heart is yours, Daniel.
Merry stroked Rudy’s back. “That’s it, boy, isn’t it?” Her eyes shining with hope, she reached for a small shopping bag and pulled out a tiny, wind-up kangaroo. “Look what I found. It’s a hopper. Like me,” she explained to Rudy. “I’m saving this for his Christmas.” Merry set the toy aside and gazed contentedly at her note to Daniel. “This, he’ll get tomorrow.”
nine
E xcited at the prospect of shopping with Daniel, Merry had arrived early. As she sat waiting on a bench, she looked around at the uptown retail district. There were ritzy boutiques, high-end eateries, and posh gift shops that the well-to-do frequented. It was so far out of Merry’s economic stratum that she’d never even window-shopped there before. She’d always been far more of a discount store type, but this was the place where Daniel had invited her to meet him, just a few blocks from Strong Bank & Trust.
Mid-day traffic rumbled by as Merry read over her card to Daniel, confirming to herself that she’d said everything she wanted so much to say to him. She reminded herself that, since he had sent her two notes, the ball was in her court to reply.
Suddenly, Daniel rounded the corner on foot. Merry quickly stowed her note for later, gathered her bags, and rose to greet him.
“There you are,” Daniel called out. “Sorry I’m a little late, but—”
“No, it’s fine,” Merry insisted, showing him one of her parcels. “I just picked up a few doodads at the market along the way.”
Daniel beamed at Merry. It seemed to her that he was every bit as energized about the excursion as she was.
“So, here we are,” he acknowledged.
Merry nodded. “Yes. Here we are.”
“You’ll have to forgive me if I’m a bit nervous about this,” Daniel started. “I guess we haven’t known each other that long. I mean, it feels like we practically just met, but we’re not kids anymore and... Well, sometimes you just have to go for it.”
Merry took Daniel’s words to heart. It was true that they hadn’t known each other very long, but something undeniable was growing between them. She leaned toward him reassuringly. “You do have to go for it sometimes, and—don’t you think a surprise, right out of the blue—isn’t that the best part of Christmas?”
“It is,” Daniel agreed. “But in this case, at least everyone else will be surprised and...I just thought it would be better if you were with me. If you could tell me what you like...that would really help take the worries out of choosing.” Daniel gestured toward the corner.
As Merry turned, he briefly guided her with a genteel hand on her back. It had just been a momentary brush, but the memory of his touch lingered. Even through her woolen coat, it had warmed her through and through.
As Daniel’s destination became clear, Merry’s heart skipped a beat. This was to be no casual gift, she realized. Daniel planned to shop with her for jewelry.
Everything inside the opulent jewelry store glimmered. Precious gemstones set in gold and platinum rested on velvet inside gleaming glass cases. Fine silver services were polished to perfection. Merry looked around, overwhelmed as Daniel approached a dark-suited salesperson. Clearly, only the wealthy frequented this place.
“That one. There—first from the left on the second row,” Daniel directed.
The salesperson bowed his head respectfully as he unlocked the case. “Excellent, Sir. Just a moment.”
Daniel motioned Merry over as the salesperson pulled out an exquisite ring and handed it to Daniel. A princess cut diamond flanked by radiant sapphires shone in an elegant platinum setting. “I saw this yesterday afternoon,” Daniel said, “And I just had to be sure.”
Merry watched, stunned as Daniel held the ring up toward the plate glass window. Prisms of light danced on the many facets of the diamond. Merry swallowed hard. Had it been a bracelet or earrings,
Merry stroked Rudy’s back. “That’s it, boy, isn’t it?” Her eyes shining with hope, she reached for a small shopping bag and pulled out a tiny, wind-up kangaroo. “Look what I found. It’s a hopper. Like me,” she explained to Rudy. “I’m saving this for his Christmas.” Merry set the toy aside and gazed contentedly at her note to Daniel. “This, he’ll get tomorrow.”
nine
E xcited at the prospect of shopping with Daniel, Merry had arrived early. As she sat waiting on a bench, she looked around at the uptown retail district. There were ritzy boutiques, high-end eateries, and posh gift shops that the well-to-do frequented. It was so far out of Merry’s economic stratum that she’d never even window-shopped there before. She’d always been far more of a discount store type, but this was the place where Daniel had invited her to meet him, just a few blocks from Strong Bank & Trust.
Mid-day traffic rumbled by as Merry read over her card to Daniel, confirming to herself that she’d said everything she wanted so much to say to him. She reminded herself that, since he had sent her two notes, the ball was in her court to reply.
Suddenly, Daniel rounded the corner on foot. Merry quickly stowed her note for later, gathered her bags, and rose to greet him.
“There you are,” Daniel called out. “Sorry I’m a little late, but—”
“No, it’s fine,” Merry insisted, showing him one of her parcels. “I just picked up a few doodads at the market along the way.”
Daniel beamed at Merry. It seemed to her that he was every bit as energized about the excursion as she was.
“So, here we are,” he acknowledged.
Merry nodded. “Yes. Here we are.”
“You’ll have to forgive me if I’m a bit nervous about this,” Daniel started. “I guess we haven’t known each other that long. I mean, it feels like we practically just met, but we’re not kids anymore and... Well, sometimes you just have to go for it.”
Merry took Daniel’s words to heart. It was true that they hadn’t known each other very long, but something undeniable was growing between them. She leaned toward him reassuringly. “You do have to go for it sometimes, and—don’t you think a surprise, right out of the blue—isn’t that the best part of Christmas?”
“It is,” Daniel agreed. “But in this case, at least everyone else will be surprised and...I just thought it would be better if you were with me. If you could tell me what you like...that would really help take the worries out of choosing.” Daniel gestured toward the corner.
As Merry turned, he briefly guided her with a genteel hand on her back. It had just been a momentary brush, but the memory of his touch lingered. Even through her woolen coat, it had warmed her through and through.
As Daniel’s destination became clear, Merry’s heart skipped a beat. This was to be no casual gift, she realized. Daniel planned to shop with her for jewelry.
Everything inside the opulent jewelry store glimmered. Precious gemstones set in gold and platinum rested on velvet inside gleaming glass cases. Fine silver services were polished to perfection. Merry looked around, overwhelmed as Daniel approached a dark-suited salesperson. Clearly, only the wealthy frequented this place.
“That one. There—first from the left on the second row,” Daniel directed.
The salesperson bowed his head respectfully as he unlocked the case. “Excellent, Sir. Just a moment.”
Daniel motioned Merry over as the salesperson pulled out an exquisite ring and handed it to Daniel. A princess cut diamond flanked by radiant sapphires shone in an elegant platinum setting. “I saw this yesterday afternoon,” Daniel said, “And I just had to be sure.”
Merry watched, stunned as Daniel held the ring up toward the plate glass window. Prisms of light danced on the many facets of the diamond. Merry swallowed hard. Had it been a bracelet or earrings,
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