Best Laid Plans...

I could cry for my sweet boyfriend right now. We picked out an engagement ring several months ago and Erik put it in layaway. When he set up the account, I remember our saleswoman asking what size I needed and it was a size larger than what they had in stock. She wrote down the size I needed...filled out a long form about it and we went on our happy way. Nothing has been said since then about the ring because I knew Erik was waiting until the perfect time to propose. He wanted it to be a surprise.

On Christmas Day, Erik asked me to get his keys out of his coat pocket. The ring was in there in it's box. He had paid it out of layaway the day before but forgot and left it in his pocket. Being the girl I am, I tried it on before I put it back where I got it. It did not fit. The store had never sized it.

I debated letting him know about it, my sister told me not to say anything. But I finally told him today when I found out he was planning on proposing in front of all our friends and family on New Year's Eve. I didn't realize he would take it so badly. He called the store...they admitted they never sized it, the manager apologized but said he wouldn't do anything about it. The only option we have is to return the ring and wait 10 days for it to be sized. Erik is devastated...I've never seen him this upset. I feel bad for telling him I tried it on, but he says he's glad I did so that we could find out before the party that it doesn't fit. He says it would've embarrassed him if he had not known.

I tried explaining that the ring isn't the important thing...we can just tell our friends that the store messed up...he can still propose...but his plans are shot. The surprise is gone. It's a huge deal to him and I feel awful that I (and the stupid store) ruined it for him.

Now I don't know what to do. I wish I could lose about 30 pounds between now and Wednesday so that it would fit. I hate disappointing him like this.