Page 105 of Back To Our Beginning

I winced. I suppose I shouldn’t consider it dithering.

I laughed to myself. Maybe don’t be a screw-up and buy the first thing they show you. Yeah, that’s it.

I texted Chloe and asked her to call me. I hoped she would call soon. That is, if she would even bothering calling me back.

I gave a slow grin when my phone rang, and her number came up.

“Hi, Chloe, this is Beau.”

“Hi. You caught my interest. So, you want to go ring shopping for my sister, huh?”

I wasn’t expecting this. I was expecting shy and hesitant. Not somebody who kind of sounded like Maddie.

“Yeah. The thing is, the jewelry store that Simon is recommending is in Nashville.”

Husky laughter came over the phone. “I’m not surprised.”

“What do you mean?”

“What kind of ring do you want to get her?” Chloe asked.

“Something special. Not one big diamond. You know? Something colorful and pretty.”

“Hmmm. You’re not going to be here in town much longer, are you? Are you hoping to propose before you leave?”

“Yes.”

“When are you leaving?”

I frowned. “Sunday.”

“This could work. Come pick me up. I’ll text you my address.”

“Can you get off work?”

She laughed again. “Don’t worry, I don’t have a deadline.”

She hung up.

Deadline?

* * *

I pulled up to a five-story building that wasn’t close to anything. It looked like some kid had made a Lego apartment building and plopped it down in the middle of nowhere. When I got there, I saw Chloe’s apartment was on the top floor, and the elevator wasn’t working. That was fine with me, but it sure would be a problem for anybody moving in or out.

All in all, I couldn’t imagine her husband being thrilled about her living here.

I jogged up the five flights of stairs, then got to her apartment and knocked on her door. Today she was dressed in leggings and another shirt that was two sizes too big for her. She had her hair in a ponytail, like most of her sisters often wore theirs. But she pulled hers back so tight, I thought it might hurt. Almost like she was trying to keep every aspect of herself tightly under control.

“What?”

“What-what?” I asked,

“You’re staring at me.”

“I’m just noticing how much all of you Avery girls look alike,” I said as we started walking down the stairs together.

“Weird. Mostly, people only comment on Zoe and me looking alike.”