Page 65 of Not Yet Yours
“Just a very short engagement,” I laugh. “We have a trip booked in two months’ time and we decided to do it there.”
“So much easier than organizing an entire wedding,” Michael says with a smile. “What kind of wedding band would you like?”
I look at Harriet.
“Something plain for me,” she says. I open my mouth to argue but she shakes her head and explains quickly. “I’ve always liked just a plain gold band, but could it possibly be white gold to match my engagement ring?”
I glance at Michael who nods to confirm that is possible.
“And just a plain yellow-gold band for me, please,” I say.
“Very well,” Michael says, and he disappears and returns again.
This time, he has two smaller trays, one with yellow gold bands, which he places down in front of me, and one with white gold bands, which he places down in front of Harriet.
We both select a band. They are both plain and mine is a little thicker than Harriet’s. Michael measures my finger and notes that down.
“Let me get those ordered for you,” he says.
He goes to a computer and types for a bit and then he comes back with a printed copy of the order which he hands to me.
“Will you be paying now or when you collect the rings, Sir?” he asks.
“I’ll pay now if that’s ok then if I’m at work, I can have someone else collect them for me,” I say. “Will that be ok?”
“Of course, Sir,” Michael says. “Just have the person collecting them bring the receipt in with them.”
Michael walks back over to the computer which I realize is attached to his till.
“So that’s one hundred and seventy-three thousand dollars for the engagement ring,” he says to himself as he types the figure into the till.
I feel Harriet freeze beside me, and I shake my head at her. I rub my thumb and my two fingers together in a money gesture.
“Remember?” I whisper.
She nods.
“And if it makes you feel any better, that’s about middle of the road pricewise. It’s not like you picked the most expensive one,” I say.
I would have said something along those lines anyway, but it’s actually true, and I am glad I said it because I can see Harriet visibly relax a little bit when she hears it.
“One thousand, seven hundred and seventy-five dollars for the first wedding band, and nine hundred and fifty dollars for the other wedding band,” Michael says. He presses a button andcomes over to us. “Your total with tax, Sir,” he says as shows me the total on the credit card machine.
I get my wallet out and hand my credit card over. Michael runs it through and returns it with my receipt.
“Thank you for your purchase,” Michael says. “Remember to keep your receipt safe for collection. The rings should be in within the week. Can I take a contact number so I can call you when they come in, please?”
I give Michael my cell phone number which he adds to the computer and then he smiles.
“All done,” he says. “Congratulations to you both. Enjoy your wedding.”
“Thank you,” Harriet and I say at once, and laughing, we leave the store.
As soon as the door closes behind us, Harriet turns to me.
“When you did your whole ‘the wedding will be like me buying a cup of coffee’ speech, were you really expecting my engagement ring to be that price?” she demands.
“Honestly, no,” I say. I rush on before she can insist on canceling the order or anything. I grin at her. “I was expecting it to be double that price.”