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The style. I’ve never worn a lot of rings, but I know I’d like something smaller. Flatter. Something different.”
    â€œDifferent?” Todd questioned.
    Mr. Frank stood before them and began to quote more facts about the diamond’s clarity and size. “All of these rings are original designs made right here by my son and me.”
    Christy took the ring off her finger and tried to keep from giggling as she felt Todd’s hand on her shoulder. If his fingers slipped behind her hair and started tickling her neck, she knew she would burst out laughing.
    â€œDo you have anything different?” Todd asked in a controlled voice. “Anything flatter? And what did you say, Christy? Smaller?”
    â€œAh!” Mr. Frank seemed to enjoy the challenge set before him. “Something other than the traditional diamond. Perhaps a sapphire or a blue topaz, to match your lovely blue eyes. We have some particularly nice tanzanite.”
    For the next fifteen minutes, Todd refrained from tickling her as Christy tried on half a dozen nondiamond rings, with Mr. Frank giving a comprehensive lesson on each of the stones. With each ring she began to see potential options. Her imagination exploded with ideas when she tried on a particularly colorful Australian blue opal ring. The deep aqua blue stone with its flashes of green and purple reminded her of an ocean wave. And that reminded her of Todd and how they first had met at Newport Beach. However, the ring was too large, and the complicated setting didn’t suit her.
    â€œDo you have anything with this same sort of stone only in a smaller setting?” Christy asked. “Or even a flat setting like those bands with the diamond chips?”
    â€œI don’t believe we do. But as I mentioned earlier, we can make anything.”
    Christy was ready to design her ring right then and there. However, she glanced up at Todd before asking for paper and pencil. His expression was glazed over; he appeared to have reached his limit on looking for rings and learning the history of gemology.
    â€œYou’ve given us a lot to think about.” Christy smiled at Mr. Frank. “I appreciate all your time.”
    â€œAllow me to present you with my card. If I may beof any further assistance, please don’t hesitate to call.”
    â€œThank you,” Christy said.
    â€œAre you sure you don’t want to try on any more rings?” Todd asked a little too politely.
    Christy couldn’t hold back her laughter any longer. She released a light giggle that floated on the air like a band of glistening soap bubbles. “I would love to, Todd, but I think I’ve already tried on every ring in the store.”
    They left with Todd’s arm around her middle while he threatened to tickle her again.
    â€œThat poor man!” Christy exclaimed. “He kept looking at us like we weren’t old enough to know what we were doing.”
    â€œI thought he was looking that way because he knew we didn’t have enough money to buy anything but the peppermints in the dish by the register.”
    â€œThose were free,” Christy said.
    â€œThey were? Hey, let’s go back and get some.” Todd turned around, but Christy grabbed his arm with both hands and pulled him toward the car. His comment about not having enough money sobered her.
    â€œHow are we going to pay for the rings and everything else?” she asked as soon as they were in the car.
    â€œI have some money set aside,” Todd said. He didn’t start the engine but looked at her carefully. “It’s not a lot, but my goal was to have enough for the ring, the tux, and the first three months of rent before I proposed. And I have that. Otherwise, I would have asked you to marry me a long time ago.”
    â€œYou would have?”
    Todd nodded. “I wanted us to get married before you went to Switzerland, but I knew that was an important year for you, and I