by Alison Mello
She chuckles. “Thanks for the chat. It really helped.” She licks her lips. “I’ll get your things ready for your meeting.” She turns to head toward my door with her hips swaying.
As she’s about to pull the door open, I call out to her. “Hey, Amber.” She looks back over her shoulder. “I’ll see you tomorrow morning around ten, be ready.”
She smiles and shakes her head as she continues out the door. It’s time Ethan and I teach her our mantra to get over life’s struggles.
I take a seat behind my desk and wait for her to bring my first client’s paperwork through the door. My mind whirls with ideas on how I can get this woman to spend more time with me. I know I seem desperate, but quite frankly, I don’t care. We deserve to be happy I want to be the person to do that for her, and I don’t plan on wasting anymore time.
“Ethan, after breakfast I want you to get dressed. Our plans have changed for the day,” I tell him as I make my coffee.
My son digs into his cereal. “Okay, what are we up to?”
“You know my assistant, Amber?”
“Yeah.”
“Well, she’s run into a tough time. Something was taken from her, and we’re going to see if we can help her find it.”
He furrows his brows. “How are we going to do that?”
“She had a ring that meant a lot to her, and she thinks the person who took it will take it to be pawned for money.”
“That sucks.”
“Tell me about it.” I sip my coffee and take a seat at the table. “I told her we would take her around the shops to see if we could find it.”
He shakes his head. “Okay, I hope we can find it.”
“Me too, son. Me too.”
We both sit in silence. He’s eating his cereal, and I’m drinking my coffee and searching up the local pawn shops on my phone, making a plan of which to hit first. There are only a few locally, but there are three further away. I’m really hoping he hit one of the local shops. Not because I don’t want to drive Amber out to the others, but it will take time to get there, and she needs a TV and sofa.
Ethan gets up from the table, rinses his bowl, and puts it in the dishwasher. “I’ll be ready in about fifteen minutes, Dad.”
“Hold on, son.” I realize I still haven’t spoken to him about his mother.
“What’s up, Dad?”
“I need you to know that your mother isn’t dropping the idea of you going to New York. She’s called me several times.” He rolls his eyes and plops into the chair with a huff. “I will fight her on it, so don’t worry about that. I’ve already called the lawyer, and we’re prepared.”
“She’s a lawyer, and Grandpa is a judge.”
“My attorney assures me that there’s no way she can get visitation set up in this short period of time, especially since she wants you to go to New York, but you need to be aware that it doesn’t mean she won’t get it in the future.”
He sucks his teeth. “She left us. Now she just needs to leave us be,” he demands angrily.
“I understand how you feel, buddy, but she’s your mother and you need to be aware of the situation.”
He nods. “Fine.”
“Now, go get ready.”
“Okay.”
I look down at my watch and realize we have to leave soon. I hope Amber doesn’t leave knowing I’ll be there to pick her up. I’ll be quite pissed. I need to call her. “Hey, Vincent.” She answers on the second ring.
“I just wanted to touch base. Ethan and I will be heading over to pick you up soon.”
She sighs into the phone. “You really don’t have to.”
“You’re right, I don’t, but I really want to, so just relax.” I can’t help but smile because her words say something totally different than her tone. She seems so much better today.
“Okay. I’ll see you in a bit.” My smile broadens when she caves. We’re going to spend the afternoon together. I swear I’ll do whatever it takes to find her ring, and then the three of us will head to lunch.
“I’m ready, Dad.” Ethan comes into the room as I’m finishing my coffee. “What’s the big grin for?” he asks me.
“Oh nothing. Let’s get going. Amber is waiting.” I usher him out the door to my SUV. He climbs in the back knowing Amber will need the front seat. My son has changed so much since I’ve been back, and I’m so proud of him. He went from an angry, bratty child to a well-behaved young man. It took a lot of work and discussions from both of us, but we managed, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to let Laney screw up what we’ve accomplished.
When we pull up to Amber’s place, I shoot her a text to ask her if she wants me to come up, but she replies that she was watching for me and is already on her way down. She lives in one of the crappiest parts of our area. The building she is in is run-down and barely maintained. She comes running out the door wearing skin tight jeans, with calf-high boots and a winter coat. We’ve been lucky that we haven’t gotten a ton of snow, but it’s cold as a bastard out.
I jump out of the car to open the door for her. “Thank you, Vincent.”
“You’re welcome, Amber.”
I hurry back into the car. “Amber, you know my son, Ethan.”
“I do.” She turns around. “How are you?”
“I’m good, ma’am,” Ethan says then returns to playing on his phone.
“So, I figured we would start at the closest shop and then work our way out. Hopefully, he didn’t go to one too far away.”
She shrugs. “Sounds good to me. I’m just praying they don’t want a fortune for me to get it back.”
“Don’t stress what you don’t know. We’ll see what happens when we get there,” I tell her, pulling away from the curb.
