Olivia (Logan 5)

Slowly, almost like one afraid that if she touched it, it

would disappear, I plucked the ring out of the box and

looked at it closely. It was breathtaking.

"Not having a mother to advise me, I had to

depend on an expert jeweler," he said. "I hope you

like it."

"It's a beautiful ring," I gasped. I was

hypnotized by its magical twinkle.

"Try it on," he urged.

I considered it and then did so, finding it a

perfect fit. I turned my hand around to look at it from

different angles. The hand that I thought looked so

thin and bony now looked like it belonged to a

princess.

"How did you know the correct size?" "That was a bit of conspiracy," he confessed,

"between me and your father. He got me one of your

present rings and I had it fitted."

I dropped my hand to my lap as if the ring had

taken on the weight of a lump of lead.

"My father already knows about this?" I

groaned with disappointment.

Samuel nodded.

"I didn't want to appear too forward in his

eyes," he said quickly. "And I thought if he got one of

your rings to me . . well, as you see, it worked as far

as fitting."

"I don't like secrets, especially when I'm the

only one not in on them," I intoned as if I stood

behind a pulpit.

He shook his head.