The short drive could have been shorter. But just like in the movies, when the heroine is in the back of the cab, rushing to get somewhere, a delivery truck was temporarily blocking traffic on Pike Street while it pulled out of a loading bay. Shirley would have told Amy the delay was only two minutes, but to Amy, it felt like ten. During the hold-up, Amy was only vaguely aware of Shirley telling her something about her grandkids. Or was it something about her dog? Amy didn’t care either way as she sat stewing in the back seat, silently cursing the ancestors of the truck driver and wondering if—also like in the movies—she should dramatically say, “I’ll walk from here!”, shove some money in the driver’s hand and jump out of the car in order to race down the city streets on foot to her destination. After all, she not only had her secret mission to accomplish, but she also had to get back to the mall to find and buy some sexy white lingerie. She wasn’t made of time!
Finally, they resumed moving and it was only a minute after that when Shirley stopped the car again, this time at journey’s end.
“Thanks.Bye.Haveaniceday.” Amy uttered, opening the back door the microsecond the car ceased moving, hopping out onto the sidewalk.
As soon as Amy entered the shop, Adilah and Ekaterina both turned to her and both smiled in recognition.
“Hi! Welcome back!” Adilah greeted her.
“Hi,” Amy said, feeling incredibly excited. She was finally here and ready to change her life.
“Did you forget something from earlier?” Ekaterina asked.
“Yes,” Amy said. “A ring. The woman I was in here with earlier? I want to marry her.”
Adilah’s hands flew to her face and even from where she was standing, Amy could tell the woman’s eyes were watering.
“Jillian Ashley?” Ekaterina exclaimed, her eyes wide.
Amy laughed. If they only knew, she considered. If they only knew about how she had felt the first time she saw “Jillian Ashley” on her computer monitor just prior to recording the podcast. How her stomach had flipped and how it was as if her heart had started speaking to her, telling her, “This is what I want!”
About how she knew—just knew—normal life had stopped for her the moment “Jillian Ashley” had walked into La Vida Mocha that Friday evening one month ago.
About how “Jillian Ashley” turned out not to be Jillian Ashley and how, even though it upset her initially, she also knew there was no way she was going to let Sally Lassiter out of her life because even after having spent only just a few hours with her that first night, she was already in too deep.
“That’s amazing!” Adilah said, coming from behind the counter and rushing to embrace Amy, who felt like a munchkin in her arms because Adilah was supermodel-tall.
Just like my soon-to-be fiancée.
“Did you know which ring you want?” Adilah asked her.
“Yes, please,” Amy said, wiping a stray tear which had trickled from her left eye. “That one with the princess diamond and the two tiny sapphires in the band?”
She suddenly became worried that someone else might have bought it. Was that possible? It was Saturday, after all…People shopped on Saturday. But was Saturday a big engagement ring-buying day? She had no idea.
But Adilah was nodding. “I remember you pointing that out to her. I thought you two were so funny.” She hooked her arm through Amy’s and led her to one of the glass display cases. “I knew you’d end up getting married! The way she looks at you!”
“God, yes!” Ekaterina chimed in. “You’re a lucky girl!”
Amy smiled.
“I know,” she said.
Adilah had the ring brought out and in front of Amy in a few moments.
Staring at the stunning piece of jewelry in its little velvet box, Amy grinned from ear to ear. This w
as going to look so amazing on Sally’s hand! Amy’s heart started fluttering as she imagined seeing Sally wearing this every day from now on, knowing what it signified, knowing what it represented.
She heard the shop’s door open but didn’t bother turning around. Another customer, no doubt. Probably some guy wanting to buy this very ring for his girlfriend.
Too late, loser! This ring is mine! Hope you have a second choice! I’m sure she’ll still love you.
Looking back up at Adilah, Amy said, “I’ll take—” but then stopped. Adilah’s mouth was wide open and she was staring at a point behind Amy. Next to her, Ekaterina pretty much had the same expression on her face.
Amy turned and then yelped.
Sally was standing there, looking as shocked as someone who had just seen their eighty-year-old grandmother do a triple Lutz on an ice skating rink.