“Very nice. A three-caret princess cut diamond with a white and rose gold setting. Diamond shoulders. It really is stunning.” She's paid to say that and no doubt would make the same comment about any of the rings in here. “Do you know the ring size?”
“No idea. Can it be altered?” I don’t know if she’ll even try it on or leave it in the box for a year.
“Of course. We offer a twenty-year guarantee. And alterations can be made at any point.”
“Great. I’ll take it.”
“You don’t want to look at anything else?”
“No, thank you.” Part of the reason I like this one is the two bands, the second wrapping around the diamond as if protecting it.
“Very well. I’ll get it all set up. I’ll be at the counter.”
With my bank balance rinsed, I leave the shop.
Turns out, I didn’t even need an hour to purchase the first, and arguably the most important, gift I’ll buy for Ivy, but before going back to Geoffrey, I grab a takeaway coffee and do the only other thing I need to do before confronting Ivy. Dan deserves to know what I plan. He’s been by my side, not only as my best friend but as Amanda’s brother, for years. This is an important next step in my life, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want him there for this as well. I just hope that he'll see that and not me betraying his sister somehow.
I pull up his number and hit call.
After a couple of rings, he answers, “Hey, good to hear from you. What you up to?”
“Ahh, I’m good, thanks. Thought I’d check in.”
“Always good to hear from you, mate.”
“I thought, well, there’s something I wanted to tell you, and just be warned this might be a bit of a shock.”
“You’re back off to some hell-hole country where you’ll be in immediate danger?” Dan’s guess is a fair one, but I’m glad he’s not right this time.
“Nope. I’m proposing to Ivy, the girl I’ve been seeing,” I blurt out.
“Pardon?”
“You heard,” I repeat calmly.
There’s a pause for a moment, and I check my phone’s still connected.
“God, you don’t hang around, do you.” Thankfully, his voice holds no sign of hostility or disapproval.
“Honestly, I’ve been sitting around for too long. I’m done with that.”
“It’s only been a few weeks. Are you sure about this?”
“About Ivy, yes. About putting a ring down in front of her? Hell no, but that’s not going to stop me.”
Saying that out loud actually helps me mentally prepare for what’s coming, even though there’s a ring in my pocket, and makes it more real.
Dan is quiet on the line again, but I don’t push him.
“Look, thanks for telling me, bud,” he eventually says.“You don’t owe me anything, and I appreciate it.”
“What? I owe you a helluva lot. You took my distant, grumpy arse for years and didn’t complain. You’ve always been there for me.” And that is the honest truth.
“And I always will. This won’t change that.”
I didn’t realise how much I needed to hear that until he said it. I smile, nodding to myself at what a true friend he's been.
“Look, we’ve got some stuff to figure out at the minute, but I’d really like you to meet her.”
