Claire Gulliver #06 - Carnage Goes Coastal (11 page)

“That’s not much time to pull together a wedding.”

Jack looked at her. “Do we need more time? Can’t we just get married and have the falderal later?”

Claire looked at him wide-eyed for a moment, then she grinned. “I’m thinking what my mother is going to say when I invite her to my wedding this weekend.”

Jack smiled as he muttered, “She’ll say, ‘At last!”’

Claire giggled. “You’re probably right.”

But the discussion lost their interest as the kisses and neck nibbles became more intense and the couple became engrossed in each other.

Much later that night Claire pulled free of Jack’s arms, sat up in bed and announced, “This weekend is impossible. I need more time to have the wedding I have in mind.”

Jack tried to ignore her, but Claire jabbed him with her elbow. “Don’t try to pretend you’re sleeping. What gives with the race to the altar? Don’t you like weddings?”

Reluctantly he admitted, “No, not particularly. I’m guessing most men don’t. But, I do want to get married. It’s just all the stuff that goes with it that makes me nervous.”

“Well, what about when you married Karen’s mother? Was that a big deal?”

“Was it ever! It went on for months. She and her mother planned every detail and worried and fussed through the whole thing. I’m not even sure she remembered it the next week. I know I just drifted through, just doing what I was told. When the pictures came it was like seeing pictures of someone else’s wedding. I didn’t recognize anything, and hardly any of the people, other than my parents.”

He rolled over and said seriously, “What kind of wedding were you thinking about? You know I’ll do anything you want. I just want us to get married, soon!”

“Well, you lucked out this time, because I don’t want a big splashy wedding. But I do want to have my friends and relatives there. And I think we can do it soon. I’m not sure about this weekend, but I’ll try to make it soon. Will that satisfy you?”

He nodded, wrapping her in is arms. “I love you, and not just because you’ve promised not to turn our wedding into a circus.”

Then just as Claire was starting to drift off, he asked, “Is the old Cadillac still in the garage?”

“Uh huh,” she muttered.

“Well, I’ll come pick you up in it tomorrow about two. We’ll travel in style.”

She smiled her agreement before sliding into sleep.

“Jack, you’re back. So that’s why Claire’s been floating around all morning with that goofy grin on her face. How are you?” Mrs. B, Claire’s assistant manager at Gulliver’s Travel Bookstore, squeezed Jack’s hands happily. “And this must be why Claire has to take a few hours off this afternoon. You devil! You’re kidnapping her for some fun, aren’t you?”

Jack nodded, putting his arm around Mrs. B and giving her a hug. “You don’t mind, do you? She needs a treat occasionally. I promise to get her back before closing.”

“Don’t you worry one bit. I’ll be happy to stay until she gets back or the store closes. You two just go and have a good time.”

Claire fussed and fiddled with some last minute chores and finally she preceded Jack through the front door, pausing a moment to admire the old Cadillac parked in front. “So I guess it’s still running? Tony gave it a checkup a couple of weeks ago. He won’t allow me to forget and he calls if I don’t bring it in on schedule. Every once in a while I think about selling it, but then I remember how much Uncle Bernie loved this car and I feel I just have to keep it and continue to pay for its upkeep.”

“It’s a great car, Claire. Don’t let it go. It drives like a dream and besides it’s only what, fifty-four years old? And look at it, it’s beautiful. They don’t make cars like this anymore.”

Claire laughed, shaking her head. “No, I guess they don’t. Tony keeps telling me it’s a classic. He’s got three avid collectors who want first bids if I ever decide to sell. But so far I’ve managed to be too busy to think about selling it, and I confess I love to drive it now and then. It makes me feel special.”

Jack had put the cream colored rag top down. The pale yellow 1949 Cadillac convertible with the red leather interior sitting at the curb in front of the store was an eye-catcher. The powerful motor purred instantly to life and the car moved smoothly down the street attracting admiring glances as it moved through the little town.

“So I thought San Francisco. Is that okay with you? Or would you rather shop somewhere else?” Jack asked heading the car toward the freeway entrance.

“Oh, let’s go to San Francisco. It makes it more of an adventure.”

“Right, I think they have a Cartier there, don’t they?”

