Thankfully, we didn't meet anyone on our way back, not even Chris, who was supposed to be back a while ago. It seemed they knew what was happening because there was no one in the house when we arrived.

Fred carried me into the room and placed me gently on the bed. Smiling, he leaned down to place a kiss on my forehead. The diamond weighed heavily on my hand and I raised it. I felt ecstatic. Finally, they were making moves I'd hoped they would make months ago.

"Do you like it?"

"Of course I do," ...