As I brushed a stray lock of my own short black hair out of my eyes, I replayed the confrontation with Katie in my mind. The woman was like a human hurricane, leaving nothing but destruction and ill-will in her wake. While I hadn't used my karma powers on her just yet, something told me that she would eventually get what was coming to her.
"You okay?" Beth asked as we walked back to the car, concern etched on her features.
"Yeah, I'm fine." I forced a smile for her benefit. "Just thinking about how much I'd love to give that woman a piece of my mind."
She sighed. “I just wish I would have been able to shake her hand.”
“We’ll have to try again?” I asked, giving her a look.
“Maybe,” she said thoughtfully. “Or maybe we’ll watch her for a while and see if we find anything suspicious.”
As we reached the car, my phone buzzed in my pocket, jolting me out of my introspection. Pulling it out, I grinned at the message displayed on the screen. "Well, looks like our stakeout will have to wait for a bit."
18
EMMA
Emma, can you please help me find a ring for Alice? I want it to be perfect.
I smiledat the text after parking in front of the jewelry store. Who was I to deny my sweet brother? Especially when I was already helping my son with the same thing. This just gave me a chance to ring shop in person.
I'd left Beth and hurried downtown, the cool breeze tousling my hair as I made my way into the jewelry store. My feet pounded against the pavement, echoing in my ears, while the scent of freshly baked bread from the nearby bakery wafted around me. It was almost enough to make me forget about the task I was putting off to be here…almost.
Daniel waited for me by the entrance. His tall frame leaned casually against the window, with just a hint of gray in his reddish-brown hair and beard. The sight of him sent a warm sensation through my chest, reminding me of the crush I'd had on him back in high school. Seeing him always felt like beingwrapped in a cozy blanket, complete with that familiar mixture of comfort and excitement.
"Hey." Daniel greeted me with a smile that reached his green eyes and crinkled their corners. "Ready to help Henry find that perfect ring?"
"Absolutely." I tried to sound enthusiastic despite my rumbling stomach. I really should've eaten something before leaving home. My impatience could be a real pain sometimes, especially when hunger struck.
The moment I stepped into the jewelry store, a wave of disappointment ran through me. Despite the glittering array of rings on display, none of them were quite right for Alice. Sparkling gemstones everywhere, but there was no magic here, at least, not yet.
"This is hopeless." Henry sighed from one of the cases, his frustration evident in the tense line of his shoulders. "None of these are what I had in mind."
"Cheer up." I tried to infuse some optimism into the situation. "We'll find the perfect ring, I promise."
Beside me, Daniel nodded in agreement as he flashed a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. We're not leaving this store until we find the perfect ring for Alice."
He smiled, but his heart wasn't in it. "I just can't seem to describe what I want."
"Maybe if we try one more time?" I suggested, gesturing toward the jeweler who stood patiently nearby, his expression a mix of curiosity and mild concern.
"Sure, yeah," Henry agreed, turning to face the jeweler. "So, I don't want something too flashy or ostentatious. It should be delicate, yet strong, like Alice herself."
"Understood." The jeweler nodded as he listened intently.
"Also, it can't be too modern," Henry continued, his brow furrowing as he struggled to articulate his vision. "It needs to have a touch of history to it, something that feels timeless."
"Of course," the jeweler replied, making a mental note of the requirements.
"Lastly," Henry said. "It has to be unique. Not just another ring that thousands of other people have. It should be special, just like Alice is."
"She sounds lovely," the jeweler said. "I think I understand what you're looking for now. Let me see what I can find."
Poor Henry. He was so desperate to find the perfect symbol of his love for Alice, and yet words seemed to fail him when it came to describing what he truly wanted. He wasn't the most eloquent in the world.
The jeweler tried, but he did not, in fact, understand. He kept bringing out big, flashy rings. We looked at every ring in the store, and none was right, so we headed for the other stores in town.
Three hours later, I was ready to give up. "Ugh, this is the third jewelry store we've visited and still nothing." I groaned, running a hand through my hair as Henry scrutinized yet another display case of engagement rings. We'd been in nearly every jewelry shop in town. We were stuck in an endless loop of disappointment.
