Chapter 11
Six months later Samantha came home covered in snow from the blizzard going on outside.
"Hey, I located the last doll in New York city. One 'Katie does everything' for Miss Katie Malone."
She shivered as she turned round and was rendered speechless by the sight in front of her. Since he had started in his new position he had been getting home earlier than her and today he had chosen to spend his time adorning their apartment with Christmas decorations. He was just finishing the tree.
She laughed and quipped, "It looks like Santa Claus and his elves threw up in here!"
"Its great isn't it?" He said choosing to ignore her putdown.
She went over to him and hugged him from behind, lightly kissing his back.
"Hey, hey, no fraternising until the tree is fully operational, go on." He said as she turned giving her butt a playful pat.
She flopped down on the sofa, taking a sip from the beer that he'd opened for himself. Watching him work she knew how much she truly loved him. He happily worked away plugging in the lights.
"Would you like to do the honours?" He asked her, handing her the control for the lights.
"Absolutely. I now declare the Malone/Spade Christmas decorations officially open!" She said grandly.
She flipped the switch as Jack clapped wildly.
They laughed and flopped down onto the sofa. He looked around the apartment. It was once just a shell that he slept in. Since he started seeing Samantha, she had encouraged him to decorate it. Now, with her there and little bits of her stuff scattered all over it was home.
"So, what am I getting for Christmas?" She asked, snuggling against him.
"Me, naked, gift wrapped."
"Ooh, best Christmas ever!" She said kissing him.
She pulled back eyeing him carefully. "Seriously?" He laughed.
"No, I've got something in mind for you. I'll be gone most of Saturday getting it and no, you can't come."
She pouted but he kissed it away.
On Saturday he picked up Vivian at her house and quizzed him about the nature of their trip while they drove back into the city again.
"What's going on Jack, surely you can pick out something for Samantha without me tagging along, getting jealous of her present."
"This is a special present and I need a woman's opinion."
Vivian looked at him and said,
"It's not lingerie, is it? If you take me to Victoria's Secret you are sucking your Turkey through a straw Malone."
He laughed at the thought of him and Vivian in Victoria's Secret. Although, he though to himself, that might not be a bad idea. He put that one away for later.
They stopped on a side street and parked.
"Come on, lot's to see." He said as he hurried along. She struggled to keep up, amazed at his enthusiasm.
He stopped abruptly at a small jewellery store and opened the door for her, trying to ignore the huge beaming smile on her face.
"You want make an honest woman outta her don't you?"
He winked at her as the assistant asked if he could help.
"Yes, I'm looking for an engagement ring for my girlfriend."
"Of course Sir and may I say congratulations to you both."
Jack and Vivian exchanged mortified looks and eventually laughed. The assistant understood the joke and motioned for them to follow him to the counter.
He took out three large trays of rings and told them to take their time.
"Yikes! Who knew there'd be so many?" Vivian exclaimed, mesmerised by the jewellery.
They both leaned on the counter on their elbows to get a better look at the dazzling array of diamond rings.
"Ok, so do you know any specifics about what kind of jewellery she likes?" Vivian asked.
Jack thought for a second and said,
"Well, one day we were outside Tiffany's and she said that she liked the platinum ones. I do too."
"That's a start."
They put the platinum rings in the middle of their view and scanned them, waiting for one to jump out at them.
"Ooh, look at that one." Vivian almost drooled at a large diamond.
"Viv, come on, focus."
"Hey, you've brought a woman into a jewellery store. You should have been aware of the consequences."
Jack rolled his eyes and continued the search.
"Oh my God! That's it, that's the one, what do you think?" He exclaimed as he held one up for Vivian to see.
"Wow! I think I'd marry you for that ring!" Vivian quipped as she stared, fixatedly on the beautiful ring. It had a platinum band with a simple nice-sized diamond in the middle. Jack smiled and sighed. It had Samantha written all over it.
"Excuse me Sir?" Jack called the assistant over.
He took the ring from Jack and held it up to the light.
"Ah, that's an excellent choice. Beautifully set on the band. Plus, if you'll notice it sits a little way out from the band, which means that it and your fiancée's wedding ring will be a perfect fit."
Jack and Vivian smiled at each other. Jack and the assistant talked about ring sizes and payment methods while Vivian looked on. This is it, she thought. Thinking back to the days when Samantha used to cry on her shoulder about Jack, she never thought this day would come for them. But now it had she was happier than she could say.
As he drove her home he was grinning the whole way.
"You better take that smile off your face or she's going to suss you out as soon as you walk through the door."
He laughed.
"So when are you going to do it?" She asked.
"Christmas Day." He said firmly, he'd obviously had this planned for a while.
As she got out she leaned back into the car and looked at Jack. He was the most content and happy she had ever seen him and she was truly glad about that.
"I'm really happy for you guys Jack."
"Thanks for doing this today Viv."
"I wouldn't have missed looking at gorgeous rings I could have had for the world." She paused and got serious for a moment.
"I'm so sorry about what I said to you. You know, when I said you'd screwed Samantha and dumped her like garbage? I didn't mean it, I was so mad at you for lots of reasons and then I didn't know how to take it back. I'm glad we're friends again. I really am."
He reached over and squeezed her hand.
"Me too, Viv. Don't worry about it, I deserved it. It's all in the past now though. We're starting a new chapter with this." He said as he held up the ring box.
She smiled. "I'll see you Monday."
"You sure will."
As he drove away he exhaled. Glad that the air had been cleared between them. He valued her friendship almost as much as he valued Samantha's love and it had hurt when she had said that to him. But then, the truth always does he thought to himself.