“This diamond cut is the premiere piece this year”, sings Christie, the sales associate at Jared’s Jewelers.
As the young woman looks in amazement at the sparkling 3 ½ carat diamond engagement ring nesting on her finger, her fiance, Brian Lissimore, turns to her and passionately says,
“ Whatever you want, baby…you deserve the best.”
Carla notices tears in Brian’s eyes. At first she is touched by his emotional disposition, but quickly recalls Brian’s personality and temperament. Something is wrong. Something is very wrong. Brian never cries.
He did not cry when his father passed, when he injured his groin during football practice, or when he did not get the football scholarship from FSU, his favorite football team. Brian does not cry. Never has and never will.
She clutches his hand, looks directly into his eyes and ask,” Brian, what’s wrong?” Carla knew that Brian could not stand a chance against her knowing gaze. Brian often referred to her eyes as “The Judge”. One look into those piercing eyes found the heart’s desire and the hidden truth.
Beads of perspiration ran down Brian’s face. “No, baby. This wedding has me nervous. I want to give you the world, but I…”
“But?” Carla asks.
“Uhm...maybe I should give you a few minutes alone,” Christie intuitively remarks, as she backs away from the diamond counter.
“But what, Brian?” Carla asks again.
“Baby, I made a mistake. I should have told you sooner. I love you. You know that. Uhm...well, I sort of have a six-month old daughter, Carla. Honey, baby…I love you and want to marry you. That has not changed. Please believe me,” Brian quickly mumbles under his breath, hoping Carla does not slap the taste out of his mouth in Jared’s in front of everyone.
Carla hears him, but she is not really sure she heard what he said. There was no way he could have fathered a child last year. After all, they have been a couple for four years now- high school sweethearts. She thought that they had agreed to remain celibate until they married each other. Carla distinctly remembers the conversation both of them had before she agreed to go out with him.
“I am a Christian, Brian. I do not participate in premarital sex. That may be too much of a problem for you,” she remembers telling him. He assured her that he respected her beliefs and that he would never pressure her into doing something she did not want to do. Most importantly, her beliefs would not deter him from pursuing a relationship with her.
“What a crock,” she says to herself, while standing in the jewelers, looking confused and pissed.
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Talk about unequally yoked, eh? A slice of life at its best. I love the way you left it hanging, so your reader can think about it again and againg. Most of all, you let the characters show your message, instead of using your characters as an avenue to tell your message.
14 Oct 2002
Bravo! Dee, what a masterfully written piece! I echo David's evaluation, keep it coming! Bob
