Fortnight || euphoria

01 - paper rings

'I was supposed to be sent away but they forgot to come get me'

TEXAS
July 31st 1990

'I can't believe how expensive theses rings are.' Christie complained. Andy had finally gotten engaged to Christie after years of them dating. 'It's your fault my wedding band is cheaper than yours.' Andy joked.  Suddenly, Diane and Regina rushed into the room. 'Wait a minute!' Diane screamed as she ran over and closed the laptop the happy couple were using.

'Diane, what you doing?' Andy questioned her. Diane sighed and told them 'I don't want you rushing into buying wedding rings' just as she said that she rushed out of the room and ran upstairs taking Regina with her. 'I think it's time you put your stepmother into a home.' Christie told him. Andy chuckled at her remark, but Christie was dead serious.

'I think we've taken up too much of Diane's time, don't you?' Christie said getting up to leave. Andy lightly pulled her arm so she would sit back down. 'Well she invited us round so she could help us out. She'll have to tough it out like the rest of us' Andy stated, annoyed with the frantic antics of his bipolar stepmother. 'I'm sorry, tough it out!' Christie laughed.

Just then Diane reappeared with a small black box in her hands. 'Robert would be so proud!' Diane told Andy as she walked over to him. 'I wish he was here to see you too making each other happy. I want you to have this.' She added while placing the box on the table. Andy grabbed the box and opened it. It was his late father wedding ring. 'I'll still get you a wedding present, I'm not cheep.' She joked.

Andy smiled looking down at the ring. 'It's priceless.' He said softly. 'If you want you can get it melted down into two rings, his and hers.' Regina said. Andy finally looked up from his ring 'Yea, I'd like that.' He told his sister. 'Christie?' Andy said. 'Yea... oh that's such a lovely thing to do Diane. Thank you.' She says starting to tear up. 'Oh you're gonna set me off as well.' Diane said smiling at the happy couple.

'Now get out the pair of you, and go to that jewellers.' Diane tells them. Christie got up first walking straight past Diane. When Andy got up he embraced Diane with a hug that seemed to go on a little bit too long. 'Andy we're going to be late' Christie said which finally broke up Andy and Diane's hug. Then Andy and Christie left to go to the jewellers.

'Aww' Rachel said to Diane. 'Hey it was a close call mind, he almost bought the rings.' She added. 'I know we stopped them in just the nick of time.' Diane sighed taking a seat at the table. Rachel followed suit and sat down as well.

'So, what did Bob say?' Regina asked. Diane looked down and sighed. 'Diane, you did call him. To run it past him too?' She questioned Diane. 'I didn't have time!' She blurted out raising her head. 'And Andy was just about to buy those other rings!' Regina sighed placing her head in her hands. 'Well,' Diane said getting up from the table. 'It's done now, and Bob will have sorted his ring out anyway.' She said while walking over to the door. 'I'll talk to him later.' She snarled.

Then she left.

~~~~

August 1st 1990

'You know Regina , when I get these rings I would like you to hold on to them for me.' Andy says to his younger sister. 'Why?' She questions him. 'Well I can't think of anyone else better for the job, some would say the best. The best woman.' He says trying to convey the message to her. But Regina doesn't get what he's trying to say and just shrugs it off.