"Hello to you too," said Rigsby.
"Hi, what are we doing here?" Mae replied.
"I'm going to propose to your aunt," Rigsby responded.
"What, when?" Mae asked.
"Either tonight or tomorrow night, depending on whether or not I find a ring here," Rigsby answered.
"And you want my help," Mae said, it wasn't a question.
"Yes," Rigsby replied.
"Well, what are we standing out here for?" Mae questioned.
Rigsby opened the door and they went inside. The jeweler greeted them and offered his assistance.
"What does your aunt like, gold, silver, or white gold?" Rigsby inquired.
"Silver," Mae responded.
"I want something with some color, I want it to be unique," said Rigsby.
"Any stone other than a diamond is unique, and so is silver," Mae replied.
"What does she like?" Rigsby pried.
"Emeralds, rubies, and sapphires," Mae responded.
Rigsby relayed this information to the jeweler.
"I knew she liked rubies, but I wasn't sure if she likes gold, silver, or white gold, because the necklace Jane gave her was rubies and diamonds set in gold. By the way do you think that is real or fake?" Rigsby said.
"Fake," Mae replied.
"It's real," Rigsby responded.
"What? No wonder she keeps it under lock and key," Mae said.
"She keeps it under lock and key?" Rigsby asked.
"Oh yes," Mae answered.
"Yeah, we had a case that required us to be in Nevada a lot, and Jane borrowed $100 from Lisbon and he won about $250,000, he got your aunt that necklace and the matching earrings, he got Lisbon and emerald and diamond necklace and earrings set in silver."
Mae's jaw dropped. "My dream."
"And he got Cho and I watches," Rigsby added as he held out his wrist.
Suddenly Mae grabbed Rigsby's wrist. "Is that a Rolex?"
"Yes, now let go of my wrist," Rigsby said.
Mae let go of Rigsby's wrist and started walking around the store. At one point she stopped at a display case that held a silver banded ring with a diamond flanked by emeralds.
"Rigsby," Mae called.
Rigsby came over. "What?"
"That one," Mae said as she pointed to the ring.
Rigsby called the jeweler over and he pulled the ring out. Rigsby examined the ring.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes," Mae replied.
"I think Mae likes it more than her aunt would," Rigsby responded.
"What? Diamonds are a girl's best friend," Mae said.
"Well, if I can't find anything else, I'll get this one," Rigsby replied.
Mae wondered aimlessly towards the back and peered into the display cases. At one point she came across a silver banded ring with a heart-shaped diamond flanked by rubies.
"Rigsby!" Mae hollered.
Rigsby turned away from his conversation with the jeweler and came over.
"What?" Rigsby asked.
"That one," Mae answered as she pointed to the ring.
"Oh, wow, that's amazing," said Rigsby. He motioned for the jeweler to come over. "Can you take that one out please?"
The jeweler unlocked the display case and handed the ring to Rigsby. After examining it carefully, he decided that it was the perfect ring.
"Could you put the other ring back?" Rigsby questioned.
The jeweler turned to go put the other ring back in its proper place.
"Wait, can I see that ring?" Mae inquired.
The jeweler nodded and brought the ring over. Mae tired the ring on and it fit perfectly, she sighed, she really loved that ring, too bad she couldn't have it.
Maybe Steven will buy it for me for my birthday. Mae thought.
"Maybe Steven will buy it for you for an engagement ring," said Rigsby.
Mae took the ring off and handed it back to the jeweler. Rigsby put a down-payment on the ring and they left.
"So what are you going to tell Aunt Grace?" Mae asked as they walked out.
"I'm just going to ask her if she wants to go out tonight," Rigsby answered.
"Where are you taking her?" Mae questioned.
"It's a tie between Kobe and Olive Garden," said Rigsby.
"Kobe, take here to Kobe," Mae replied.
"There's only one problem," Rigsby started.
"You don't get a table to yourself," Mae finished.
"Exactly." Rigsby thought for a moment. "Does she like Carrabba's?"
"Yes," Mae responded.
"Good, because we can get a nice, quiet table to ourselves; by the way, what are her favorite types of flower?" Rigsby said.
"Roses, epically pink and white," Mae replied.
"Pink and white roses, I'll remember that," Rigsby responded.
Suddenly, a familiar car pulled into the parking lot.
"Is that Steven's car?" Rigsby inquired.
"I think so," Mae said.
Sure enough, seconds later, Steven stepped out of his car. He didn't realize Rigsby and Mae were standing there until he was about two yards away.
"Mae?" Steven asked.
"Hey, fancy meeting you here," Mae answered.
"Hello Steven," said Rigsby.
"Hello sir," Steven replied.
"What are you doing here?" Rigsby questioned.
"My mom found an old ring that didn't fit her anymore, so she asked me to come pick it up. What are you two doing here?" Steven responded.
"Rigsby is going to propose to my aunt tonight, and he needed my help in picking out a ring," Mae said.
