Page 16 of Wishes at Water's Edge
“You’re right.” Hazel saluted him. “I’ve got to take this mission of mine seriously. Not only is it going to be the most fun I’ve had all year, it’s got to be top secret.”
Dean grinned. “The most fun you’ve had all year, huh?”
“Oh, absolutely. Helping you pick out an engagement ring for Noelle? I absolutely cannot wait. Besides, I think I’m pretty good at knowing what kinds of things other women will like. I thinkNoelle will want something beautiful and classic, but also on the more delicate side. Nothing too flashy.”
“Yeah? I was kind of thinking I would just buy her the biggest diamond I can afford. Maybe a square cut? One of those really big, flashy diamonds.”
Hazel blinked at him. “Are you joking?”
“No.” Dean laughed. “Why would I be joking? I want to buy her a really expensive-looking ring. Then everyone will know how much I love her.”
Hazel shook her head. “Everyone will know you love her because you proposed. Most women want a ring that they like more than they want a giant diamond, and I know Noelle is that type. Can you really imagine her with some giant flashy stone on her hand?”
“I can—it would look great on her.”
“But can you imagine her picking it out for herself?”
“Ah. Okay, I see your point.”
Hazel chuckled. “This is why you have me. Come on, twin, let’s go inside the jewelry store.”
They stepped inside the cool, well-lit store. Glass cases displayed glittering rings, bracelets, and necklaces, and over the loudspeakers, soft jazz music was playing. Dean felt suddenly very out of place, and he felt sweat break out on the back of his neck.
“Um, how does this work?” he asked Hazel in a low voice. “What do we do?”
Hazel thumped him on the back. “Don’t look so nervous. You look as jittery as you would be if you were proposing to her right at this moment.”
He chuckled and shook his head. “I guess I am a little nervous. All of a sudden it feels like such a big deal.”
“It is a big deal. Commitment is a huge undertaking.” For a moment, Hazel stared into space with a frown, but then herexpression changed and she smiled at her twin brother. “But I know you’re sure you want to do this, and I’m sure Noelle wants it too. So chin up and onward.”
“It’s not that I’m scared of commitment,” Dean said. “I know I want to marry her. It’s that this whole proposal thing suddenly seems really daunting.”
Hazel grinned at him. “It does, huh? Well, don’t let yourself be nervous about it yet. Noelle isn’t here right now, remember? You’re still in the rehearsal phase. The performance comes later.”
“You’re right, but—” Dean gestured helplessly to all of the display cases that surrounded them. “I don’t even know where to begin. There are so many options.”
“Hey, that’s why you have me, remember? We’ll start looking, and as soon as one of us sees something that we think Noelle would love, we’ll point it out.”
“Okay.” Dean smiled at her.
“Hi there.” A smiling saleswoman entered the shop through a doorway. “Can I help you find anything today?”
“I’m looking for engagement rings,” Dean said. “I mean—just one engagement ring.” He could feel the tips of his ears turning pink, and he felt as if he was a kid having to explain himself to a salesclerk who had found him lost in a department store.
“Congratulations,” the woman said warmly. “Do you know what ring size you’re looking for?”
Dean froze. That was a flaw in his plans, without a doubt. “Um, no, I never thought to?—”
“We do.” Hazel smiled politely, but Dean could see gleeful triumph glittering in his sister’s eyes. “She’s a size six.”
“Perfect.” The woman smiled. “If you have questions about anything, feel free to let me know. And if you want to look at any of the rings more closely, just ask and I can take them out of the display case.”
“Sounds great, thank you,” Dean said, wondering if the sweat on the back of his neck was visible or not. Once the salesclerk had turned away, he looked at his twin with surprise. “How did you know that?”
Hazel bowed, grinning. “I checked months ago. I figured you’d need to know. I asked to try on one of her rings and then pretended I couldn’t get it off. I asked her what size it was and she said she’s a size six.”
Dean shook his head, laughing. “You’re a marvel.”
