The store was located on old-timey Main Street and surrounded by other Western-style, brick and plaster shop fronts. It was one of those places she had passed by enough times for it to be a familiar memory, like a sepia-colored photograph in her mind. But Mia was also surprised the store was still around. She didn’t know anyone who shopped there, so it was easy to assume it never had any customers, except for the occasional tourist escaping the summer heat.
Bob opened the door for her, and Mia smiled her thanks in response. As soon as she stepped through the threshold, a wire-haired, one-eyed dog with fur the color of old snow greeted her. He appeared to be a cross between some kind of terrier and a dust bunny. His stumpy tail wagged in wild, erratic motions. It wasn’t until the dog propped on her shin that she noticed he was missing one front leg. She reached to stroke the top of his bony head with a “Hello there, little guy,” because that’s what a Hallmark protagonist would do.
Not counting the chummy dog, the inside of the store conveyed as much personality as the straightforward name displayed on the faded, hunter green awning outside. It was filled with several glass cases, as one would expect. Still, it had nothing on its walls, nor were there fancy, glittering displays of gold and silver outside of the cases. It wouldn’t be surprising to learn the store hadn’t seen a gold rush of customers in some time.
“Can I help you?” she heard the single employee ask. Bob abandoned Mia’s side for the man at the far end of the store, and she glanced at the nearest glass case.
The jewelry, presented on simple, black velvet display holders, took her breath away. Mia never would have imagined a boring looking store with a dull-sounding name would have such beautiful, unique pieces inside. Her favorites were the rings. Different precious metals were formed into bands, shaped to make them look like delicate twigs forged by forest nymphs. In the center were vibrant, raw gemstones.
Compared to the precision-cut gems she was used to seeing, the rawness of these stones appeared as though they were excavated straight from a mine, and placed inside a ring setting after washing away the dirt. There were several she wouldn’t mind owning herself, but she wouldn’t dare to dream about it on a pending Pony Expresso barista’s salary plus tips.
“Mia,” Bob called.
She flashed a smile and joined him. The jeweler pulled out two sets of earrings from the case and laid them on a square of black velvet fabric.
“Oh, how lovely,” she sighed. One pair was silver with twig-like pendants and rose gold leaves. The other set was a pair of shiny, gold stud earrings featuring small pinecones. They were so detailed, Mia was sure the maker had gone out into the surrounding forest, found the most perfect, miniature pinecones and dipped them into gold.
In turn, she lifted and judged each set with careful consideration. Mia figured if Tonya didn’t like them, maybe they would someday find their way to her. Returning the jewelry to the velvet, she smiled and pointed to the pinecone earrings. “I like these best.”
“Great! I’ll get them,” Bob responded, pulling out a credit card while brandishing a handsome, relieved smile.
As Bob paid for Tonya’s gift, Mia knelt and gave the dog an extended petting, running her fingers through his curls and offering praise on what a good boy he was.
After the transaction was complete, she followed Bob out of the store.
“Thanks again. I really do appreciate your help.” He dug into the folds of his wallet.
“No, it’s fine. Don’t worry about it. I’ve decided that twenty-seven dollars is too much when I give my opinion for free all the time. You don’t owe me anything.”
“Are you sure?”
“Yeah. I hope your girlfriend loves her earrings.”
“I’m sure she will. I wanted to get something nice because she’s pregnant with our first kid.”
“Aw, that’s nice.” She forced the words with as much cheer as she could. An unexpected stab of jealousy struck through her. Tonya clearly had a life with forward motion while Mia struggled to adjust to the backward movement in hers. She worried her life would never get started, and she’d be stuck in limbo forever. “Well, it was very nice to meet you, Bob, and congratulations. If you ever need jewelry advice again, hopefully, you’ll find me making coffee at Pony Expresso.”
With this, Bob walked away without a second glance back, and the meet-cute moment was not to be. Its birth and death were in the same hour, its whole existence sprung from nothing more than her imagination. Oh, well. Hallmark romances were unrealistic anyway. Mia kicked an abandoned Pony Expresso coffee cup on the sidewalk. In a moment of annoyance, she considered leaving it and stomping away. Then her better self took over, and she plucked the paper cup from the ground and tossed it into a nearby bin.
It was at this moment the sign in the jewelry store’s window caught her attention. The only thing missing was sunlight breaking through the clouds and gracing it with a divine spotlight.
Help Wanted
Perhaps the fates weren’t done with her after all.
Chapter Two
When the bellabove the door jingled again, Ross Manasse glanced up.
She had returned.
As someone who was used to hiding—
Correction.
As someone who was used toworkingdiligently in the rear of the shop, Ross was successful at avoiding most of the day-to-day interactions with the characters who would peruse the contents of El Dorado Jewelry. The front of the shop usually fell to his younger cousin, Luna. The same person who took pleasure in reminding him several times they weren’tcharactersas much as they werevalued customers.
But times were changing, and he needed to adjust. Ross hated adjusting. In fact, he hated adjusting more than he hated awkward interactions with valued customers. He spent the majority of his time in the workshop for a good reason. Precious metal and stones didn’t require a casual exchange of pleasantries. They succumbed to his will under nothing more than calloused, experienced hands. Troublesome words weren’t necessary. He preferred it this way.
