"Jake?" Cassandra asked a slightly hesitant note in her voice.
"Yeah, darlin'?" Turning his head to look at her and wondering what could be wrong.
They were ring shopping, heading toward a vintage shop that Cassandra frequented, having not found anything they really liked at a more traditional jewelry store.
"Are you upset that I asked? I mean, stole your thunder or somehow," She winced, "Emasculated you?"
"Seriously?"Jake stopped dead and then looked around. There was a bench a couple of shops down and he motioned her toward it.
When they were seated, he turned to look at her. "Look, I would have done things differently . . .you know taken you back to that garden you loved in Paris. Got down on one knee. Probably recited some poetry. But that's me, we've already established that I'm a romantic and maybe a little old fashioned."
"It's the old fashioned part . . . ."
"Honey, as you reminded me, it's the 21st century. I agreed to wear a ring too, didn't I?"
She beamed. "You did. I'm a little surprised but then you're fond of jewelry."
"I am. Always wanted to wear a ring again but my job kinda made it difficult. I wore my class ring as long as I could get away with it. But to get back to your point, Cassandra, I want to marry you. I just wasn't sure if you were into marriage, so I didn't want to . . . .it doesn't matter. I'm happy okay? You didn't steal my thunder or take away my manhood or anything like that. " He leaned over and kissed her forehead. "You do deserve to have a fuss made over you . . .so don't expect the wedding to be in a hole in the wall. You owe me my over the top romantic gesture."
Cassandra giggled. In truth, she really didn't want that much of a fuss. But her fiancé was a romantic and she knew she did owe him the gesture. Besides, she trusted him to not make her uncomfortable.
"We haven't even talked about any of that. I didn't plan to actually ask like that. Glad I did, but still."
"We'll worry about that later." He grabbed one of her hands and kissed it. "Come on, let's get to that shop before they close."
Once inside the shop, they were approached by the shop's owner, a kindly older man. "Is there something I could help you folks find?"
Cassandra beamed. "We're looking for engagement rings." She looked over at Jake. "For both of us."
The man grinned. "A modern couple wanting vintage rings. Now if that doesn't say Portland, nothing does. Come on over to the counter, I have a few new things in."
The man had barely set the first set of rings in front of them when they both gasped.
"Jake . . . ."
"Cassie . .. that pearl one."
"I know! Oh, that's gorgeous. Can I try it on?"
The man held out the ring to her. "It's from the 1960s, though it's . . . ."
"Art deco." Jake grinned. "Revival in the 60s then?"
"Yes, as they say, everything comes around at least twice."
The ring was gold, a large pearl in the center. Three small diamonds sat on either side of the pearl, two in a rectangle and one in a square. It was just a little big for Cassandra's finger and she frowned.
"I can give you a referral to a goldsmith who can resize that for you."
Jake looked over at Cassandra who was speechlessly admiring the ring on her finger. "We'll take that one then."
"We don't have as big of a selection of men's rings, but hopefully you will find something you like." The owner pulled out the men's ring cases and set them on the counter. Jake figured he should get something that vaguely went with Cassandra's ring. But his eyes kept going toward one ring in the back row. He kept looking away, toward the few gold rings near the front. Cassandra was at his elbow and she watched him looking again at the silver and turquoise ring in the back. It featured a hexagon shaped turquoise and an Aztec inspired design etched into the silver.
"If you want that one, get it." She said softly.
"It's . . .I really like it. But it ain't gold."
She shrugged. "So what? We don't have to match."
"I could get a gold wedding band when we get married . . . ."
"That sounds perfect. Get what speaks to you. And that ring, well it's very you."
"Can I look at the turquoise?" Jake asked, pointing to the ring in the back.
Unlike the one Cassandra picked out, this one fit Jake's finger. He also experimented with putting it on his right, a little tight there but not too bad.
She lifted her eyebrows in question.
"I figured I could move it to the other hand . . . ."
"Oh, right."
"Alright, we'll take both of these and . . ." Jake grabbed two bracelets that had caught his eye when they came up to the counter. "Those. You see anything else, Cass? Like that brooch you're staring at?"
Cassandra giggled. "Alright and that too."
"If you could just box up my ring, I'm not going to wear it until she can."
After they left, with directions to the goldsmith, who happened to be in the next street over, Cassandra whispered, "Were you okay paying for that? Because I have some money in my account."
Jake grinned. "I looked at my account this morning and oddly, there was a couple grand more in there than I expected."
Cassandra looked at him wide eyed. "How did the Library . . . ."
"I don't even question anymore. I'd imagine that suddenly our income will increase when we get a bigger place too. The Library looks out for its own."
Since it was late in the day and the goldsmith had a few orders in front of him, Cassandra had to drop off her ring. The goldsmith promised a two day return.
"So," Jake asked, swinging their hands between them. "What do you want to do now?"
"I was reading about this really nice bistro . . .and then um I watched that two step video seven times. I think I have it now."
He beamed at her. "You didn't have to do that, you know. " At the look on her face, he continued. "But I think it's really sweet that you did. So where is this bistro?"
This chapter is a little short and I apologize. Next chapter will involve everyone (including Flynn) finding out about the engagement. It will also be the final chapter in Impossible for Breakfast. Don't worry though, the series will continue, just in individual stories. This one is just getting too long.
Ugh, so I could not get links to work here. So if you're interested in seeing what the rings look like, just PM me or let me know in the reviews (or check out th version of this story)
