Loving Mr. Collins

Chapter 15

Chris
I walk out with Debra and shut the door to give us some privacy. I pull out my phone.
"Can I get your opinion on this?" I ask and show her the screen.
"It's beautiful."
"I thought so."
"I liked all the ones you showed me."
"But which one do you think was the right one?"
"The second one."
"The second one? So, this one?" I ask, scrolling through my camera roll until I find the right picture.
"Yeah. That one."
I stare at the screen.
"Yeah you're right. That is the best one."
"When are you going to buy it? I want to be able to go with you."
"Well, she's got to work today, so today would work actually. It's short notice but..."
"No. I don't mind. I guess it's a good thing that I came over after all."
I grin.
"Yeah. Just wait until she's out the door and we'll go from there."
"Great."
I open the door and go back inside the house. Abby's still eating and finishes her food. She showers and gets ready for work. I kiss her goodbye. I wait until she's gone before I meet Debra outside. She's still waiting in her car. I get into the passenger seat.
"Are you ready?" She asks.
I take a deep breath.
"Yeah. I'm ready."
She grins and drives out of our neighborhood. We arrive at the jewelry store where the second ring is being sold. It isn't hard to spot it among the display. We lean over the glass and admire it.
"It looks even better in person," she says.
"Yeah it does. That is the one I want to get."
She smiles and clasps her hands in front of her mouth.
"Can I help you?" A blonde female employee asks.
"Yes. I'd like to look at that ring," I say.
"Certainly."
She unlocks the case and hands the ring over to me. I inspect it carefully.
"I know this sounds weird but do you mind putting it on?" I ask.
"Not at all. I get asked that a million times."
I hand it over and she slides it onto her left ring finger.
"Yes," Debra says.
"Yeah," I agree.
"You'll take it?" The woman asks.
"Sorry. Yes. I'll take it. I just need it sized up to a seven."
"Of course."
She leaves to take care of it. Debra looks at me.
"You just picked out an engagement ring."
"With your help, but yeah."
"When are you going to do it?"
"In two weeks."
"TWO WEEKS?"
"Shh. Yes."
"I have to sit on this for two weeks? It's been hard enough keeping the proposal from her, Chris. Now that I've actually seen the ring..."
"How do you think I feel? I don't normally keep stuff from her."
"That makes two of us."
She lets out a deep breath.
"Okay. It's just two weeks. It'll fly by."
"Yeah exactly. And then, I get to..."
"Propose."
"Yeah that."
"I know it's scary but if anyone's going to say yes, it's her."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
The woman returns with the ring and we head to the cash register. We leave with excitement after walking out with the bag.
"Just two weeks," she says.
"Yeah. Just two weeks," I repeat.
"Where are you going to hide it?" She asks as she drives back to the house.
"I was thinking of putting it in my glove compartment. I'm the only one who goes through it."
"Yeah, that makes sense. I'll trash the bag so she won't see it in your trash can."
"Okay thanks. That would help."
She pulls into our driveway. She reaches into the bag and pulls out the ring box. She hands it to me.
"Here you go."
I hold it in my hand for a long time.
"It's crazy isn't it?" She asks.
"Yeah. I planned it out in my head but it feels ten times more serious having the ring in my hand."
"It is. You're going to propose in two weeks."
"Yes, I am. I'm going to put this in the glove compartment. At least I won't have to hold it."
She chuckles.
"Okay. Good luck."
"Thank you. I'm going to need it. Actually, I'm going to need confidence but luck is good too."
"You'll be fine."
"Okay. I'll see you later."
"Bye."
I get out of the car and wave to her. I unlock my own car and put the ring into the glove compartment. It'll only be there for two weeks until I take it out to propose to Abby.