The Ring

Hopefully, the paperwork it takes to register a home and earn it local, state and landmark status would not be too burdensome. It was the only hard work left to do at the House on the Hill.

My work at the House on the Hill, as I now called it, was finishing up. The bed and breakfast would open within the month, and the reservations called in recently had already booked it solidly for the next three months.

Now that I had more time, I allowed Colleen to drag me away from my work, and off to one of her favorite habits, shopping. We shopped at the mall, browsing the tables of blue glass and old china at an antique show within the corridors, stopping at the clothing stores, and of course making a stop to see Matt at work.

"You should really get that old ring reset and made to fit your finger," Colleen said. "At least then you wouldn't have to hang it from a necklace."

"I can't help it I have stubby fingers," I said with a laugh, fingering the necklace where the old ring dangled next to the friendship locket Colleen had given me so many years ago.

"I can't help it either," she said, and we compared our hands.

"We could be sisters," I said, as we held up our hands, seeing some similarities. "Well, we could be sisters according to our hand size, I mean."

She laughed, and dragged me in to see Matt. It was nice that she never left me out. She always tried to make some effort to make me get to know her boyfriends, instead of letting me feel left out. Of course, look what happened with Tom! Well, maybe that was just meant to be. Time would tell.

Tom and I have started dating, and even though it is too early to know for sure, it seems very right. But we both intend to move slowly. Although I do not understand all his complexities, and will probably never understand them completely, he just seems right for me, and I for him.

I am so glad that Colleen understands. She seems to be happy with her new man, and I hope it works out for her. And if it's meant to be, it will.

"I did something, and I hope you won't be mad about it," Colleen said as we entered the store. "But I really think it's great. It's so exciting!"

I was puzzled. We did that to each other sometimes-rambled on without explaining ourselves.

Sometimes I could read her mind. This time, I could only stare at her blankly.

"You know it's real, don't you?" she remarked.

"What!" I exclaimed, not sure whether to be confused or excited. Was she talking about the ring, or something else?