A Worthy Proposal

By Mitchell Hoyle

On the third day of their trip to Mexico, Jacob had realized that he wanted to marry Holly. 

It was the small things that got him there. The way the sun always left her skin a little pink no matter how much sunscreen she wore, or the way she’d squeal when the sand was too hot in the afternoon.

He just didn’t have the perfect ring.

“Hey, what do you think colada means?” Holly looked over at him, holding a large coconut with cuttings of tropical fruit for a face. Even though their poolside cabana shaded them from the sun she was still drinking from it like she were lost in the desert. “I mean I get that piña means pineapple, but has anybody actually asked what colada means?”

“I don’t even know how to spell colada.” Jacob leaned back in his lounger and looked across the pool. He’d thought it was a good idea to save money by going to a family friendly resort, but now that he was watching the shallow end frothing with children he wasn’t so sure. 

“Maybe it means creamy?” Holly’s straw slurped against the bottom and she sighed. “Alas, more research is needed.”  

“Say no more babe,” Jacob hopped up from his seat. “One pineapple creamy for my dreamy coming right up.”

Holly laughed and called after him. “Get us two!”

“Alright, two for my boo!” Jacob replied, turning towards the open bar on the beach pausing when he noticed something different. A small blue tent had been erected next to the bar with a sign above that simply read "Rings." 

Jacob couldn’t quite believe his luck. He’d struck out the other day with the over priced rings in the gift shop, but at a beach tent he was sure to find a deal. Making sure Holly wasn’t watching, he skirted the bar and ducked into the ruffled folds.

The air immediately cooled, and the space opened to a circular room where a withered man sat cross-legged in front of a blanket. 

“Please take a seat.” The man gestured, his thin skin bunching and stretching against an abundance of gold rings on his fingers.

Jacob barrelled forward and sat in front of the man, noticing for the first time three rings on the blanket, all identical with silver bands and round cut sapphires. Exactly what Holly had wanted. 

The prices were listed next to each with the leftmost at a thousand, and the middle at five hundred. The rightmost however, was at zero. Jacob frowned. “You’re giving away a ring for free? What’s the catch?”

“No catch,” the withered man grinned. Even his teeth were adorned with golden rings. “When it comes to love, the worth you assign is the worth you receive. I simply wish to see couples come to their happy conclusion.”

Jacob liked the sound of that. Even with all the corners he’d cut this trip, it had still cost him an arm and a leg. Saving money on the engagement ring would be the ultimate score.

“In that case, let’s go for the free one.” Jacob puffed out his chest. 

The man’s eyes glinted, amused. “You think your love has no worth?”

“I’m not saying that my dude, but, come on, you get it.” He winked and plucked the free ring from the blanket.

“Very well,” the man nodded. “I wish you nothing but the best.”

“Same to you, my guy.” Jacob headed out of the tent buzzing at what he had just gotten away with. The ring was perfect, and the price even more so. He just wasn’t going to tell Holly about that part.  

***

By the next day, Jacob couldn’t wait another second. They’d decided to hike a nearby mountain, and when Jacob saw the view he knew he had to take the moment.

“It’s gorgeous,” Holly said, looking out over the expanse of desert cacti. Her cheeks were pink as always, but whether it was from the sun or the hike up, Jacob couldn’t tell. Either way, she was beautiful. 

This didn’t help with the nerves of course. If anything it made them worse. But Jacob was committed to making this something Holly wasn’t going to forget. Getting into position on one knee, he waited for her to turn. He was four short words away from forever.

Holly sighed. “You know what I’m thinking of right now? Daiquiri’s. What the hell does a daiquiri even—” she turned and locked eyes with Jacob.

He’d been preparing for this, but quickly realized he wasn’t prepared. The ring was shaking in his hands, his mouth was dry, but still he managed, “Will you marry me?” 

The silence that followed could have knocked him over. Each second a blade twisting into his gut. But she smiled, and she spoke. “Yes! Jacob, yes!” Tears filled her eyes and she looked down at the ring. “Oh my god it’s perfect!”

He laughed as tears began to blur his own vision. Taking her hands in his he grabbed the ring and slipped it over her finger. A perfect fit, but when he looked up at Holly, she had gone pale. “Babe? Are you alright?” Jacob asked. 

“Sorry.” She took a shaky step back. “I feel a bit weird.”

Jacob stood and held her steady. “It's okay, it was a big hike.”

“No, it’s not that it’s…” she shook her head. “I don’t know, I feel numb.”

“You’re probably dehydrated. Why don’t you sit and have some water?”

She pushed him away. “No you don’t get it I can’t feel anything.” Her eyes darted around wildly. “Why can’t I feel anything? Jacob?”

“It’s okay,” Jacob pleaded. “I’m right here—”

Just then, a withered voice echoed through the surrounding hills. “The worth you assign, is the worth you receive.”

A chill ran down Jacob’s spine. The ring. He’d taken it for nothing, but was that really the cost?

He looked to Holly one more time, fear etched into her tear soaked cheeks. 

Then, she blinked away.