"Oh, well, I hope things go well," Steven replied.
"Thanks, now I'm going to go now. I'll see you later," Rigsby responded as he walked off.
"Want to come over tonight?" Mae inquired once Rigsby was gone.
"Sure," Steven said.
"All right, I'll call you about ten minutes after they leave," Mae replied.
"Sounds good," Steven responded.
Mae stretched up and gave Steven a kiss; they stood there for about ten seconds kissing when someone laid on the horn. They pulled back and saw that it was Rigsby who was laying on the horn.
"Mae, get in your car now!" Rigsby yelled.
"That's my cue, I'll call you later," Mae said.
"Love you," Steven replied.
"Love you too," Mae responded as she walked towards her car.
As soon as Steven was sure that Mae was gone he walked into the store and was greeted by the jeweler.
"I'm looking for a ring," said Steven, he felt completely lost.
"What for?" the jeweler asked.
"If all goes well, I'll be engaged," Steven answered.
"Aren't you a little young to be engaged?" the jeweler questioned.
"Haven't you heard of high school sweethearts?" Steven replied.
"There are not a lot of those anymore," the jeweler responded.
"I know she likes emeralds, and she likes silver," Steven said.
"There was a young lady in here just a bit ago who looked at one ring in particular, and she really liked it," the jeweler replied.
"Did she have red hair, green eyes, and was she with a man who looked to be in his 30s?" Steven inquired
"Yes," the jeweler responded
"She's the one," Steven said quietly.
The jeweler went and pulled out the ring that Mae had looked at. Steven examined the ring closely and decided that it was perfect. Steven ended up paying for the ring, in cash, and the jeweler was quite surprised.
"Thanks for helping me out," Steven said as he walked out.
"Anytime sir, and good luck," the jeweler replied.
At about 6:30 Rigsby came by and picked Grace up.
"Have fun," Mae said.
"Thanks, we will," Grace replied.
"Good luck," Mae mouthed to Rigsby.
"Thanks," Rigsby mouthed back.
About ten minutes after Grace and Rigsby left Mae called Steven.
"Hey," Steven said.
"Hey, they're gone," Mae replied.
"All right, I'll be there in a bit," Steven responded.
"Love you," Mae said.
"Love you too," Steven replied.
About ten minutes later there was a knock on the front door. Mae got up from the couch and answered the door.
"You must have sped over here," Mae said as she let Steven in.
"Well, there are two less cops on the road tonight," Steven replied.
"They're not cops, and you better not let them hear you call them that," Mae responded.
"May I have a grand tour of the house, since the last time I was here I was interrogated?" Steven asked.
"Sure," Mae answered. She gave Steven the grand tour, but skipped Grace's room, and last, but not least she showed him her room.
"Wow, this is nice, did you design it?" Steven questioned.
"Yes, but Aunt Grace helped me decorate it," Mae said.
"Have you ever considered majoring in interior design?" Steven inquired.
"Not really," Mae replied.
"You should, you're really good," Steven responded.
"Really?" Mae asked.
"Yes," Steven answered as he walked around the room, he came to a stop at the shelves. Steven looked at the picture of Mae and her parents. "Your parents?"
"Yes, I miss them," Mae said.
"I bet, your mom and your aunt look a lot alike," Steven replied.
"I know," Mae responded.
Steven then turned his attention to Snowy.
"To you, what does it look like?" Mae questioned.
"A wolf," Steven said.
"Thank you, because he thought it was a cross between a dog and a bear," Mae replied.
"Who? Rigsby?" Steven inquired.
"No," Mae responded.
"Then who?" Steven pried.
Mae gave him a knowing look.
"He was in here?"
"Yes," Mae said.
"When?" Steven pressed.
"When I was sick," Mae replied.
"Please stop, or else I might do something foolish," Steven responded.
Mae stretched up and gave Steven a kiss, and it soon became passionate. Before she knew it, she was flat on her back on her bed. When she needed air, she pulled back.
"I hope you don't mind," said Steven as he stripped off his shirt.
Mae sighed happily.
"You've just wanted to see me shirtless since the beach haven't you?"
"Can you blame me?"
"No, I guess not."
Steven and Mae went back to kissing, and then suddenly her phone began to vibrate. She pulled back, grabbed her phone and opened it. She saw that she had a new text. She opened the message, and saw that it was from Red John.
I thought you weren't going to go that far until after you were married.
Mae breathing became slightly heavy. What do you want?
Just keeping an eye on my baby girl.
I'm 18 not 8, I don't need to be watched.
Apparently you do.
No, I don't, besides how do you know what I'm doing?
You were the one who decided to stay under the covers.
YOU BUGGED MY ROOM?
I need to keep an eye on my baby girl.
"Steven, get up and put your shirt back on now," Mae said as she shut her phone.
"Why?" Steven asked.
"He bugged my room," Mae answered.
Steven quickly jumped up and put on his shirt. "When did he do that?"
