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Ice And Snowed

“Congratulations, by the way.” Carol said as they got in her car.

He buckled up. “Thanks. I appreciate you taking the time.”

“Sure, did you have any ideas of what kind of ring you’re going to get?”

“A diamond, I guess.”

“That’s the usual kind.” She nodded as they pulled away from the curb. “Marta seems unconventional.”

He smiled. “I guess you could say she’s kind of quirky, but for something like this…”

“Can’t beat the classics.”

“I don’t know anything about this sort of thing. I’m really getting butterflies. You know?”

“Sure, but you know it’s right. I mean, you asked her parents and everything.”

“Absolutely.” He watched the storefronts go by. “No hesitation. No second thoughts.”

“That’s great, Ryan. I’m really happy for you.”

“Thanks.” He took a deep breath. “Is that it up there?”

“Finegold’s. They have really nice pieces and they do their own financing.”

“Oh, wow. This is real.” He squirmed in his seat.

She smiled as she pulled up near the store. “Yes, it is.”

“Okay, I know it’s for her but I’m pretty sure you have similar tastes. So, I want you to tell me what you’d look for in a ring. You know? What would really make you proud to wear it. Alright?”

“Sure. That seems like a good approach.” She said as she checked for traffic before getting out. “Let’s go find a ring.”

Ryan held the door to the store for her. She looked around to find her friend waving from the display counter.

“Hi Carol.”

“Hey, Sheila. I’m helping Ryan pick out a ring for his girlfriend.”

“Ooh, congratulations. Did you have something specific in mind?”

He smiled. “I’m going to let Carol do the driving on this one. I really don’t know about rings. If we can find some that she likes, it should help me narrow down my choices.”

“That sounds like fun.” Sheila smiled and led them to a collection of rings. “So, Carol, what catches your eye? Do you like a classic brilliant or maybe a marquise cut?”

“They’re all so beautiful. Ryan, help me. Which one do you think Marta would like?”

“What? You’re supposed to be helping me. Remember? Don’t any of them jump out at you?” He knelt down to get a closer look.

Carol sucked a breath. “Oh, wow. Look at that. That’s…”

Sheila pulled it out of the cabinet to give them a closer look. “This is an asscher cut.”

“That’s a diamond? I haven’t seen one with a blue tint like that.” Ryan squinted at the piece.

“Some diamonds are blue or blue-tinged if there is some boron mixed into the carbon crystal lattice.” Sheila held the ring over Carol’s hand.

“May I?” Carol held out her hand.

Sheila smiled and handed it to her.

“This is stunning. I haven’t seen this cut before. Wow.” Carol turned it over and around to study the facets. “This blue reminds me of Nathan’s eyes.”

“That’s awfully nice of you to say.”

Carol looked up from the ring to find Nathan standing where Ryan had been. She looked around. Ryan was at another counter speaking with another jeweler. “Nathan?”

“At your service.”

“Ryan asked me to help him pick out a ring for Marta.” She looked back down at the pale blue stone.

“I hope you can forgive us, but I put him up to that.”

“Huh?”

“What he told you was mostly true. He did ask for Marta’s parents’ permission, but he’s not here to pick out a ring. He’s here to pick up a ring. They gave him Marta’s grandmother’s ring to be resized. It was done, so I asked him if he’d help me trick you into picking a ring.”

“Trick? What do I need a ring for?”

“Do you like it?”

“Nathan, I can hardly keep my eyes off of it, but…”

“But?”

Her eyes went wide. “Nathan Anderson, are you doing what I think you’re doing?”

“Only if you agree to wear this for the rest of your life.” He knelt before her.

“Mom! Mom! Mom!” Carol burst into the kitchen. “Look at this! Can you believe this?”

Marlene put her book down to see what had her daughter so excited. “Ooh, that’s beautiful. Dan, come see.”

Her dad wandered in from the living room just as Nathan came in the back door. “Hey, there. What happened to you?”

“No good deed goes unpunished.” He smiled. “I popped the question and she popped me. I’m glad she didn’t have that on yet. She might have cut my nose right off.”

“Serves you right for tricking me.”

“Most girls simply say yes. Customarily, of course.”

“I said yes, and I meant yes.”

“Well, despite the unexpected bruising, I’m the happiest man alive.”

“Mom, I brought Ryan.” Marta burst in the kitchen door with her boyfriend in tow.

“Great. Bring him in here.” Her mom called from the living room.

Marta shrugged and led him through. “Judge Garvey? What are you doing here?”

“And hello to you, too, dear.” The judge smiled. “Sam had some golf clubs he wanted to trade with me.”

“That’s not the only reason.” Her mom said. “Come in already.”

“Tom? What are you doing here?” Ryan spotted the Chief.

“We needed an impartial witness.” Her dad said. “Did you get it?”

Marta’s brow furrowed. “Get what?”

“Sure, it’s right here.” Ryan reached into his coat pocket and pulled out a little velvet box.

“Is that what I think it is?” Marta gasped.

Ryan opened it as he got down on one knee.

“Gramma’s ring? That won’t fit me.”

“It will now, genius. We had it resized. Shut up and say yes.”

“Mom that doesn’t make sense. If I shut up, how can I say yes?”

“Marta?” Ryan wiggled the box.

“Oh, yes.” She nodded. “Yes! Get up so I can hug you. Yes!”

Ryan held her close as she slipped her grandmother’s ring onto her finger.

“Oh, wow. Look at that, Ryan.”

“It’s beautiful, just like you.”

Fran took the box from Ryan and shook it. “Good, they didn’t forget.”

“Forget what?” Marta turned to see what her mother was up to.

Ryan looked around the room. “A judge? A witness?”

Fran opened the box and pulled the liner up to reveal two gold bands and a little note. She opened the note and smiled. “Good, Pastor Greg stopped in and blessed these already. Judge, please do the honors.”

“What?” Marta and Ryan said in stereo.

“You’re both over thirty. You’ve already had enough courtship. Get on with it.”

They looked at the judge in confusion.

He shrugged and pointed at Ryan. “Do you?”

“Yeah.”

He pointed at Marta. “Do you?”

“Definitely.”

“By the power invested in me by the Commonwealth of Pennswald, I declare you man and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

“You don’t have to ask me twice.” Ryan said, and he kissed her.

“That goes double for me.” Marta said, and she kissed him back.

“Great, now go make grandchildren already.” Fran pointed toward the stairs.

“Mom!”

“Um,” Tom winced. “Ryan, at some point we need to talk about something important.”

“Should we take care of that now?”

“What name did you want me to put on the marriage certificate?” The judge asked. “Mr. and Mrs. Doyle?”

“What about Mr. and Mrs. Kwock? It’s an option.” Fran said.

“Technically, that’s true. It’s not the usual way, but this is as unusual a situation as I’ve ever been involved in.”

Tom coughed. “Not to barge in or anything, but you might even consider Mr. and Mrs. O’Reilly.”

“Why would I…?” Ryan shook his head.

“You remember when they swabbed you?” Marta whispered.

“Yeah, but…” His eyes went wide. “Fran’s right. Grandkids first. Life-altering discussions later.” He pulled Marta toward the stairs.

“You want me to bring the whipped cream?” She followed close behind him. “Okay, guess not.”

Fran smiled. Sam shook his head. The judge shrugged.

“This is not how I was expecting Christmas to turn out this year.” Tom said. “Got any beer?”