The group broke up then but Daisy’s fear and frustration was long-lasting.
* * *
“I do.”
“I do”
“I now pronounce you married.”
Oliver looked over at Anabelle. She was radiant in a mid-calf taupe dress. He couldn’t believe this was happening.
Someone was speaking to him. Was it his iPod? He opened his eyes. Shit. He was in bed and dreaming. Disappointed, Oliver stared at the ceiling. He thought he and Anabelle were married.
Finally, he dragged himself out of bed. Turned up the music and went to his bathroom. As he brushed his teeth, he thought about the dream. He’d been so happy. He washed his face, stared at himself in the mirror. And suddenly he knew.
He made it through the day but as each hour passed, he got more and more excited. His last appointment was at 3 so at 4:30, he headed out in his car. He drove directly to Lanyard Gems, the place Finn had gotten Elise’s ring and Oliver had gone along with his buddy. He walked inside. The place was deserted, so it didn’t take long to find the ring cases. When the clerk came over, he asked, “Do you have anything a bit more unusual?”
The woman led him to the other side of the counter, unlocked another case and set a tray in front of him.
He saw it right away and asked her to take it out.
“The main diamond is two carats.”
Little diamonds encrusted the big one. Then medium sized sapphires entwined on the band, then little diamonds went halfway around the platinum.
“That’s it,” he said joyfully. “That’s perfect for her.”
He got home, showered and dressed in his favorite taupe suit then headed out whistling. He was meeting Anabelle at The Lakeside Grill. He wouldn’t do anything hokey for her tonight, though. No ring at the bottom of a champagne glass or buried in custard.
“Hi,” he said, kissing her cheek when he arrived. The atmosphere was hushed and the lights dim. Still he could see how beautiful she was in an off-white dress with one shoulder bare. Her hair was up in some kind of knot with tendrils escaping to her cheeks.
“You look breath-taking.”
“Hi, to you, too.” He sat across from her. “And you look…more than happy. Excited.”
“I am.”
“Did you have a break in the case?”
“No.” He signaled the waiter. “Bring us some Kendal Jackson Chardonnay.” She didn’t like champagne.
“How was your day?” he asked to pass the time until they could toast.
“Very busy. I did two surgeries.”
“Planned?”
“Yes.”
“Did they pick a head of cardio yet?”
“Uh-huh. The guy I recommended when I turned it down.”
The wine finally arrived. After the waiter poured, Oliver lifted his glass. “A toast to us.”
“To us.”
She set hers down. “Now tell me what’s got you so exhilarated.”