Epilogue
"Ruth! Ruth quick!"
She ran downstairs expecting some travesty with the turkey at least. The back door was open, suddenly she wondered if something really had happened.
She raced to the door and down the step.
"What? What's wrong?"
Harry looked up.
Ruth looked up and she felt the cold wetness hit her face.
"It's snowing," he said, somewhat unnecessarily.
"Oh, Harry," she looked so excited that if he didn't already love her he would have done.
"Are you happy, Ruth?"
"Well….." she said haltingly.
"What do you mean 'well'?
"Well…"
"Ruth?"
"I was going to say, if you'd let me finish.." she looked at him.
He said nothing and waited.
"I was going to say that, well, on a scale of 1 to 10, I'm at about…"
"Yes?"
"…Ten."
He smiled, "Oh right then you won't want this then," he said teasingly holding something in his left hand unseen.
"I think I might."
"No, not if you're so happy. You don't need it."
"I've slipped to a 7, now give me it, Harry, before we dip below 5."
He laughed and opened his palm. Lying at his centre was a simple but truly beautiful diamond and sapphire ring.
"Oh, Harry" she said and took it eagerly from him and slipped it on her finger.
"How are we doing now, Ruth?"
She looked adoringly at him for a moment.
"Oh past 10, in fact we're off the scale, Harry. Way, way off the scale."
"Come inside out of the snow and show me. Show me Ruth."
"What about the turkey?"
"Stuff the turkey" he said and kissed her, dragging the door shut behind them.