Page 49 of A Taste of Grace

“Kimberle, meet Dr. Grace Toliver. Grace, this is Elder Peyton’s daughter, Kimberle.

“You must be a special woman to catch the eye of Pastor C. He told me your engagement isn’t public, so I’m honored to play a small part in this process. Here’s your special order.” Kimberle pushed the box toward Caleb, who picked it up and opened it close to his face before closing it again.

“Close your eyes, sweetheart, and hold out your ring finger. Don’t open them until I tell you to.”

“What are you up to?” I pursed my lips and squinted before doing as Caleb asked.

He held my hand steady as cool metal slid up my ring finger. It had to be my engagement ring. We’d been engaged for weeks, but he declared he hadn’t found the right one.

“Open your eyes.”

When I looked down, I gasped and extended my arm with my fingers spread wide.

“It’s…everything.”

The ring was set high with an oval center stone and two smaller diamonds on each side. It was a showstopper yet simple. I placed my right hand over my mouth, staring at the striking ring from multiple angles as it glimmered under the store lights.

Kimberle grinned at us as if she mined the clear-cut diamonds herself.

“Is it big enough?” Caleb held my hand as he lifted it and inspected from all angles.

“Are you kidding me? It’s perfect.”

“Check out the engraving.” He pulled the ring from my finger and handed it to me.

I raised it to my eyes and read out loud, “Chosen. Cherished. Covered.”

This amazing man is going to have me in a puddle.

“I wanted to give it to you here because of what it represents. The oval is you, and the stones on either side are Hannah and Esther. Because of them, I moved forward in my pursuit of you. They will be your girls as much as they are mine.”

“Oh, Caleb…”

Tears filled my eyes as I thought about the day in its entirety. God truly loved me. I could not have designed a more beautiful gift to represent the next phase of my life.

Kimberle handed me a tissue.

“I’ll give you two a moment. Let me know when you need me.”

“Thank you.” I dabbed my eyes and moved with Caleb to a private lounge at the side of the store.

When I sat, he slid the ring back on my finger before kissing my knuckle.

“It’s too big and flashy for what we have going on. This is a ring for arealwife.”

He sat closer to me on the couch. As always, I melted when the scent of his cologne enveloped me. He lifted my chin and peered deeply into my eyes.

“Sweetheart, you will be my wife in every way. I don’t know what I have to do to convince you that all of this is real. You are the queen God sent for me, so please get comfortable sitting onyour throne. I’m going to spoil you rotten. Okay?” He kissed my cheek then rose.

“Yes, King.”

I followed him back to the jewelry case. With a slight head nod toward Kimberle, he called out, “This is perfect, Kimberle.”

Caleb stroked my cheek with his thumb.

“Will you wear it for our announcement on Sunday, sweetheart?”

I nodded and extended my hand again, knowing this ring made my engagement to Caleb real. For our marriage to be believable and endorsed by those Caleb served, we needed to include them in our engagement and wedding in some way. Caleb wasn’t going to let me remain hidden. It was time for me to get used to it.

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