"When he came in when I was sick," Mae said, "but I have a feeling he bugged the place before that."
"We need to find that bug," Steven replied.
"I agree," Mae responded.
After several minutes the found a small camera and a microphone right by Snowy and the picture of Mae and her parents. Steven and Mae took them out to the kitchen table and Mae grabbed a hammer out of the garage and smashed them to bits.
"Want to watch TV?" Mae asked.
"Sure," Steven answered.
"What do you want to drink?" Mae questioned.
"Do you have Dr. Pepper?" Steven inquired.
"Of course, regular or berries and cream?" Mae asked.
"Regular please," Steven said.
Mae grabbed one can of regular Dr. Pepper and one can of berries and cream out of the fridge, and then she joined Steven on the couch.
"Where are you planning on going to college?" Mae questioned.
"University of Sacramento," Steven replied.
"No way, that's where I'm going," Mae responded.
"That's amazing, Logan is going there too," Steven said.
"Aren't you two going on football scholarships?" Mae inquired.
"Yes," Steven answered.
"What are you going to major in?" Mae asked.
"I'm debating between two things," Steven replied.
"What?" Mae questioned.
"Business, and music," Steven responded.
"I also have some other things I've been considering for majors," Mae said.
"What?" Steven inquired.
"Acting, or law enforcement/criminal justice," Mae replied.
"Really?" Steven asked.
"Yes, Rigsby said I would make a good CBI agent, except for one thing," Mae answered.
"And what would that be?" Steven questioned.
"I brake too easily," Mae responded.
"And I didn't know you were into acting," Steven said.
"Yes, I took Drama every year, and I was in all the plays," Mae replied.
"I didn't know that," Steven responded.
"Well, now you do," Mae said.
"I love you so much," Steven replied.
"I love you too," Mae responded.
"No, I really mean it, I don't know what I would have done this summer if it weren't for you, I know we went through a rough patch, but it was my fault, I could honestly see us spending quite some time together," Steven said.
Mae had never known Steven felt that way. She reached up and stroked Steven's cheek and then she planted a soft kiss on his lips. "The summer isn't over yet."
"You're right," Steven replied.
Sometime later Mae's phone vibrated. She answered the phone. "Hello."
"Hey, we are on our way," Grace replied, she sounded really happy.
"All right, see you in a little bit," Mae responded before hanging up.
"Who was that?" Steven asked.
"Aunt Grace, she and Rigsby are on their way," Mae answered.
"Oh, will you be ok here by yourself?" Steven questioned.
"Yes I'll be fine," Mae said.
"I'll be right back," Steven replied as he got up off the couch. A few moments later Steven returned. "Close your eyes."
Mae closed my eyes and Steven placed something in her arms.
"Open your eyes."
Mae opened her eyes and saw Angel sitting in her arms.
"Angel wishes to keep you company."
"Well, that's very nice of her," Mae said.
"All right I'm going to go," Steven replied.
"I'll call you in little while to let you know how things went," Mae responded.
"Sounds good," Steven said.
"I love you," Mae replied.
"I love you too," Steven responded before giving her a kiss and leaving.
About twenty minutes after Steven left the door opened and Grace and Rigsby came in. Rigsby walked into the living room.
"This would be believable if you weren't holding Angel and one of the cans of Dr. Pepper were not here," said Rigsby.
Mae quickly got up and tossed one of the cans of Dr. Pepper. "So how did it go?"
"You little sneak," Grace answered.
"So I'm guessing all went well?" Mae questioned.
"Yes," Rigsby replied.
"I hate to ruin the moment, but there is something I have to show you," Mae responded.
"What?" Grace inquired.
She motioned them over to the table and showed them the smashed camera and microphone.
"What is it?" Rigsby pried.
"A smashed camera and microphone," Mae said.
"Where did it come from?" Grace pressed.
"He set it up," Mae replied.
"WHAT!" Grace exclaimed.
"We found them after he texted me," Mae responded.
"Who's 'we'?" Grace asked.
"Steven and I," Mae answered.
"Steven was here?" Grace questioned.
"Yes, you trusted us with a beach house for a weekend; can't you trust us with the house for just a few hours?" Mae said.
"I guess so," Grace replied.
"Well, I'm going to go to bed," Mae responded.
"All right, see you in the morning," said Grace.
Mae went into her room and called Steven.
"Hey, so how did it go?" Steven said.
"Great, I'm going to have Rigsby as an uncle," Mae replied.
"That's good, I guess," Steven responded.
"He might as well be my uncle already," Mae said.
"True. Hey, I won't be able to see you tomorrow, but can we go to dinner at Red Lobster?" Steven replied.
"Sure," Mae responded.
Suddenly, Steven became very serious. "Good, because I need to talk to you about something."
A/N: Thank you everyone who has read this story so far.
Lily: No, Steven didn't steal the necklace. Thanks for reviewing.
DebbieOz: It's Red John, what do you expect? Thanks for reviewing.
Until next time!
¬Forest Princess