Spencer smiled as the people she loved the most in her life didn’t let her down. This was going to be a big lunch, a big important lunch.

                Spencer left her office; it was only 10:45. She got into her car and hurried over to the nearest Kay Jewelers. A smile flooded her face as she decided what she had wanted. After a minute of sitting, she got out of the car and entered the store, finding the nearest unoccupied clerk.

                “Can I help you with anything today ma’am?”

                “Yes,” Spencer said as she pulled a folded up paper from her purse, “I’m looking for this ring.”

                “Well,” the clerk said looking her up and down, then eyeing the picture on the paper again. “This is a nice choice. Getting it for someone special?”

                “Yes. Can you show it to me?” Spencer was a little more nervous now that she was actually buying the white silver diamond ring for the woman she was about to marry. Not too flashy, a few diamonds in a 14K band and just barely inside her price range. She didn’t want to dip into Ashley’s funds, she might find out before she proposed, and make unwanted questions arise. The sales clerk came back holding a small navy blue velour box.

                “How does this look? If you’re looking for something a little more elegant-“

                “No,” Spencer knew that this was the perfect ring. Fourteen karats of white gold with a half carat diamond surrounded by a few smaller diamonds… She could see it on Ashley’s hand, catching the sun and looking gorgeous. “This one is just perfect.”

                “If you’ll just come over here, I can ring you up miss.”

                Spencer walked over with a nervous smile and paid for the ring, making a fleeting look down to her wrist, 11:20. She rushed out to her car and almost sped back to her office to make it back to her office in time. If she didn’t beat Ashley back, she’d have many questions to answer.

                ________________________________________________________

                 Ashley had a lot of time to spare. Looking at the clock on the kitchen wall, she noticed that she had an hour to kill before she had to meet Spencer. She looked down to see what she was wearing.

                “Shit.” She had forgotten that she hadn’t showered yet. She ran a hand through her brunette locks as she thought for a minute on how to optimize the time she had left before lunch. Sprinting up the stairs, she started to undress to save time.

                After a five minute shower, she grabbed her keys off the counter and headed toward her car. Grabbing her cell phone, she scrolled through the contacts and found the address for Kay Jewelers and made her way over.

                Walking slowly and mystified into the glimmering store front, she found that most people here were couples who were looking at wedding bands. ‘Great,’ she thought to herself, ‘I suppose it’s judgment day…’ “Hi, I’m looking for an engagement ring. Flashy is good, and price is not an issue.”

                “Well,” the sales clerk said, “why don’t you step over here and I can show you what we have.” He walked her over to the engagement rings, and she looked down at them all sparkling back up at her. She decided that diamond on yellow gold would look good on Spencer’s hand, and narrowed it down to white gold with the biggest diamond she could get.

                “This one is perfect.” Fourteen karats of white gold with a two carats worth of diamonds around the band, in one word, this ring could only be described as beautiful. ‘That’s one thing that this ring and Spencer have in common…’ She handed him her card and followed him to the register.

                “If you’ll just sign here, you’re ready to go.”

                “Thanks.” Ashley walked out the door and looked down. Only 11:15. She got in her car and sped to the nearest flower shop. She bought one dozen long stem red roses and decided to head over to Spencer’s office. She knew her attention span was crap, the more time she gave herself, the better.