Chapter 27
27
As the question continued to buzz around in Holly’s mind, Sienna placed her phone down on the table and lifted her hand up. The manner in which she twisted her wrist from side to side was almost identical to how she had done after her engagement, but there was no doubt that this was a different ring on her finger to the one Holly had been made to admire before.
‘Isn’t this one stunning?’ she said, her eyes glimmering almost as much as the diamond.
‘I don’t understand. What about the one Giles proposed with?’
Sienna rolled her eyes slightly.
‘It was very sweet and everything. And the sentiment was there, obviously. I’m so glad he got a diamond ring to propose properly with, but it was hardly the type of thing you want to show people when you tell them you’ve got engaged, was it? I mean, it was only just a carat. It didn’t feel right, having something so little. An engagement ring’s meant to be a statement, you know? A sign of what your married life is going to be like. And this one, this one makes a much bigger statement, don’t you think? Honestly, given our positions in life, you know, our age and how well we’re both doing, I think the jeweller really should have insisted that he look at nothing below the two-carat mark. But I’ve rectified that now. This one’s perfect. A two-point-five-carat centre, with an extra carat in the halo and pavé. All conflict-free, obviously. That was an absolute must.’
Holly stared again at the ring and then glanced down at the one on her finger. In terms of size, it was far bigger than she’d ever envisioned herself wearing, but what size carat it was, and whether or not it was conflict-free, she had no idea. She’d not had the chance to ask Evan that.
Swallowing down a lump that was forming in her throat, she looked back at Sienna’s hand. It was a stunning ring. Excessive, possibly, but beautiful. And if Giles had the money to spend on a ring like that, then why shouldn’t he? Why shouldn’t Sienna have the piece of jewellery she wanted if it was what she was going to be wearing for the rest of her life? Who was Holly to judge that?
And yet, if Evan had proposed to her with a piece of string, she would’ve kept that tied on her finger for all eternity, because in her mind, it wasn’t the ring that was a sign of what your married life was going to be like; it was the thought that went behind it. Surely?
‘Well, while we’re on the conversation of rings, it feels like a good time to start wedding talk,’ Sienna said, placing one hand down on the table in front of her as she took a minuscule sip of her Prosecco. ‘I thought we could start by talking about colour schemes. I want something that won’t date, but still doesn’t look dated. So come on, fire ideas at me. I’m ready to hear anything.’