“Engagement?” she asked.
“Yeah.”
“Do you have something specific in mind?” the woman asked.
I stared at the rings, but none of them felt like Paige.
“Not yet.”
“Tell me about her,” she said.
“She’s not traditional, and she doesn’t do anything the way people expect her to.”
“So, she’s strong and independent?”
“Yes.” I smiled. “She’s one of the strongest I’ve ever met and extremely independent.”
“Come with me,” she said, leading me to another case in the back filled with more diamonds.
I scanned the rings, row by row. One quickly caught my attention.
“Can I see that one?” I pointed.
“Excellent choice.” She removed the ring and handed it to me.
I held it up and examined it. A beautiful white-gold 2-carat oval-cut diamond sat at the center, with smaller diamonds circling the band. I pictured in my mind how it would look on her finger.
“I’ll take it.”
“Would you like to know the price first?” she asked.
“Doesn’t matter. She’s worth every penny.” I smiled.
After heading back to the office and showing my brothers the ring, I went home. I was surprised when I pulled into the driveway and saw Paige’s car.
Stepping inside the house, I set my briefcase down and loosened my tie.
“Paige?” I called out.
“Upstairs.”
I walked up the stairs and stopped when I stepped into the bedroom. Paige was standing sideways in front of the full-length mirror, with her hand on her belly.
“I’m starting to show,” she said.
A smile crossed my lips as I took off my suit coat, tossed it on the bed, and walked over to her. Wrapping my arms around her, my hands covered her belly, feeling the baby bump that was already forming.
“Now, it’s real,” she said. “I mean, I knew it was real. But now it’s evident.”
“Are you okay?” I asked, sensing a different tone in her voice.
“I am. I guess I’m going to have to go shopping for some new clothes.”
“I guess you will.” I kissed the back of her head. “I have a feeling our baby is going to grow fast.”
“I’ll be fat.”
“You’re beautiful.”