"Hi! Alexi! Merry Christmas."

"And a Merry Christmas to you, babe. I wish you were here."

"I wish you were here, too."

I would have come if you wanted me too. You know that."

I got a lot of pressure from him on that."Yeah. But we've really only been dating for about a month, and --"

He interrupts, "A month and 3 days."

He's so romantic. And sometimes a perfectionist, but I think he's being romantic here. "A month and three days. It seemed a little soon to take you home for Christmas with my family."

"I am so lonely without you."

That's his little puppy voice! It makes me feel so warm. "I miss you too." It's been only a month, but we spend all of our free time together, so it's like we've been dating for a year.

"Did you get any good presents?"

I know what he's fishing for. I can spin this out. "Yes . . . an art book from my Dad, and a subscription to Cooking Today from my Mom. And they bought me a beautiful cashmere sweater." I add, "And an Amzon Gift Certificate from my brother."

"That sounds very nice. You are a lucky girl. That is all?"

"Well, I got a round trip plane ticket to Russia with the best boyfriend ever." We're going to celebrate his Christmas in Russia in two weeks.

"That present was for me. Did you get anything else from this supposedly wonderful blyfriend?

"Well . . . I might have gotten the most beauty bracelet ever. Thank you soooo much. When I unwrapped it this morning. I had to tell my parents all about you."

"You like it? You really do?"

"Alexi, I LOVE it. The engraving is so amazing. I just sit around looking at it. The roses and the bear and so exquisitely done."

"Bear is Russian."

He melts my heart. "That's so appropriate. Thank you."

"The best for the best. I was so worried you wouldn't like it." I don't know how anyone could not like this bracelet. But he does tend to get overanxious about me. He's so attentive and caring.

"Is it bronze? I can't decide what it's made of." I think it might even be gold-plated, but that's hard to believe.

"Fourteen carat gold."

That takes my breath away.

I look down at my bracelet. It's catching the sun and reflecting little sparkles. I find the bear. I knew it was expensizve just for the etching. But solid gold? "Alexi, this must have cost a fortune."

"The finest for the finest. You are worth it, Ella. You mean so much to me."

"Thank you again. I wore it to church today when I went with my parents. I must have had ten people comment on how beautiful it is."

"You were wearing short-sleeves?"

I smile. "A short-sleeved dress in the middle of winter! But I wanted people to see it."

"You make me proud. I am always proud to have you as my girlfriend."

"Alexi?" I try to inject just the right amount of concern into my voice. Not too much, as if it's an important issue or I'm really worried. But enough to know this is something.

"Yes my love?"

"It, um, doesn't come off. Off my wrist, I mean. There's no latch to push." The first thing I did when I opened it was put it on. Later I realized there was no way to take it off. "I looked, and I think there's supposed to be a key, but I looked everywhere and I can't find a key."

"You wanted to take off my gift to you?" He sounds hurt. Or pretending to be hurt in his romantic way.

"Well, no, of course not."

"Perhaps you wanted to see an old boyfriend?"

"No Alexi, I am not seeing any old boyfriends. It's just, well, it should come off, right?"

"I don't want you to take it off. I want you to wear it forever." He sounds so sincere.

I look down at my bracelet, the gold gleaming. Three perfect roses are on the other side from the bear. I can't take it off?

I get a moment of panic.

"So . . . " I try to get the proper level of calmness, with no panic or whining but just gentle concern. "I was wondering if you maybe dropped the key somewhere when you were wrapping it."

"I go look, Ella."

I wait. My mother calls up the stairs "Ella! Lunch is ready."

"I'll be down in a few minutes."

She calls up in a teasing voice, "Are you talking to that new boyfriend of yours?"

"Mom!"

"Be sure to thank him for that beautiful bracelet."

"Mom! Stop it!"

"Take your time talking to him. I can reheat your lunch when you get here."

"Thanks Mom!" I get up and shut the door. Sit back down and wait.

I get up and open my top drawer. In my momentos is an opal ring Elliot got me in 12th grade, and a set of silver earrings from Ezra. They really don't compare to this bracelet. I feel like I've stepped into a different world with Alexi.

"Ella?"

I sit back down on my bed. "Yes?" I say, trying not to sound as anxious as I am.

"I found the key. It had fallen on the floor and was by the wall."

"Good." I am so relieved. "You can, I guess, give it to me when i get back to New York." "I will keep it for you. That way it will not get lost. You know how you sometimes lose things."

I lost my keys and it took Alexi and I an hour to find them and I was late to work. I don't know if I'm ever going to live that down. I couldn't find my coat and it turns out I left it at work. That's only two things, but it probably seems careless to Alexi.

"Plus that way I know you did not take it off to see old boyfriend."

I'm stunned. He's serious about keeping the key.

"Just joking. I trust you completely. I trust you with my heart."

He's not joking -- I already knew he had a jealousy issue. The bear doesn't look cute any more -- it looks powerful.

"And if you ever decide I am not worthy of your love, I will take it off and carry it with me in abject despair as I jump off George Washington's Bridge."

I feel so loved. I've never felt this intense of a love before. It's amazing. "Still joking?"

He pauses. "Of course. But my life would be over."

"Don't be silly."

"I am not being silly." Now he sounds a little angry. He is intense at times.

"I love you, Alexi." That always calms him down.

"I love you too."

"But I need to go. My mom's fixed lunch."

"I miss you."

"I miss you too. Kiss."

"A thousand kisses."

"Have a great day."

"You too."

"Bye."

"Bye."

I disconnect. He's the most amazing boyfriend.

I look down at my bracelet and panic again.