“They do, but we don’t have to shop at the high end, you know?”

“Yes, we do. Since I’m finally going to be able to put a ring on your finger, I want to make sure it’s the best money can buy. We’re not going to stint on this, Claire. Do you have some idea of what you’d like? Do you want an engagement ring and band, a band, lots of diamonds, a huge diamond, or what?”

Claire sat thinking for a few minutes and then as the wind whipped around them on the freeway she said, “Well, first of all I don’t want to go to Cartier’s. I’m a San Francisco girl and I want to shop at Shreve and Company. It’s been on Post Street for about a hundred and fifty years and I’ve drooled over their window displays since I was a young girl. So that’s where I want my wedding ring to come from.

“And secondly, I don’t want a diamond. I object to spending a lot of money for a stone that’s value has been artificially set by the diamond industry. And frankly, the stories of the cruelty and crime connected to that whole industry makes me balk at supporting it. I’d much rather have a colored stone, perhaps an aquamarine, or an amethyst or,” she smoothed her hair back out of her eyes to peer at Jack, “I think I might like an emerald if we can find one we can afford.”

“Claire, I don’t want you to even think about price. Today, cost will not be the deciding factor. Today, we’re looking for something we both feel is the perfect symbol of our love. That way every time we see it on your finger we’ll be happy. Okay?” He waited for her nod, then said happily, “Okay, which way to this super jewelry store?”

“More important than the store, I’ll direct you to the parking garage at Union Square. It’s only a block from the store.”

Jack and Claire parked in the bottom level of the parking garage built under the park in a space close to the bank of elevators where Jack thought it was safe enough to leave the car. Hand in hand they strolled out to Post Street and turned right toward Grant Street.

It was a beautiful day, which was San Francisco’s normal in the fall. This was the month when the fog disappeared and the tourists, who luckily chose this time for their visit, were wondering why they had gotten all those warnings about cold wind and fog. They moseyed down the street, glancing in the store windows, managing to avoid person to person collisions until they arrived at the ornate entrance to the impressive post earthquake building which was Shreve’s and Company.

The uniformed doorman held the door open invitingly, inquiring, “May I direct you to a particular department?”

“Rings. We want to look at nice rings,” Jack told him.

The doorman nodded, and somehow signaled to another man. “This is Mr. Bernheim. He specializes in rings. I’m sure he will be able to help you.”

Mr. Bernheim had a wide smile. “Ah, rings, and would this be for a special occasion?”

Jack nodded. “We’re looking for a wedding ring, but we don’t want diamonds.”

Claire added her preferences. “A colored stone, something special. I want a ring that will serve as both an engagement ring and a wedding ring. Do you have something like that?”

“Oh my, yes. Please come this way and we can see what we have you’d like.” He moved toward the far end of the large ground floor showroom. He seated them at a small table with comfortable chairs.

“Now, can you give me some idea of a price range and perhaps the type of ring you’re thinking about, or would you like me to pick a group of rings for you to see?”

“Price is not a major consideration,” Jack assured him. “The important thing is to find something both Claire and I like.”

Mr. Bernheim nodded and then excused himself to go to the back. Meanwhile, a young man approached them and offered them wine, coffee or soft drinks. Jack demurred and Claire said she would like a glass of water. The man returned with a crystal glass of iced water followed immediately by Mr. Bernheim carrying a large black velvet box.

“Now, here are some selections for you to start with. We have many more, but I thought this would help us determine what you’d like.” He opened the box and laid an array of rings on a black velvet pad in front of them, putting a mirror in front of Claire.

Claire and Jack carefully looked at each ring and Claire laid five of them to the side of the black pad. “None of these is the right one, but these five interest me. I would like to see more rings that are similar.”

Mr. Bernheim nodded soberly, scooped the rings back into his box and disappeared again.

Claire sipped her water and said to Jack, “I didn’t even ask the prices.”

“That’s good! I told you we should choose what we liked regardless of the price.”

Claire shook her head. “Jack, I know you want to get something I will enjoy, and I appreciate your intent, but I can assure you that walking around with a very expensive ring on my finger will only make me very uncomfortable. I’m sure I can find something I love at a reasonable price. If I feel it is too expensive I won’t enjoy wearing it.”

