Page 95 of The Encounter
She stepped back and nodded with tears in her eyes. “I’ve been so stressed out trying to go to school and work enough hours to cover my bills. It killed me to tell Maddie I was going to fall short on my end of the deal. I think we both know that she deserves to have a break in life, and I really appreciate you making it easier for me to still follow my dream without letting Maddie down.”
“I’m happy to help,” he said. “Truly.”
“I’m really happy you and Maddie found each other that night.”
He smiled. “Me too.”
He had never meant something more in his life.
30
Maddie arrived at the jewelry store with an extra skip in her step. Despite all the negativity surrounding her relationship with Jace, she couldn’t be down. Not on a day like today. Stephen had called her earlier to let her know her necklace was ready a week early, and she couldn’t be more excited.
She pulled the door open and eagerly searched for Stephen, who came out of a backroom when the bell jingled above the door.
“Maddie! It’s so good to see you. My, you got here fast.” He glanced down at his watch. “I feel like I just called you.”
She laughed. “I’m so excited. I couldn’t wait. It’s my lunch break.”
“Let me go get your pendant.”
Maddie looked around at the cases near where she stood, one of them containing different chains. They ranged in several sizes and styles, but she wasn’t sure what she’d want.
When Stephen appeared a minute later, she immediately stepped back over to the counter, her hands clasped together tightly. She had been waiting for this moment to arrive for ten years, and she wasn’t sure that it ever would.
When she found out her parents died and later found out her mom’s necklace was missing, she was crushed. Somehow, having that small piece of jewelry would have made her feel closer to her parents despite them being gone. Even though this necklace wasn’t the original, it was the best she could do.
He pulled the box out of a clear plastic bag that contained her order form and gently lifted the lid on the case before spinning it around to show her.
Maddie’s breath caught as she took it in. It immediately brought her back to her childhood. Her mom had let her wear that special necklace a few times. The flashback of her mom putting it around Maddie’s neck still burned brightly in her mind.
A tear slipped down her cheek, and she wiped it away before looking back up at Stephen.
“It’s beautiful,” she whispered.
He smiled. “Do you have a chain you’d like to use or would you prefer to look at ours?”
She took a deep breath and took the small jewelry box from him, fingering the pendant. “I’m going to need to get one.”
“We have them right over here.” He stepped around the counter and walked over to the case that Maddie had just been looking at and unlocked it. “Do you have a preference on chain length?”
She shook her head. “I really don’t know what would look best. I only cared to get the pendant right.”
“I can see it has a special meaning for you.”
She nodded.
He took out a tray of different chains and placed it on top of the counter. “Might I recommend this chain?”
He pulled out a delicate gold chain with tiny links that interlocked.
“Despite how delicate it looks, it’s actually quite strong. It won’t break as easily as the others. It’s about a mid-priced chain. I think it would be the perfect length. It’s not our cheapest, but certainly not our most expensive. May I?”
He gestured toward the pendant Maddie clutched.
“Oh, of course. I’m sorry.”
He waved her apology off and delicately took the pendant out, sliding it onto the chain before gesturing for her to turn around. She did and lifted her hair, making it easier for him to clasp the necklace around her neck.
