Page 35 of Frayed Bonds

I rush in, and the young-ish boy behind the counter jumps up in fright.

“Hi-hi miss, we-welcome,” he stutters out.

“Do you guys buy jewellery?” I blurt out.

“Yes we do, what are you looking to sell?”

I slip the diamond ring off my finger and slam it onto the glass counter. We both flinch at the noise it makes, and I worry that I could have nearly cracked the counter. “Sorry,” I whisper.

This wasn't part of my plan. Ideally, I should consider a more up-market jewellery store, especially for the sheer size of the diamonds on the ring.

By the look on the man's face, I fear I may be right.

“Wow–this is–wow. I uhm, I have to call in my boss to check this one out. We uhh, we aren't used to getting rings like this,” he gulps. He holds the ring in my direction, presumably for me to keep in the meantime, but for the first time in a year and a half, I feel relaxed. It’s finally off my finger and it's like a weight is lifted off as well.

“You can hold onto it until they get here,” I smile and walk off to the side as he heads to the phone in the corner and calls who I assume is the boss.

After a few minutes, his voice echoes through the empty store. “Good news, he’s nearby, so he should be popping in, in a bit.”

I smile and nod, still looking around. My attention zones in on the worker as he holds the ring up to the light as if that will tell him if the diamonds are real or not. His suit is clean and looks a lot like the ones Antonio wears. They're a bit more out there than the ones Ambrose wears. He is always dressed in black, navy or charcoal.

It looks expensive too, and so does the watch on his wrist. I furrow my brows as my eyes zone in on it. “Nice watch,” I say aloud, and he smiles again looking down at it.

“Thanks, my dad got it for me.”

“This better be good, Mattia,” a familiar voice echoes as the door to the store flies open.

Mattia? The familiar voice? Fate has to be playing some sick joke on me.

“Come and see for yourself.”

A head of soft curls walks past me and rounds the corner of the counter all without even looking at me.

“It’s hers?” he asks and finally looks up at me. “Val?” Antonio asks, and I offer him an awkward smile and wave.

“Val? As in Valerie? Your Va-” Antonio elbows the younger boy next to him.

“Valerie, this is my younger cousin, Mattia. You’ve met his brother, Enzo,” Antonio says, and realisation washes over me.

“Yes, I remember, he met with Ambrose yesterday,” I say, and offer Mattia a smile.

“You guys own this place too?” I ask, looking around wondering what the Vitales could want from a store like this.

“Not much we don’t own in Tevici, Val. Mattia is here helping out because he’s learning a lesson on what happens when you spend family money, without permission.” Antonio shoots him an amused look to which Mattia only rolls his eyes.

I simply nod, and Antonio walks over, the ring in his hand. “So, where'd you get this ring?” He asks with a raised brow.

My eyes flash to Mattia before returning, and he must understand instantly.

“Mattia, run to Giovanni's and get me and Val some coffee,” Antonio barks. Before the words are even cold on Antonio’s tongue, Mattia is out of the store.

“I'm listening.” He turns his attention back to me.

“Would you believe me if I said it was a family heirloom?” I smile awkwardly.

Antonio doesn't say anything, instead he starts examining the ring. Silence envelops the room, and it feels suffocating. I can hear the rain outside and the sound of a clock ticking on the back wall.

“My guess is, this is an engagement ring, by the size of the diamond anyway…” Antonio mumbles, as he holds a diamond tester pen up to the stone, and nothing.

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