Jack looked surprised and then he nodded. He understood what she was saying.

This time when Mr. Bernheim returned Claire tried on three of the rings, one was a dark emerald cabochon oval stone set in a heavy gold ring, one was an aquamarine surrounded by small diamonds and the last one was a large sapphire, a light blue multi-facetted stone set in an unusual gold swirled style band.

Claire asked the price of each and was relieved to find none of them cost more than five thousand dollars. She looked at the emerald on her finger. “I like this best, but somehow it looks too dark, and maybe a little too masculine. Perhaps you have something similar and lighter.”

Mr. Bernheim, totally unruffled, scooped the rings up again and disappeared. He seemed to be gone a long time and Claire whispered to Jack, “Am I being too picky? Do you think we’ve lost him?”

“No chance of that. Don’t worry, this big store has lots of rings. We’re just getting started.”

And Jack was right. Mr. Bernheim had to take only three more trips to the “back” before one of the rings he put on the viewing pad was a beautiful cabochon aquamarine oval set in a wide, domed band of yellow gold. The stone was about the size of a dime and looked perfect on Claire’s slender ring finger. Both Jack and Claire examined it closely before finally agreeing they didn’t need to look further. Mr. Bernheim was so happy to close the deal he agreed to have the ring engraved while they chose a wedding band for Jack. And an hour later they happily left the store, Claire wearing her ring engraved with “Jack loves Claire,” with an agreement to return later in the week for Jack’s ring after it had been engraved with “Claire loves Jack”.

“Would you like to get a bite to eat, or a drink somewhere?” Jack asked, loath for their afternoon to end.

Claire shook her head. “No, what I’d like to do is to stop by Mom’s and tell her our news and then head back to the store so Mrs. B can go home.”

“Mrs. B told me to take our time. She said she would be happy to stay until closing if necessary.”

But Claire shook her head again. “She is so sweet, I know she’d stay with no complaints, but I don’t like to take advantage of her. She needs her time off, and I’ve noticed she doesn’t have quite the same energy level lately. Of course I’d never mention it to her, but I try to make sure she doesn’t work such long hours as she used to.” Then she beamed at Jack. “Truthfully, I think I’m just anxious to show off my ring. Mom will be thrilled.”

Jack nodded as he steered her towards the colorful flower stand occupying the corner across the street diagonally from Union Square. “Well, at least I’m going to buy you a big bouquet of flowers to celebrate the day. What is your pleasure?”

They leisurely examined the selections, vacillating between two bouquets of assorted flowers until Jack said, “We’ll get both. We can give one to your mother, okay?” When he had the flower vendor’s attention he ordered three bouquets, saying somewhat sheepishly, “We’ll get one for Mrs. B too, to thank her for covering for you.”

Once they retrieved the car and Jack had ascertained that no damage had befallen it, Jack looked to Claire for directions to Millie’s house.

“Let’s go out Sacramento Street. It’s one of my favorite drives through the city, because you drive through a variety of neighborhoods.” Claire directed Jack down Post Street to turn left on Grant, up through Chinatown to turn left on Sacramento. The old car valiantly climbed the steep hills allowing them a lovely view of this eclectic city while the pedestrians nudged each other and pointed at the old, but pristine, classic car. Too soon, it seemed, they turned left on Thirteenth Street and pulled into the driveway at Millie’s house.

“Will she be home?”

Claire glanced at her watch. “Oh yes. She’ll be cooking. Tomorrow is delivery day. Come on.” She was smiling as she pushed the doorbell, waiting just a moment and then impatiently pushing it again. Briefly she saw her mother’s face through the tiny window in the door.

The door opened. Millie with a worried frown on her face, said, “Claire, what on earth are you doing here? What’s wrong?”

Claire laughed and moved a little to the side so Jack could be seen.

“Jack. Jack you’re back.” Millie pulled Claire inside and then clasped her hands on each side of Jack’s face and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “How wonderful. When did you get here? How are you? Will you be here for a while?”

“Mom, let him come in, and then we’ll answer some of your questions. As you can see, nothing is wrong. In fact things are right. Great in fact.” Claire was gesturing elaborately with her hands, but her mother still hadn’t noticed the ring.