That’ll be twelve thousand six hundred ninety-eight dollars and twenty-four cents,” the older, redheaded saleswoman said to Lewis and Monica. They were standing over the glass case of the Winston-Siegel jewelry store in the Water Tower Place mall. Monica had picked out the engagement ring she liked.
“How would you like to pay for that?” the woman asked.
“Credit card,” Monica said.
“Your card, please.”
Monica turned to Lewis, gave him a look as though she expected him to swing into action.
“Oh,” he said, digging into his back pocket for his wallet, slipping out the Visa debit card that had his name on it but that was linked to Monica’s account. He had tried to turn it down when she had presented him with the card a month ago.
It was after she had returned from a business trip. When she was gone, Lewis’s truck had gotten stolen while he was out shopping with Layla.
It was late. It was raining, and Lewis only had sixteen dollars on him.
A week after Monica returned, the card came in the mail, and she gave it to Lewis. It would give him access to all the money she had in her savings and checking accounts.
“I can’t take this. You don’t know if I’ll steal all your money and fly off to Mexico or something.”
“I have money all over this house. You’ve been living here for months and nothing has come up missing yet. Besides, I wouldn’t be with you if you were a thief. Take this card, boy.”
“I can’t do that,” Lewis said, crossing his arms, shaking his head. “I don’t want the responsibility. If a dollar comes up missing, I don’t even want you to think about looking at me.”
“You don’t have the choice not to have the responsibility. Layla is with you, and there may be another time when I’m not around. You need to have this card. Now take it, before I have to make you.”
“All right, all right,” Lewis said, taking the card from Monica. “Don’t hurt me.”
The card was only supposed to be for emergencies. But lately, there were times when Lewis was out and Monica wanted him to pick up groceries or wanted him to fill up her car with gas. She’d simply say, “Use the card.”
So now, when Lewis pulled out the card and gave it to the woman to make the charge, it almost seemed as though it was his card and his money he was using to purchase the ring again.
After the saleswoman finished the transaction, she asked, “Would you like this wrapped?”
“I don’t think so,” Monica said, holding out her left hand. “Give it to him.”
The woman gave the ring to Lewis. He took Monica’s hand, then gently slipped the ring on her finger. She looked down at the beautiful two-carat diamond solitaire on the platinum ring and smiled. “It’s beautiful. Thank you, Lewis,” Monica said, throwing her arms around him there in the store, squeezing him tight.
“But it was your money that—” Lewis tried to say, his face in her shoulder.
“Just go with it,” Monica said.
Inside the mall, taking the escalator down, Monica stood in front of Lewis on the step below him, leaning back against him. Lewis leaned over her shoulder, whispered in her ear, “I’ll pay you back every cent for that.”
“I know you will,” Monica said, seeming not to care as she held her hand at arm’s length and admired the ring.
“You really like that, don’t you.”
“What’s not to like? Tabatha is gonna flip when she sees it.”
“So will your ex-husband.”
“What did you say?” Monica said, turning, looking over her shoulder at Lewis.
“Nothing.”
On the ground floor, Monica turned to face Lewis. “I said, what did you say?”
Lewis remained silent.
Monica angrily stepped away from the escalator. She walked over to a corner of the mall, away from the people milling about.
Lewis followed her, stood in front of her.
“Is that why you were so adamant about me calling the babysitter, about us coming out here before the store closed so we could get this ring, so I’d be wearing it for the meeting tomorrow?”
“I bought a ring the other day, remember? We’re just replacing that one. This has nothing to do with your little meeting.”
“I swear if you’re lying to me, we can take this back right now.”
“I told you I’m not,” Lewis said, hoping she couldn’t see the fact that he was lying. “I’m just happy that we’re getting married and I wanted you to have the ring now.”
Monica gave him a long, scrutinizing glance. “Lewis, there’s nothing more to this meeting than I told you. Do you believe me?”
Lewis was silent but nodded his head, sad that she was not aware of what was going on.
“Do you believe me?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” Monica gave him another hug. “You’ll see. Tomorrow will be just fine.”