42

THAYER

We enjoyed dinner with a little chat. Kennedy seemed to have an appetite and smiled and laughed at my terrible jokes.

“Can I make a request?”

I nodded. “Of course.”

She raised her hand with my engagement ring. “I think this is too flashy. Do you have a smaller stone than this?”

Instead of getting offended, I laughed. “I’m not a jeweler, darling. But I picked that stone myself. I mean, I requested the carat and the color. So, it’s too special for me, and I would be sad if you take that off.”

She checked it out again. “I’ve never dreamed wearing an engagement like this. Don’t get me wrong. This is so gorgeous, and it’s the color—”

“Of your eyes.”

She looked at me, seemingly surprised. “Yeah.”

“See? That’s why it’s important to me. And I only intended to be engaged and married once. Even if I get married again, I’m sure to be with the same person who’s wearing my ring right now.