Ch. 32
So, Amelie was an artist.
That detail interested Daryl, a lot. Enough to where, when she brought him lunch that day, he pulled her aside to question her about what skills she had.
"Well," she started, "My favorite medium is painting, but I have done other projects."
"Anything like jewelry?"
Amelie smiled.
"We have no precious stones here, but yes, I have made jewelry before."
"Like… rings, maybe?"
"I could try, but I am better at necklaces. I can work with wire. Why do you ask?"
"Because," Daryl said, "I want you to teach me. Teach me to make something for Carol, so I can ask her to marry me."
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Amelie happily agreed to the project. It was to be kept secret, of course, until it was complete and the time was right for Daryl to propose.
In the end, they decided on making Carol a pendant using wire and a pretty looking rock that Amelie had found.
She had been searching for days, looking for the perfect stone. While there were no diamonds or rubies or emeralds, the streams contained numerous rounded rocks which varied in color.
Daryl settled on a pinkish-purple stone that he felt reminded him best of Carol. Amelie did not have much wire to work with, so she slowly taught him what to do, making a pendant of her own. Perhaps she would give it to Rick when she was finished.
"So, we use the pliers to bend the wire around the pencil to make a loop," she explained. She showed Daryl how to do it while she spoke.
She watched as he mimicked her actions, his rough hands somehow doing the delicate work perfectly.
"And then, we begin wrapping from front to back."
It took Daryl a few tries to get the wrapping the rock part of it right, but after an hour or so, he managed to do it.
"Finally," he said, setting the finished pendant down. He looked it over. "Do you think she'll like it?"
"She will love it!" Amelie reassured him. "She loves you, and she will love this gift, and she will accept your hand in marriage- I am sure of it!"
"Now I need to find something to put it on."
Amelie smiled.
"Not to worry."
From her pocket, she produced two strands of black leather string.
"Are you sure?" Daryl asked. "I mean, I just used all your wire -"
Amelie cut him off.
"I was able to bring a few pieces of my supplies with me when we came. I never had a use for these until now. They are too short to do much good for anything besides this. We will put her pendant on one of the strings."
"Thanks," Daryl replied, "Really."
"Of course! Love is a beautiful thing, and I am happy you've found it."
"I'm happy you've found it too. You and Rick seem happy."
Amelie blushed.
"Oui. I am happy. After my husband…" She trailed off momentarily, trying to push the painful memory of his death away. "After my husband was killed, I never thought I would find anyone else. But Rick… Rick is spécial."
Daryl snorted.
"That he is."
"He makes me feel… I think you would say, complete. And he is good with my boy, too."
With that, Amelie finished tying a small knot at the ends of the leather strip, thus finishing the necklace.
"Now," she said, handing it over to Daryl, "Do you know when you're going to ask her?"
"Oh, I have an idea," Daryl answered. "It won't be too long from now at all."