Callum & Harper (Sleepless 1)

I perused the bands for men and picked a simple white gold band with straight edges and no embellishment whatsoever. It seemed so Callum to me, simple, classic, beautiful.

“This one,” I said and pointed to the ring in the case.

The man brought the ring out and set it on top of the glass with a clink. Callum picked it up and examined it before turning to me. His eyes melted me to the floor where I stood, twinkling with happiness.

“It’s the one I hoped you’d select,” he said, swallowing hard.

I took a deep breath and laid my hand on his forearm.

“And for the bride?” The man asked, shocking us.

“You pick mine,” I said, following Callum’s lead.

“You don’t want to choose your own?” He asked me warily.

“No, I want to see what you’d choose for me as well.”

Callum bent over the display case, considering all his choices carefully. He sat up and his shoulders sagged a bit.

“I don’t like any of these for you,” he said sadly.

“It’s okay just pick the best one, then.”

“No,” he said with conviction, making my stomach dip suddenly. “It’s not here.”

The old man held up a finger and went to the back. He was gone for a good five minutes before finally emerging with a wooden case, setting it on top of the cabinet and opening the lid.

Inside were a crumpled pile of rings. I watched Callum’s eyes shoot wide and his hand made a beeline for a ring, buried beneath a few others. I didn’t even know how he saw it. I held my breath as he wrestled it from the heap and brought it up to the light above us. I gasped when he brought it down for me to inspect, burning tears threatening the corners of my eyes. It was everything I didn’t know I wanted and was shocked into silence at the beauty of it.

The stone was round and framed within many small diamonds. It was art deco inspired, filigree following up the band itself and many more diamonds filled the band as well.

“That is the prettiest ring in this store,” the man said, his eyes crinkled with a smile. “My wife found that at an estate sale before she passed away, God bless her.”

I smiled and my breath sped up as Callum slipped it onto my finger. It fit perfectly.

“Like it was made for you,” the old man said happily.

Callum held my hand, sending warm sparks up my arm and into my chest, making my heart beat unnaturally.

“How much do we owe you?” Callum asked without looking from me.

“One hundred and fifty,” he said.

Callum and I both turned to the man, stupefied.

“Only one-fifty?” Callum asked.

“Yes, for the gentleman’s band,” he said.

“But we’ll take both,” Callum said, gesturing to my ring.

“And I’ll give you both but my wife would roll over in her grave if she saw me sell a ring that was only meant to be given. Trust me, it is my absolute pleasure.”

“I wouldn’t feel right,” I said. “That’s too generous.”

“Something tells me generosity isn’t a gift you two see very often,” he said, not unkindly. “Please, I consider it more a gift to my wife. So, you see? It’s mostly selfish.”

Callum and I both smiled at the man, in awe of the his consideration for his wife even after she’d left this earth.