to the guy, who had a perplexed look on his face. Understandable; everyone knew men didn’t share the shoe – or indeed the ‘Big Day’ – gene.
‘Oh, I’d say that’s pretty normal,’ she said. ‘I think most women, myself included, have a pretty good idea of what they want their day to be like.’
Katie was shaking her head sagely. ‘Exactly. And did yours turn out the way you envisioned it? Your wedding day, I mean,’ she added when Beth looked blank.
‘Oh…’ She opened and closed her mouth in quick succession, understanding at once that her words had been taken out of context. ‘Well, I’m not married, actually,’ she mumbled pleasantly.
Katie looked uncomfortable. ‘I’m sorry, it just sounded like you knew so much about what I was talking about… I was sure you’d gone through it too.’
Beth shrugged, keeping a smile on her face. This wasn’t the first time she had gone down the ‘gosh, you’re not married?’ route. At thirty-four years old and possibly a good ten years on the girl in front of her, she guessed she should have expected it. ‘No, I’m not married. I mean, not yet, and I’m not sure if we ever will,’ she added, laughing a little. ‘My boyfriend and I have been together seven years and—’
‘Seven years andno ring?’ Katie gasped, cutting her off. Then spotting Beth’s reaction, she immediately began to backpedal. ‘I mean, sorry. It’s not like… it’s just… I thought three was long to wait…’ She trailed off and shook her head. ‘But of course, every couple is different, right? Some people have things figured out, without all that stuff. It sounds like you do, anyway. I mean, some people never get married atall.’
At this point the guy nudged her, as if trying to signal to his beloved to take her foot out of her mouth. Beth remained calm and unaffected. After all, Katie wasn’t insinuating anything; she just had a different perspective. Anyway, Beth was sort of used to it. This wasn’t the first time someone had reacted with surprise when they realised just how long Beth and Danny had been together, yet seemed to have no intention of tying the knot.
‘Anyway, I’m sorry. I’m blabbering now,’ Katie blushed.
‘It’s no problem. Like you say, everyone’s different. My boyfriend and I always joke that if we got married, all the romance in our relationship would just wither and die,’ Beth chuckled, trying to keep the mood light, before backtracking herself when she spotted the expression on her audience’s faces. ‘I mean, not that the romance is going to be dead for you two whenyouget married.’ She gulped. ‘It’s just a silly in-joke of ours. In any case, best of luck to you both and congratulations again. I’m Beth and here’s my card. Feel free to give me a call when you’re back in town and ready to choose your wedding shoes.’ She extracted a card from her pocket and handed it to the girl. ‘And Merry Christmas.’
‘Thanks, and same to you…’ The young couple hurriedly took their leave, the bride-to-be regaining her sunny disposition, and her fiancé looking mildly relieved.
Beth smiled after them as they walked away and put the conversation out of her mind. It made no sense to think too deeply about it. That sort of exchange had happened before, and just like she did at other times when faced with the question of why exactly she and Danny weren’t married, she decided to sidestep the issue in favour of cheerier thoughts.
‘Let me guess, yet another bride-to-be salivating over the satin Manolos?’ Beth jumped in surprise as Jodi Cartwright, her longtime co-worker in the shoe rooms, sidled up to her.
Beth laughed. ‘The Kate Spades, actually. They just got engaged. Down on one knee on the Bow Bridge in the snow. The park is such a perfect backdrop for a marriage proposal at this time of year, isn’t it? So romantic.’
Jodi snorted. Ever cynical, the forty-something divorcee didn’t share Beth’s optimism about love and romance, and least of all about marriage.
