Chapter 9
This might be the perfect ring, as perfect as Kate could choose.
Olivia had particular tastes, and Kate always understood the appeal when she explained. But she wanted to give Olivia at least an imperfect offering to show her commitment.
A slender band of rose gold, smooth and comfortable, that would glow with Olivia’s light brown skin. And most of all the dark sapphire, almost black with a purple undertone, to complement everything she wore.
“We have a range of bright blue sapphire, admittedly at a higher price?”
Kate looked up at the woman behind the counter.
Thirties, dressed in an expensive suit, curly black hair tied back tight, hands professionally and lightly clasped.
But eyes wide, giving away she recognised Kate, despite her no-makeup mum-mode.
And even though the shop might have famous customers, maybe not as well-known as Kate.
And, that she was surprised Kate chose this apparently cheaper option.
“No, thank you.” Kate smiled, and she turned back to the ring, drawn by how appropriate this might be for Olivia. “It’s the black sapphire that I want.”
She pushed it gently onto her ring finger. It tightened above her knuckle, but not too much, a good guide to Olivia’s.
“This design is easily resized if you need it.”
Kate nodded, unable to take her eyes off the band of gold and the warm feeling it gave her.
This is what she wanted. With all her heart. Every day she considered it, she became more sure of its rightness. Although...
“Please,” she looked up. “Don’t tell anyone I’ve been here.”
Olivia might not want to get married. And if she did, Kate wanted her to know the plans first.
The woman gave her an indulgent smile. “We’re used to discretion with our clients.”
Of course. “Sorry,” Kate said. “Many aren’t.”
“Understandable,” the woman replied.
Perhaps she’d seen enough of Kate in the media to comprehend.
Kate stood up straight. “I want this one, please.”
And the woman nodded, taking the ring away to polish and box.
Kate breathed out and stared idly at the mirrored back wall, jewels and watches and necklaces threaded in a blur across her view.
She was nervous. There’d been barriers against getting married, but her biggest concern now was that Olivia might say no. She had to be prepared for that. It might throw them off for a while and bring in a bit of weirdness. She nodded, steeling herself. That was understandable and had to be OK too.
She nodded to herself some more, until her eyes focussed on a face reflected in the back wall. A familiar face. One with large, surprised brown eyes and curtains of black hair.
“Oh my god, Geeta.”
Kate spun round and slapped a hand over her heart that wanted to leap from her chest and leg it out the arcade. The familiar face tilted with a generous smile. Although Olivia strongly resembled her father, there was enough similarity here to give Kate a minor cardio incident.
Kate took in the shorter woman, curvier than Olivia, silver threading through her black hair with more wave than Olivia’s.
Another thing Geeta had in contrast to Olivia was a load of subtle, teasing sass.
The older woman casually leant on the counter.
“Shopping?” Geeta asked lightly.
Shit. There was so much knowing in that one-word question. Karma was biting her arse again. She considered her answer carefully. There was almost nothing that experienced eyes like Geeta’s missed. So, Kate offered the safest answer she could imagine.
“Yes.”
Then hazarded.
“And you?”
Geeta’s face beamed, her already generous smile widening.
“I am,” she replied. “Thank you so much for asking.”
Was there any chance, at all, that Geeta hadn’t guessed the purchase?
Olivia’s mother dropped her weight to one side.
“I was looking for a present for Nicola. I didn’t realise it was you until I saw your face in the reflection.”
“Right.” Kate nodded.
“Otherwise, I would have quietly left the shop,” Geeta said gently.
She so knew.
And if it hadn’t been obvious before, from Kate’s startled reaction and curt answers, when the assistant returned with a ‘here we are, madam’ and placed a small, blue, velvet-covered box on the counter, it was as clear as day now.
“Oh,” Kate said finally.
A silence followed. Kate looked at Geeta. Geeta looked at the box. Kate’s heart attempted another run for it. Then Geeta’s expression turned soppy. Tears sparkled in her eyes, and she bit her bottom lip to keep in the happy smile. Geeta wasn’t one to hide big, generous emotions.
Oh for goodness sake, there was no point keeping up this pretense.
“I bought a ring for Olivia,” Kate blurted. “I’m going to ask as soon as I can. Do you think she’ll like this.” And she snapped open the box to show Geeta.
There. All in the open.
Geeta gazed down at the jewel.
“Ethically sourced materials,” Kate said. “Rose gold. Black sapphire. Comfy finish.”
Kind eyes looked up at her. Geeta rested her fingers on Kate's outstretched hands and lightly squeezed her.
“I think it’s perfect.” She tilted her head. “But I haven’t dared choose anything for Olivia without consultation for years.”
Kate had to laugh at the mismatch between daughter and mother. Such different personalities, but so much love and increasing understanding recently.
“Olivia knows what she likes,” Geeta said with a grin.
“She does,” Kate agreed.
“And,” Geeta squeezed her again, a long, affectionate gesture. “She knows who she likes too.”
Kate might cry. In fact, her next breath caught, and she pursed her lips to keep down the sob.
She’d been so lucky to meet Olivia, and to have this gentle reassurance and support from this woman too.
“And,” Geeta lifted her gaze to Kate’s, “I happen to think she has great taste in people too.”
“OK. Stop it. Because I’m going to snotty sob if you carry on.”
Geeta beamed. “Come here.”
Kate dropped her arms and sank into a reassuring, big, big hug from Geeta. And when she pulled away, Geeta cupped her cheeks with fondness.
“I would very much like to be your mother-in-law,” she said.
And Kate only nodded, because otherwise snot and tears would definitely follow.