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“Why don’t we start with you telling me what brought you here? Whatever it is, I’m sure I can help you find what you need.”
“I’m looking for a birthday gift for my girlfriend’s daughter.”
“Perfect! And how old is the daughter?”
“She’ll be turning eleven.”
“Oh, and she is going to love you.”
“Is she?”
“Definitely. Jewelry is perfect for girls that age. It makes them feel like they’re being taken seriously. Does she have pierced ears?”
"You know what? I'll be honest with you. I don't know. Does that make me an asshole?"
“No, it makes you a man. Let’s look at some necklaces then, just to be on the safe side. You wouldn’t want to give her something she couldn’t wear, now would you?”
“No, I wouldn’t.”
“What about doing a birthstone necklace? Something simple? Elegant? We could go with a gold chain and a little sapphire pendant. That’s the birthstone for September, in case you weren’t aware.”
“I was not. And that sounds great, only do you think she’ll like it? I mean, is it the kind of thing a girl her age will want?”
"Absolutely. Believe me, it's the sort of gift she'll cherish long after she stops being a little girl."
“All right,” I said, grinning. “I’m sold.”
“Would you like to see the necklace first?”
“Nope, not really. I won’t be able to tell anything about it. Why don’t you just go ahead and wrap it up?”
“Of course! And while I tend to that, is there anything else I can do for you? Anything else you’re interested in looking at?”
“There is, actually. Do you think you could show me some engagement rings?”
"Oh, my!" She giggled, whether at the request itself or at the shock on my face after making the request, I couldn't be sure. "This is an exciting shopping trip for you, isn't it?"
“Yeah, I guess it is.”
“What kind of rings would you like to see?” she asked.
“Something simple, classic. I think that’s the kind of ring she would like.”
“Of course! That’s my favorite kind of woman. Give me just one moment. I’ll be right back with a selection for you to choose from.”
I nodded at her in response, seeing as I had spontaneously lost the ability to speak. As far as I knew, I had only come into this store to get something for Emma and leave. If that was the case, though, what in the hell was I doing looking at engagement rings? Was I planning on buying one? Was that the real reason behind me choosing a jewelry store to look for Emma's gift in the first place? There were about a million fucking questions clamoring inside of my head all at once. Out of nowhere, I started to feel more than a little bit queasy. The saleswoman must have noticed it, too, because when she returned, she took one look at me and went into repair mode.
“Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure, I guess.”
“Is the ring a surprise?” she asked.
“I should think so. I don’t think she has a clue.”
"No," she said, smiling gently and making me regret my initial judgment of her. "I'm not asking if it will be a surprise to her. I'm asking if it's a surprise to you."
“Is it that obvious?”
