The man smiled warmly. “I think we can find something. I’m Robert, by the way, but my friends call me Chappy.” He introduced himself with a handshake. “I’m the owner of this here establishment.”
“Jack Bennett.”
“Nice to meet you, Jack.” Chappy led him to a display where he kept the engagement rings. “These will be in your price range.”
Jack perused the selection and spotted a diamond ring that caught his eye. “How about that one?”
Chappy glanced at the price tag. “Six hundred.”
Jack winced. “I don’t suppose there’s any room to negotiate, is there?”
“Make me an offer, and I’ll see what I can do.”
“This is all the money I got in the world,” said Jack. “I’ve been saving since I was fifteen. I’ll need a little gas to get home, so how’s about five-fifty? That’s the best I can do.”
Chappy hemmed and hawed. “I don’t know. Tell you what—let me check the books and see what I got in that ring. I’ll be right back,” he said, then disappeared behind the curtain.
While Jack waited, it dawned on him that his dream of having that house on the hill would have to wait. But at that moment, the only thing that mattered was what Ellie would say when he popped the question.
A minute later, Chappy returned. “All right, young man. You drive a hard bargain, but you got yourself a deal.”
* * *
While Jack tried to keep his plans a secret, he and Ellie spent Thursday evening on the water.
“You’re not yourself tonight,” she said as they motored past the point. “Is everything all right?”
He nodded, staring ahead. When they reached Mama Holler, he cut the engine and dropped anchor.
“Are you still getting tutoring help from Sara?” he asked.
Ellie shook her head. “Our lessons ended a few days ago. Why?”
“Remember how you asked me once if she still had feelings for me?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, she stopped by the dock yesterday evening. I had to run to Knoxville to get some… supplies. When I got back, she was there.”
Ellie raised an eyebrow. “What did she want?”
“To know if we were together.”
Ellie perked up. “What did you tell her?”
“I told her the truth. I mean, I had no reason to lie to her.”
“And how did she take it?”
“Okay, I guess. But I could tell she was hurt.”
“I told you she had a thing for you,” said Ellie. “I’m usually pretty good at reading people.”
When the sun began its final descent, Jack pulled anchor and headed for home. He cruised around the second point, crossed the main channel, then paralleled the other side as they slid off in the direction of the dam. The air was cool, the breath of fall signaling summer’s end. Close to dark, Jack eased by the campground and glided over to Rock Island, where they sat and watched the sunset.
“I’m going to miss this,” said Ellie. “The water, the sunsets, you.” She took his hand in hers.
“Me too. It won’t be the same here without you.” He leaned over and kissed her, and they sat in silence until the sun disappeared. “Listen, I’m planning something special for tomorrow night. Are you available?”
