CHAPTER ONE
AVA
Black Friday wasa monster that smiled every single November when people fed it money. Until this year, I never shopped on this day. I made an exception for my mom, who just completed chemo. She had been diagnosed with breast cancer over a year ago and just finished her treatment. Wanting to celebrate and make her smile, I braved this crazy day to buy her a Christmas gift.
As expected, the mall was packed. I should’ve placed the order online, but I feared they’d run out of the limited edition teardrop emerald bracelet with a 14K gold chain. A month ago, my mom’s face lit up when she saw the commercial for it on TV.“That’s gorgeous. I’ve never seen a bracelet like that.”
My mom wore little jewelry, but not because she didn’t like it. She was pragmatic. As a single parent, she’d worked two jobs to provide for me after my father died in a car accident when I was ten. She understood the need to spend only on necessities. Even though she didn’t need to work sohard anymore, she was used to saving money instead of spending it.
It was time she got what she deserved—beautiful jewelry that reflected her character. Emeralds.
My heart sank looking at the jam-packed parking lot at the mall. Praying, I drove around and gasped when I saw a white SUV reversing out of a parking spot. I sped up and turned on my blinker. But as soon as the SUV left, a black sedan with too many bumper stickers snuck in, stealing my spot.
I slammed on my horn, rolled down the window, and shouted, “I was waiting for that spot!”
A burly man exited the car with his friend, who wore a dark hooded sweatshirt.
“We were here first, Mark.” The bulky man turned to his friend.
“Yeah. You were too late.” Mark laughed as he strode away with the burly man.
Fuming, I shouted, “Liar! I was waiting first!”
Why are people so obnoxious?
Anger surged as several scenarios popped into my head. I wished I had a carton of eggs to decorate his car. I wished I had a knife to slash his tires.Ugh, I hate this feeling.I closed my eyes and breathed, trying to calm my anger.
Someone knocked on the back window of my car. I jerked and opened my eyes. An old woman with a friendly face walked up to me with a teenage girl beside her. I rolled down the window.
“Ignore those jerks,” said the old woman, wearing a gray coat with a red scarf. “We’re leaving. Do you want our spot?”
“Yes, please!” Hope burst in me.
“I’ll stand off to the side to makesure you get the spot,” said the teenager, wearing a white knit hat. “Grandma saw what those men did to you. They suck.”
“Thank you.”
After I parked and turned off the engine, I sat for a moment, appreciating the kind people who gave me hope. Good people made the terrible moments sting less.
Shoving the irritation aside, I rushed into the mall and maneuvered my way through the crowds of shoppers. Holiday music blasted around me. The scents of cinnamon, pine, and vanilla swarmed me as I passed a candle store where two sales associates offered discount coupons. I took one and said I’d return later. A girl could never have enough scented candles.
As I headed toward Artisan Jewelers, I glanced up at the second level of the mall, and my chest tightened. A man walked with a woman in a wool coat. Was that my ex, Austin Tanner? My pace slowed as I studied the couple. When he turned toward my direction, it was clear he wasn’t my ex, a coward who didn’t have the courage to end our relationship respectfully.
It had been over a year since he dumped me via text. We’d been together for two years before that fateful day when my heart died.
Forget about him.
I blew out a heavy breath and entered Artisan Jewelers. So many people browsed the store. The combination of crowds, scents of candles, perfumes, colognes, and chaotic energy made it difficult for me to focus on jewelry. Despite that, I walked up to the counter and looked into the display case.
“Can I help you?” asked a lady wearing a poinsettia pin on her black dress and the nametag Jessica.
“Yes, Jessica. I’m looking for the teardrop emerald bracelet.” I pointed to the tall banner promoting it.
“We have only two left in stock.” Her blue eyes beamed. “More are coming next week. I’ll be right back.”
When she brought it over from another counter, I examined the bracelet. “It’s so pretty.”
“It really is.” She smiled as a coworker called out to her. “Just a moment.” She stepped over to the nearby counter.
