Chapter 37

The sales lady's eyes lit up at that and she was reaching for one of the most expensive rings on the tray when Daria replied, "You asked me if I see one I like. That one is perfect."

"Well then, let's see how it looks," he said, picking up the ring and sliding it onto her finger.

It was just a bit tight, but the clerk said that it could be taken care of if that was the one she wanted. Sorry to lose the higher commission, she still knew that a happy customer was a returning customer.

Daria assured AJ that she loved the ring, so the clerk took it to the back to have it sized.

"Have you thought about a date yet, darling? I'm wondering if we should go ahead and get our wedding bands now?"

"I want to be your wife as soon as possible. How does Memorial Day weekend sound? That's just two months away…"

"If you think you can be ready by then, I think it sounds wonderful. If that's the case, we should look at bands while we're here."

She settled on a plain gold band to rest next to her lovely flower ring, not wanting anything to take away from the beauty of it. AJ found a wider, heavier band with a sapphire in the center flanked by a diamond on either side. When the clerk came back AJ pointed out what else they wanted. After he was fitted and the bands were taken to be resized, he picked up her engagement ring and lovingly slid it on her finger.

"I love you, Daria."

"And I love you, AJ," she answered, placing a quick kiss on his lips. "Do you think Adele would be my maid of honor?"

"Don't you have friends you've known longer?"

"There are the two other female doctors in my practice, but I would like to have her…she's family after all."

"If that's what you want, I'm sure she'll be honored. You could ask her tonight at dinner."

"I bet she cries," Daria guessed with a tender smile.

"I'm sure she will!" he chuckled. "Okay, I have one more quick stop to make and then we will be back to the house for dinner."

"What stop, AJ?"

"I have a bottle of Callisto's wine on hold for us. I remember how much you liked it."

"Oh, wonderful! Has Adele had any of it?"

"No, I don't think so."

"She'll love it!"

"I'm sure she will. Now, I'll drop you at your car, then get the wine and be home as soon as I can."

"Home…that sounds so nice."

He kissed Daria with a grin and sent her on her way.

Daria arrived at the house before AJ and went in to see if Adele needed any help with the meal. With a smile, Adele shooed her out of the kitchen, telling her to go play with the baby.

When Adele was at a point in the meal preparations to take a break she came out to set the table with Daria insisting on helping her. It was then that Adele noticed her engagement ring. Taking hold of Daria's hand she turned it this way and that admiring it. "Oh, Daria, it's lovely! I'm so happy for you and AJ! Not that the big lug deserves someone as sweet as you!"

The younger woman laughed and hugged Adele. "Are you happy enough for me to be my maid of honor?" she asked, just as AJ came into the house.

Adele took a step back to look at the taller woman. When she saw that Daria was serious, her tears started to flow. "I would be so honored!" she said, hugging her.

AJ and his fiancée shared grins over Adele's head. They had been right about her tears.

Then Adele said something that got the other two a bit misty-eyed as well. "I'm sure that Francesca would be happy to know that Robby will have a daddy and a mommy to raise him."

Daria and AJ looked at each other as she replied, "Thank you Adele. I know I never met her, but I hope she would be glad to know how much I love both Robby and AJ."

To be continued…