it. It was from Carla. Sitting down on the couch she pressed Carla's number in her contact list and waited for the phone to be answered.
"So, did you get called back?" Carla greeted Anne by asking her the question.
"Good morning to you, too. They offered me the job." Carla screamed in excitement then told Gary, who was somewhere close by. When Carla got back on the line, Anne told her the details of the contract and when she would start. Then she told her that she would be looking for a rental on Tuesday and Wednesday.
"Oh, I know of a place you can rent. You know that little cape cod at the other end of the block?"
"Is it the blue one with the dormers or the white one with the fence?"
"It's the blue one. It's owned by a techie who is moving to California for a year, but he doesn't want to sell it, just lease it out. But he is picky about who he will lease it to, too. He was talking about leasing it out to someone who doesn't have kids or pets, preferably a professional. No college students. I told him about you, and he is interested in showing it to you. What should I tell him? Will you look at it? It's a two bedroom, has a killer kitchen, a fireplace, and a big deck in back. Oh, and it has a single detached garage. You need to see it."
"Sounds super tempting, Carla. What's he asking per month?" Carla told her the lease price that was well within Anne’s budget. "Tell him that I'll be in town on Tuesday and Wednesday. If he is available, I want to see it."
"Will do. How's it going at the inn? Do your mom and dad have you working?" Anne took a sip of her coffee before answering.
"No work this time. I'm just relaxing with old friends."
"That's good, Anne. I told you that I had a good feeling about this." Anne heard Ben putting his key card into the lock.
"Hey, I have to go now, Carla. I'll fill you in on Tuesday about what I've been doing. Ok?"
"Ok. Bye, Anne."
Anne pressed the disconnect call button just as Ben walked into the room. He saw her sitting on the couch and put his hand behind his back before walking over to her. She was curious about what he was hiding.
"Morning," she greeted him with a smile. He, in contrast, had a nervous look on his face.
"Good morning. I got this for you." He pulled his arm from behind him and showed her what he held in his hand. It was a white jewelry box. Surprised, she looked up into his eyes then took the box from him. She was speechless, and swallowed a couple of times to remove the lump that suddenly formed. Inside the box she found a delicate silver chain with an aquamarine stone attached as a permanent setting of the chain. It was beautiful. "It reminded me of your eyes," he said as she continued to look at the necklace. She felt her eyes water. "Anne?"
"It's beautiful." She looked up at him, and he saw her tears.
"Don't cry, Anne. You don't like it. I'll take it back. I'll exchange it." Alarmed, he dropped to his knees before her.
"Don't you dare! I love it. Help me put it on." She took the delicate chain from the box and tried to open the clasp, but her hands were shaking too much. Ben took it from her and sat next to her on the couch. She lifted her hair so that he could secure the clasp, and then he kissed her nape when the clasp was secure. Letting her hair fall back down, she turned to look at him, fingering the stone that rested at the base of her throat. She was not expecting this. Hopefully it was a good sign, she thought, and not a parting gift. "When did you get this?"
"I got it this morning. I drove over to the jewelry store in Eastsound, the one we walked by last night, and had the proprietor open up early. You look beautiful."
She stood up and crossed over to the mirror by the door. The stone was the same color as her eyes. Ben came to stand behind her, and she spun around to kiss him then wrapped her arms around his waist. "I love it. It's too expensive, though."
"I can afford it, Anne." He put his hands up and cupped