I pound the wooden railing with my fist. A young mother watches me warily and walks away with her two kids. I know she loves me. I know she does. I just need to convince her I am serious about us. She thinks I asked her on a whim. She’s afraid that I’ll soon change my mind. She thinks that I am not serious about our relationship or getting married. That I don’t love her as much as I know I do. But I’ll convince her. I hope that I can convince her.
My hand reaches into my jacket pocket and my fingers wrap around the little metal ring. I’ve brought my mother’s ring. I forgot it last night, but I have it with me now. This will convince her I am serious. That I want to be with her forever. The moment I found the ring, I knew it was meant for her. The green of the emerald matches the green of her eyes perfectly.
I scan the piers impatiently. I’ve asked her to meet me out here. I told her I needed to give her something. She refused at first but then reluctantly agreed over the phone. I know I can get her to marry me once she sees the ring.
I also bought flowers. Red roses. Those are romantic, right? With little white flowers that look like snowflakes. The lady at the flower shop told me that is the most romantic combination if I want to propose. I even put on a suit. The lady said that I have to dress up if I want to be taken seriously. I straighten my tie, feeling very out of place surrounded by families on vacation. A couple of men in Hawaiian shirts and flip-flops eye my full suit suspiciously as they accompany their wives and children into the nearest souvenir shops.
I turn away from the crowd and lean against the wooden post. The ocean is sparkling blue under the perfect sun. I smile as I think about taking Amelia out for lobster fishing again. We can even get our own little boat.
My hands can’t stop fidgeting as I take out the ring again. It sparkles even more brilliant than the sea. I can see the surprise in her green eyes. I will get down on one knee in the middle of the pier and ask her to marry me. She will say “yes” and the entire crowd will cheer. It will be the perfect proposal, just like the lady in the flower shop envisioned.
A pair of young boys run past me, laughing hard. A little girl stumbles behind her brothers, trying to keep up. She knocks into my arm and I lose my grip on the ring. It flies into the air and lands on the pier deck. My heart stops as it narrowly misses the gap between the wooden slabs. It rolls for a few feet away and disappears over the edge.
I am so angry at the twist of fate, and I unintentionally glower at the poor little girl.
“I’m sorry, mistah,” she whispers to me. My heart softens as I watch tears form in her big round eyes.
“Oh, we’re so sorry.” The unwitting parents finally catch up and apologize profusely.
But there is nothing they can do. My heart sinks. The ring is gone. Along with my hope of marrying the woman of my dreams.
Then again, it’s just a ring, right? She’ll marry me if she loves me, right? I still have the suit and the flowers, and I can always buy her another ring. I try to cheer myself up.
“So what do you want?” A girl in a bedazzled jean jacket crosses her arm in front of her. She looks oddly familiar. Now I remember. She’s Amelia’s friend. Meghan or something.
“Where is she?” I ask, keeping my impatience in check. I don’t want to deal with her pesky friend right now. I have to talk to Amelia first. Also, I have a pretty good hunch that her friend doesn’t like me.
“She doesn’t want to see you. What did you want to give her?” She holds out an annoying hand.
“It’s not for you.” I feel like I’m trying to explain quantum physics to a four-year-old. “Where is Amelia? I need to see her and explain.”
She scans me up and down, and then she whistles. “You’re in a suit and you got her flowers. You’re not going to propose, are you?”
Slightly embarrassed, I nod.
“Well?” She extends her head toward me as if I’m the idiot four-year-old. “Let me see the ring.”
I open my mouth to explain, but then decide against it. She won’t care why I don’t have the ring. What matters is that I don’t have a ring and I’m trying to propose. I feel like an idiot.
“No ring?” She is taken aback. “You can’t afford one or something. I thought you were loaded.”
“I lost it.” I clear my throat. “It was an accident.”
She shrugs her shoulders and tries to stifle a laugh. “Right. I’m sure.” She backs away from me.
“Where’s Amelia? I need to see her.” I grab her arm before she slips away from me.
She shrugs me off, swaying her side ponytail as she jeers at me. “I don’t think so. I told you. She doesn’t want to see you. And since you have nothing for me to give to her. I’m gonna be going now.”
“Tell her I need to see her.” I reach for her shoulder again.
This time, she flinches away as if in pain. “Ow! Leave me alone. I don’t know you.”
People in the crowd look in our direction. A few concerned ones close in on us. They must think that I’m harassing her.
I clench my jaw and let her go. “Why won’t she see me?”
“Look, I’ve been friends with Amelia for a long time. She’s my best friend. One piece of advice I can give you is that she
