why not?

chapter 14: the perfect ring

chapter 14: the perfect ring

Tristain's POV

Cate and I pull up into the local jewelers and we hop out. 

"My close friend runs this place and she's splendid. I'm sure you'll find Lila's ring here"

"Thanks Auntie" I say and walk inside. I'm bombarded by the blindling light of hundreds of diamons and crystals. There's a woman behind the counter with specs, polishing a case of rings of some sort.

"Excuse me" I interrupt.

"Another British person" she replies, exasperated. The woman pulls of her spectacles and walks around the stands to greet me. She's short and on the round side with messy, birds-nest blond hair. 

"I'm Rebecca" she says ,sticking her hand out. I shake it warmly and hear the door open as Cate follows by, shuffling her phone in her hand bag.

"Cate!" cries the woman. Auntie Cate smiles and they hug. I can't help but notice their chests touch. How awkward to be a girl.

"I'm here with my nephew. He's trying to find a ring for his...lover" 

I'm surprised that she supports me. I mean...I love her daughter but I'm her nephew! I feel a rush of gratitude towards all the Parris family. Always so friendly, warm and accepting.

"Ah! An engagement ring or a wedding one?" She asks, peering over her specs at me with a stern, grandmother like quality.

"Neither. It's just...a ring. I hope you can engrave them"

"I can"

"Then do you happen to have a silver ring? A simple one"

"I do" 

"May I purchase and engrave it?"

"Yes" I'm afraid she's going to make me ask all day long, but this time she quickly walks through her shop and waves me over to join her. She takes a ring out of the showcase and holds it out towards me.

"I suppose this is it?" she asks. The ring is simple and plan and thin and perfect. I'm suddenly starting to regret my choice though. Girls like shiny, expensive things, right? God, what if she doesn't like this?!

I turn desperately towards Cate.

"Am I wrong? Is my idea too simple? Maybe I should get her a diamond ring?" 

"No" she says sternly, "Get this, because you and I both know that Lila doesn't care about diamonds or jewels. She refuses to wear earrings and rarely wears necklaces or bangles"

I breathe in and out and calmly purchase the ring and have it engraved. Rebecca, for the first time through the whole visit, smiles and me and says, "Good luck, she'll love it"

Ah, Buddhmas in three days. Everything is set.

On the ride home, Cate and I talk.

"How did it happen? When did you start fancying Lila?"

"I think I've always fancied her, but I never realised it. I think it might have been now, that it hit me"

"What do you love most about her?"

"That's a hard question. I love everything about her, but what stands out is how nice she is, to everyone, no matter how upset she is"

Cate chuckles at my answer.

"I haven't a clue where she learned to be like that. When I'm upset, all hell breaks loose. When Tom is upset, he broods around till someone apologises. When Lila's upset, she forgives"