“You should try it on.” The boutique owner took the dress from Amanda’s hand before she could hang it up. She motioned to the dressing room in the back of the store. “I have some sandals that would look good with it.”
Amanda hesitated and looked at Dunc. “I think I need to find something a little less dressy.” It was too expensive.
“Try it on, Amanda.” Dunc smiled and gestured to the dressing room. “I get a discount, remember.”
“He does.” The owner took Amanda’s hand and led her back to the dressing room.
***
Dunc couldn’t stop smiling when Amanda came out in the dress. She had on a pair of flat-soled sandals with matching pink and purple beads on the straps to go with it. He had never seen her in anything but jeans, shorts, and shirts. He had assumed she was the kind of girl that didn’t like dresses or anything like that, and that was fine.
Amanda stepped out and turned one way. Then she shifted at the hip, letting the dress wrap around her legs and then unfurl. The solid cloth stopped above her knees, and the sheer panels fluttered down to her ankles. The neckline was a wide scoop neck. Amanda had adjusted it to show off her left shoulder and every beautiful line along the way. It reminded him of when she had stolen his shirt and wore it in precisely the same way. “What do you think?” Amanda couldn’t help but feel shy, knowing that Dunc was looking her over. A light pink blush spread over her shoulders and face.
“Perfect?” Dunc whispered. “We’ll take it and the shoes.” Dunc turned away, trying to hide the silly grin he knew was on his face. If she liked things like that, he was more than happy to buy them. He would have her dress and shoe size without asking her for them.
“Shouldn’t I get higher heels?” Amanda glanced at her sandals and whispered to the boutique owner. “He’s so tall.”
“Amanda, if you can make a man bow to you, do it.” The owner had giggled. “Especially that man.” Amanda wasn’t sure what to make of the statement.
***
They finished at the boutique, and Amanda wore her new dress and shoes out. They walked down the street to their next destination, Goldberg’s Jewelers. Dunc made trips to the store several times a year for his mother. Jewelry was flashy and unnecessary in his eyes. Amanda didn’t seem to agree. He had never seen her with anything more than a simple necklace. But Dunc noticed she was drawn to the necklaces and pendants the moment they entered the store. Dunc had the sudden desire to adorn her neck and body with all the ropes of pearls, gold, diamonds, rubies, and precious stones he could get his hands on. It was the weirdest sensation.
Dunc shook his head to get rid of the ridiculous thoughts. “I have to pick up something. Look around and see if something catches your eye.” He headed to the main counter.
***
Amanda glanced after Dunc and scrunched up her face at him. Did he tell her to pick out something? She frowned and stepped away from the jewelry. She had sold everything valuable she had been given by Joseph plus her own things. Jewelry was lovely in small amounts, but it wasn’t necessary. There was no real value in it, and she scoffed at all the ‘love is a diamond’ commercialization. What was more important? A shiny little rock or a house? A car that ran without breaking down every week? Food in her kitchen and supplies in her studio? Jewelry wasn’t meaningful. She didn’t want any of that.
***
Dunc noticed Amanda had stopped looking and was standing near the door, waiting on him. He turned to his jeweler friend and smiled. “What do you think I should get her? Something that matches her dress. Something natural.” The jeweler smiled and walked to the back of his shop.
***
“Where to now?” Amanda took Dunc’s arm as he offered it. He held a small bag from the jewelers, and she was curious to know what was in it.
“Lunch, then home.” Dunc smiled, walking her to his car. He opened the door for her, waited for her to get in, then closed it. When he got in on the driver’s side, he took a large black box out of the bag and put it on Amanda’s lap. She looked from it to Dunc.
“Duncan. I didn’t want you to buy me anything. I don’t need jewelry. It’s all so stupid.” She was trying to be polite in declining it.
“Open it.” He twisted to toss the bag into the back seat. “If you don’t want to keep it, you don’t have to, but I would like you to at least look at it.”
Amanda sighed and tapped the box with her fingers. She wasn’t sure what to expect. Please. Don’t be diamonds. Anything but diamonds. The box popped open. Inside was a simple
