A Debt of Honour – Episode 24
A Debt Of Honour
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- 1. A Debt of Honour – Episode 24
Ellie and Calum’s celebration continued all afternoon.
Now they were going to catch a bus home, but it was still early and too warm and sunny to rush.
They walked to the bus station, hand in hand.
Ellie decided to go through the Thistle Centre and drop down to the bus station on its other side.
Calum was still in a daze and was prepared to walk anywhere, so long as it involved walking with Ellie.
From time to time, Ellie paused to look into shop windows. Calum stood docile at her side.
Now and again he shook his head.
Ellie knew he was having trouble believing that he had actually got himself a job, and a good one at that.
This was window shopping at its best. They stopped outside the mobile phone shops and along the frontage of the stores.
They had all the time in the world, and Ellie was happy to wander, drifting towards the bus station with Calum at her side.
She felt his relief and delight as if it were her own.
Even more strongly, perhaps, because it was she who had made him apply for the job.
It was a great day. One to remember.
She stopped outside a jeweller’s window, everything inside glittering and looking its best in the strong lighting.
Calum paused a window or so behind her, looking at the watches.
He ambled to her side.
“What are you looking at?” Calum asked.
“That ring,” Ellie replied, pointing.
Calum glanced in. There were scores of rings, with all sorts of glittering stones.
“Which one?” he asked.
“That one.” Ellie pointed again. “The one with a small blue sapphire and the cluster of tiny diamonds.”
He followed her finger.
“How much is it?” he asked nonchalantly.
She told him.
He blinked.
“That much?” he said, surprised.
“It’s not just an ordinary ring,” Ellie explained. “It’s a special one – like the sort of ring you would get for an engagement.
“Something to be worn and cherished for the rest of your life.”
She moved on towards the bus station.
Calum hesitated, then followed.
They had turned the final corner, several hundred yards away, when he drew her gently to a stop.
“There’s something I want to see again,” he said.
“We’ll miss our bus,” she warned.
“There are other buses.”
Ellie had seen him pause outside the watches. Maybe there was one that he had really liked and, powered by success, a good bar meal and a couple of pints, he wanted to go back and buy it.
That was, Ellie thought, until his bank balance cut short his euphoria.
But she was happy. This was his day and she was prepared to let him do what he wanted.
There was no need to hurry home to the flat. Her mum would surely have eaten by now.
Ellie followed Callum through the thinning flow of shoppers back to the jewellery shop.
She smiled.
She had guessed right.
Then her smile faded, because they had stopped outside the window with the display of rings.
She frowned at him.
“Here?” she asked.
“Not quite,” Calum replied. “Let’s go inside.”
Giving her little choice in the matter, he pushed through the doors, towing her along.
Calum headed towards the counter and a waiting salesperson.
Ellie saw a minor wince, as if the poor lady had thought her work was over for the day.
“The ring in the window – the blue one with the diamonds around it,” Calum stated. “The third tray in from the left, as you look from outside.
“Can we see it, please?”
“Certainly.” The lady moved towards the window, opened a panel and carefully drew out the tray. “This one?”
“Yes.” Calum nodded. “Can Ellie try it for size?”
“Of course.” The sales lady’s attention sharpened.
She eased out the ring, polished it gently on a soft cloth, then held it across the glass counter towards Ellie.
“Calum! What on earth are you doing?” Ellie demanded, flustered.
“I want to see if the ring fits,” he replied quietly.
Ellie snatched her hand away.
“But that’s an engagement ring, isn’t it?” she asked the sales lady.
“This would certainly be appropriate.”
“But –”
“Maybe that’s a good idea,” Calum said very quietly.
He took the ring from the woman and held it out towards Ellie.
He hesitated, then slipped down on one knee.
“Ellie,” he began. “I love you with all my heart and soul. Will you marry me? Please?”
He held out the ring.
These moments generate their own invisible magnetism.
All the other sales staff materialised behind the counter, and shoppers stopped in the concourse, smiling round the open doorway of the shop.
Ellie had a sudden feeling of standing on an open stage, with a floodlight focused full on her.
“Please?” Calum asked again. “Can you make a great day perfect by saying yes?”
To be continued…
