“Err, thank you?”

“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to embarrass you,” Evelyn says charmingly as she unhooks a bunch of keys from her neck and uses a tiny silver one to open the back of the glass cube displaying the cat rings.

She retrieves the dark-blue velvet tray holding the rings and sets it on a nearby glass cabinet. “These are our cat rings. They come in different materials, and are at different price points…”

Diego finally hovers next to me, listening in on Evelyn’s explanation.

“…These ones here are all made of 10-carat gold: white, regular, and rose. And they cost $99.99.” She opens a white drawer under the glass cabinet and takes out two small, blue velvet boxes, which contain two silvery rings. “These are sterling silver, our cheapest option at $29.99, and platinum, our most expensive at $499.99.”

“Better get the cheapest one,” Diego chimes in. “Can’t really tell the difference with the other ones.”

Evelyn’s next comment is cut off in a sort of gasp. “The materials may seem all the same right now, but the durability of platinum over time is superior by far. It’s such a precious, timeless metal that will last a lifetime.”

“Guess they can all make it to Christmas, though.” Diego shrugs at her, and then, turning to me, he adds, “You can always tell your family it’s platinum.”

Gosh, he has no clue.

Evelyn’s jaw has dropped to the floor by now, and I don’t have the heart to look up at the other girls. I’m sure I’d find equally crestfallen faces. There’s nothing I can say.

“Sterling silver it is,” I offer lamely. “Can I try it on for sizes? I should be a six.”

For a moment, Evelyn seems unable to speak. “A size six! Right,” she manages at last, sounding strangled. “In sterling silver, lovely. So pretty.”

She collects the right size and offers me the ring.

I slip it on my finger and… “It’s a perfect fit.”

“It is!” Evelyn is obviously forcing herself to nod animatedly. “So nice!” She exchanges looks with the other red girls, who all hastily chime in.

“Adorable!”

“Lovely choice!”

Their bright smiles so don’t reach their eyes. One girl is actually blushing in mortification for me. I want to disappear.

“Would you like this gift wrapped?” Evelyn asks as she moves behind the register.

“Yes, please,” I say.

“Maggie, can you take care of the wrapping?” she asks.

One of the girls shuffles close by and grabs the box, careful to avoid looking me in the eye.

“With all our rings we also offer a care plan,” Evelyn says. “For only ten dollars you get three cleanings and one re-sizing should you ever need it.”

“A care plan on a thirty dollar ring?” Diego lets out an incredulous laugh. “That’s such a rip-off.”

“Just the ring,” I hasten to say, before the situation gets any more awkward.

“Great.” Evelyn taps the register keys, unfazed, almost anesthetized by Diego’s lack of romanticism. “Would you be paying cash or credit, sir?” she asks Diego pointedly, her bright smile frozen solid.