Kelly had kept the ring hidden while she was at home, but the next morning, she put it on. She thought she should get used to it before showing it. Mrs. Carl spotted it immediately. But then, she was the one who’d chosen it, purchased it and told her son what to do with it.

Her squeal was so high-pitched that three dogs started howling. “What’s going on?” Dr. Carl asked, alarmed. “They sound like werewolves.”

Kelly had just finished stitching up a four-inch-long cut in a dog’s hind leg. She didn’t reply as she tossed away her gloves.

“It is!” Mrs. Carl screeched. “It’s the one.”

Dr. Carl was staring at the ring and he didn’t look happy. “Go on,” he said to Kelly. “I’ll finish here.”

Mrs. Carl was in a trance of happiness and she grabbed Kelly’s hand so hard it hurt. “When? Where? Why didn’t you tell us? Pauly already left and he never said a word, but then, I was crying so hard I couldn’t hear anything. I’m sure he wanted to surprise me. My darling son.” She dropped Kelly’s hand. “I have to tell people.”

She ran out of the clinic and back to the house. Within an hour there wouldn’t be anyone in Mason who didn’t know. In three hours all of Kansas would know.

Dr. Carl was staring at Kelly. “Are you positive you want to do this?”

Lying wasn’t easy. “Sure” was all she could manage to say.

“I can’t see Pauly living in your house with your mother and...” He nodded toward the cages of animals. “Pauly is a very quiet person. The silence of trees suits him better than a squawking parrot.”

Kelly kept her head down. “We’ll work things out.”

“With the deep love you have for each other?”

His tone was so cynical that Kelly looked at him in surprise. She saw that he was waiting for her to tell him the truth. But if she told him, she’d lose a boyfriend and her job in one great swipe of a diamond blade.

Kelly took off her smock. “Mind if I go home? My mother will want to, uh...talk to me.”

“Sure,” he said, but he didn’t look up as she left.

As soon as Kelly entered her house, she knew she was in trouble. She hadn’t told her mother first. Even though Forey’s car was parked in front, the house was eerily silent. Maybe they’re outside, she thought in hope.

But no. They were in the kitchen and suffering. Kelly’s mother’s eyes were red and Forey looked hurt.

“Could we see it?” Forey asked solemnly.

With a sigh, Kelly held out her left hand to show the big diamond ring. “Lovely,” Forey said.

Her mother gave it a glance but said nothing.