But it took some doing...

 

She knew the first time she saw it that she had to have it.  “We have to get this” she said.

“Absolutely not!” came his reply.

“I mean it.  Look at this, it’s wonderful.”

“No.  We’re not spending money on that.”

 

She clammed up.  They didn’t speak for two days.

 

Finally, she says, “I’m buying it.  I have my own money set aside and I’m going to get it.”

 

“You know they’re going to charge for shipping.”

 

“I don’t care, I’ll figure it out.”

 

And so, she called the company and began working with a guy named Ted.  Ted agreed that with at least half down, she could make payments on the balance, but yes – shipping was going to be expensive.

 

Over the course of three days, her and Ted had agreed on a plan of action.

 

She went to the bank and got a cashiers check and mailed it to the company, with attention Ted, written on the envelope.

 

Ted made all the arrangements for packaging and shipping.

 

Finally, it arrived.

 

She had the delivery guy help her uncreate it and carry it out to the yard.

 

She loved it and was very happy she had bought it.

 

Her husband still had not said anything one way or the other.  He simply shook his head and walked back into the house.

 

It was several weeks later when she received a letter from the local Coast Guard station, expressing their thanks, for they finally had a landmark they could work with.  No house numbers were visible from the water, but now everyone had a reference point.