"Harriet can I see you in my office?" Harm asked the next day.
"Yes sir." Harriet got up from her desk and followed Harm to his office and waited while he closed the door. "How can I help sir?"
"I understand you talked to Mac yesterday."
"Yes sir. We had lunch." Harriet confirmed.
"She told you I proposed."
"Yes sir, congratulations by the way."
"Thank you. I need to go and buy a ring I was wondering if you could help me."
"I can't sir; Colonel Mackenzie called earlier and asked me not to help you. She said that this was something that should be chosen from your heart so you should choose it yourself."
"She's quick. If you can help me any suggestions as to who can?"
"She's probably called all the women you know sir, so if you're really can't pick one yourself as one of your male friends. But this really is something you should choose yourself sir. This is something she'll have for a long time, she'll love anything you buy because it's from you."
"Thanks Harriet."
"One hint sir, don't buy anything too big or gaudy, simple and classic is the best option."
"Thank you." Harm winked at her. "You'd better get back to work."
"Yes sir."
~ ~ ~
"Hey Sturgis." Harm said as he entered the kitchen.
"Sorry Mac called I can't help. But congratulations anyway."
"Did she call everyone?" Harm sighed.
"Looks like it. She wants you to choose something yourself. Good luck." He slapped his arm. "I'll see you later."
"Thanks." Harm said sarcastically.
"Anytime."
~ ~ ~
Saturday 0938 A jewellers somewhere in DC
"Can I help you sir?" A perky shop assistant asked Harm.
"I'm looking for an engagement ring."
"Did you have anything specific in mind?"
"Not really, my fiancée is pretty definite about the fact I choose it myself. She called all my friends and told them not to help me."
"I see. Well lets start at the beginning what type of setting do you want we have gold, white gold, platinum and silver."
"White Gold I think."
"Okay, next step do you want a diamond?" She asked "Or does she have another favourite gemstone?"
"Maybe a diamond with some other stones?"
"Did you want a large stone?"
"No, she said to get something that was practical. You see she's a Marine judge and we have a two and half month old daughter, she doesn't want anything to big that will get in her way."
"If you give me a few minutes I'll be back with a selection for you to look at."
"Thanks." Harm murmured nervously.
She returned a few minutes later with a tray of rings. Harm looked at the rings, honestly what did he know about picking a ring. He remembered the ring Mic had brought Mac they had been engaged. He'd hated that ring, he'd been glad when Mac had returned it and told him that she wouldn't marry him.
"So does anything jump out at you sir?" The assistant asked.
"That one." Harm pointed out the ring which stood out and thought about how it reminded him of Mac, delicate, striking and make a definite impression. The ring consisted of a small diamond, each side mounted with sapphires and amethysts.
"It's a good choice sir," The assistant held it out for him to see. Harm examined the ring, he took a look at the other ones.
"I'll take this one."
"Did you want the matching wedding band?" The assistant asked.
"Yes."
"What ring size is your fiancée?" Harm told her, she returned a few seconds later with two ring boxes. "Was there anything else sir?" She asked.
"No thank you."
"If you just come to the till we'll take care of the bill."
"Yes sir." Harriet got up from her desk and followed Harm to his office and waited while he closed the door. "How can I help sir?"
"I understand you talked to Mac yesterday."
"Yes sir. We had lunch." Harriet confirmed.
"She told you I proposed."
"Yes sir, congratulations by the way."
"Thank you. I need to go and buy a ring I was wondering if you could help me."
"I can't sir; Colonel Mackenzie called earlier and asked me not to help you. She said that this was something that should be chosen from your heart so you should choose it yourself."
"She's quick. If you can help me any suggestions as to who can?"
"She's probably called all the women you know sir, so if you're really can't pick one yourself as one of your male friends. But this really is something you should choose yourself sir. This is something she'll have for a long time, she'll love anything you buy because it's from you."
"Thanks Harriet."
"One hint sir, don't buy anything too big or gaudy, simple and classic is the best option."
"Thank you." Harm winked at her. "You'd better get back to work."
"Yes sir."
~ ~ ~
"Hey Sturgis." Harm said as he entered the kitchen.
"Sorry Mac called I can't help. But congratulations anyway."
"Did she call everyone?" Harm sighed.
"Looks like it. She wants you to choose something yourself. Good luck." He slapped his arm. "I'll see you later."
"Thanks." Harm said sarcastically.
"Anytime."
~ ~ ~
Saturday 0938 A jewellers somewhere in DC
"Can I help you sir?" A perky shop assistant asked Harm.
"I'm looking for an engagement ring."
"Did you have anything specific in mind?"
"Not really, my fiancée is pretty definite about the fact I choose it myself. She called all my friends and told them not to help me."
"I see. Well lets start at the beginning what type of setting do you want we have gold, white gold, platinum and silver."
"White Gold I think."
"Okay, next step do you want a diamond?" She asked "Or does she have another favourite gemstone?"
"Maybe a diamond with some other stones?"
"Did you want a large stone?"
"No, she said to get something that was practical. You see she's a Marine judge and we have a two and half month old daughter, she doesn't want anything to big that will get in her way."
"If you give me a few minutes I'll be back with a selection for you to look at."
"Thanks." Harm murmured nervously.
She returned a few minutes later with a tray of rings. Harm looked at the rings, honestly what did he know about picking a ring. He remembered the ring Mic had brought Mac they had been engaged. He'd hated that ring, he'd been glad when Mac had returned it and told him that she wouldn't marry him.
"So does anything jump out at you sir?" The assistant asked.
"That one." Harm pointed out the ring which stood out and thought about how it reminded him of Mac, delicate, striking and make a definite impression. The ring consisted of a small diamond, each side mounted with sapphires and amethysts.
"It's a good choice sir," The assistant held it out for him to see. Harm examined the ring, he took a look at the other ones.
"I'll take this one."
"Did you want the matching wedding band?" The assistant asked.
"Yes."
"What ring size is your fiancée?" Harm told her, she returned a few seconds later with two ring boxes. "Was there anything else sir?" She asked.
"No thank you."
"If you just come to the till we'll take care of the bill."