Chapter 21
894 Words
Mike decided to take Crystal on a shopping trip to Des Moines, the nearest “big” city. He had never been there himself. He found several office supply, thrift and antique stores listed online. They passed Adventureland on the way and Mike made a mental note to plan another trip.
I need to get these mental notes out of my head!
They stopped at an office supply store first and found the whiteboard and oversized notepads Crystal wanted. Next, they stopped at a large Salvation Army thrift store where they found several treasures. Crystal had a good eye for envisioning the transformation of something, the same as he did.
“Check out this big ass frame,” she called him over. “It’s got a few nicks, but nothing a little wood filler and paint can’t handle. Look at the intricate scrollwork, though. Kristy has a friend with a drone. We could get an ariel photo of the land to put in here.”
“That would be cool!” He saw the price tag. “$7? Wow! At these prices, we can fill the truck for $100 or less,” he laughed. “What’s that over there in the corner? A twin perhaps?”
Mike strode over to where he thought he spotted a very similar frame. “Tah-dah!” He exclaimed and lifted the frame up. “It’s not an exact match, but it's pretty close. When we’re done building, we can add an “after” photo.”
Crystal loved Mike’s childlike enthusiasm for treasure hunting. She’d often heard women complain about how their partners were never into the same things, but she did not have this problem. She also liked how he used “we” when he talked about building.
They found several treasures. More frames, a vintage china dinnerware set, a waterfall vanity and a wicker patio set. They did indeed fill the back of the pick up and were only out $112.
“Did I call it or what?” Mike laughed.
“I never had a doubt,” she winked.
“That china set goes for about $250 on eBay,” he told her on the way over to the mall. “But it will look beautiful in that hutch I’m refinishing.”
“$250? Wow! You have to teach me more about vintage glassware,” she teased him.
“Oh I’ve got plenty of books in storage. I’ve just been trying to figure out where to build the library that’s dancing in my head.”
“You’ll figure it out.”
“With your whiteboards and notepads,” Mike grinned.
They drove for a few minutes and Mike pulled into a mall.
“Do we have room for more shopping?” Crystal asked.
“Not a lot, but there’s a few little things I’m looking for. New boots, for one,” he pointed to the rip forming on his current pair.
“I should get some, too,” Crystal realized. Something across the road caught her eye. “Oh my God,” she muttered. “It’s even prettier in person!”
“What is?” Mike asked, following the direction she pointed.
“That teal Jeep Renegade!”
“Is that the kind of vehicle you’ve been wanting?” He asked.
“Yeah. I’ve narrowed my choices down to one of those or a Mustang. With winter coming, the Jeep makes more sense if it has four wheel drive.”
“Well let’s go look at some boots and then we’ll go take a closer look.”
Mike had another reason for visiting the mall, too. After they selected new boots, Mike led Crystal to the next store.
“Kay’s?” Crystal questioned, her heart beating faster.
“Yes. I want to buy you a promise ring.”
“A p-promise ring?”
“Yes. I want to give you some sort of symbol of my commitment to you—to us. I know we still have a lot to learn about each other, but I don’t want anyone else. If we were in high school, I would give you my class ring, which I've unfortunately lost. We’re not in high school though. I saw an ad for an infinity ring that will hold both of our birthstones, but I don’t know your size and I couldn’t think of a way to get it without making you suspicious.”
“Oh my God, Mike, you are so sweet.” She kissed him before tears could well up.
“Shall we go inside?”
Gulping air, she nodded yes.
They sat at an eatery inside the mall while the jeweler set the ring with a peridot gem for Mike’s August birthday and a garnet for her January one.
“I can’t wait to see it! Thank you, Mike. I love you. Maybe I’ll blow you on the way home,” she teased.
Mike had the decency to look embarrassed and intrigued at the same time. “I’ve never had road head before,” he whispered sheepishly.
“I guess I won’t be driving home in a new Jeep today then,” she giggled.
“If you want it, we’ll come back and get it,” he promised.
“Let’s hope I can get a good deal with what I’ve saved up to put down.”
- Writer