“I’ve been trying, but it’s not easy.” She bites her lip for a second. “I brought proof the ring is mine, hoping they’ll realize it was stolen and give it back, but I doubt it.”
Ethan starts singing a song on the radio, causing us both to chuckle. “I love this song,” Amber tells him, and she starts singing it with him.
“Wow, you like Drake?” Ethan asks.
“I do. Actually, I listen to a huge variety of music. I listen to pop, hip hop, R&B. I even have a spiritual playlist.”
She has a wonderful voice too. I’ve never heard her sing before. Her voice is lovely. Even singing a song I don’t care for.
“What’s a spiritual playlist?” Ethan asks, genuinely interested.
“They’re songs from my church that I enjoy listening to. When I’m down or I need a boost, I play the list, and it gives me faith.”
“I didn’t know you went to church.” I glance over at her when I stop at the red light.
“I don’t go as often as I would like, but I go.” She blushes slightly. “It was nice when I had someone to go with. I’ve had friends notice I’m not there as much, but it’s not the same going and seeing friends as opposed to having family to go with.” She smiles. “I need to go back. I miss it.”
“I think it’s great that you go to church. I really wish we had gotten Ethan involved in church when he was younger. It wasn’t a priority for Laney, and we were both raised in different religions, so we never discussed which way we would raise him.”
“Maybe you’ll join me for a service at my church someday. It’s quite fun.”
“Maybe.” I note she doesn’t ask me what my religious background is. I guess that’s something we can discuss later on. Laney was raised Catholic, but she hasn’t gone to church in years, and I was raised in a Christian church.
We pull up to the first pawn shop, and the three of us jump out. When we get inside, the place is empty. “Hello?” I call out.
“I’ll be right out,” a female voice calls from the back. A minute later a short blonde woman comes out from the back. “Sorry about that. One of my employees called out sick, and I was trying to find someone to replace him.”
“No worries. We’re looking for a specific ring, and we’re hoping you have it.”
/>
Amber pulls out the picture of her ring and the info on the diamond. The woman takes a close look at the picture. “Sorry. I have a lot of jewelry but nothing like that. Was it yours?”
She nods with teary eyes. “It was taken from me, and I believe it was sold for the money.”
She sighs. “Have you tried the pawn shop on Tenth Street?”
“We’re heading there next. Thank you for your time.” I give the woman a tight smile.
Amber’s shoulders slump as she walks toward the door. I can totally understand why she would already feel defeated, but we have time.
We’re about to exit the shop, when we hear the woman call out, “Would you like to leave your number in case it shows up?”
The way her eyes light up totally makes my day. “I would love to.” The woman makes a copy of her documents and writes her phone number on the paperwork. “My name is Amber. Thank you so much.”
“You’re welcome, dear. I hope you find it.”
She gives her a warm smile, and the three of us head out to the next shop. Unfortunately, the next shop doesn’t have it either, but they too take her info. The third shop is a little bit of a drive. “What if he hasn’t sold it yet. Maybe he’s holding on to it for fear we’ll find it and turn him in,” she says, sounding hopeful.
“Anything is possible. If we don’t find it, then I’ll call him and try to reason with him,” I offer.
“That will probably just piss him off.”
I shrug. “I don’t really care if I piss him off. He took something that doesn’t belong to him. Do you know where he’s staying?”
She shakes her head. “I have no idea.”
This conversation is only depressing her further, so when another good song comes on, I turn up the radio. She and Ethan scream out the words to the song as they dance around in the car. Despite the fact this music isn’t really my thing, I join in to make her laugh even harder. I can’t sing for shit, and neither can Ethan, but that doesn’t matter right now. All that matters is that we’re having fun.
When we get to the last of the three pawn shops, our stomachs are hurting, and there are tears in our eyes from laughing so hard. We’ve had a great morning together.
We walk into a shop that is now rather busy. Everyone is looking around for things to buy at a great price. Fear is written all over Amber’s face. If I’m a betting man, she fears the ring has been sold. We finally get someone behind the counter to help us. “Excuse me, has a gentleman sold you this ring?” Amber asks the clerk.
He takes a good look. “I don’t think so. Is it your engagement ring or something?” the guy asks with a chuckle in his voice.
“It was my mother’s, and it was taken from me,” she replies flatly.
“Oh, I’m sorry. You have no idea how many women come in here looking for their engagement ring after it’s been broken off. They don’t want to let go, or they're pissed their fiancé took it and sold it before they could,” he says with a shrug.
When did the world become full of shitty people?
“Well, it’s better than you telling me you already sold it.” She sighs.
“That’s it, Amber. Look at the positive.” Ethan encourages her. She ruffles his hair with a slight smile.
“Come on. Let’s grab some lunch. Then we can either go look for a couch and TV, or we can keep looking for the ring.” I usher her from the shop after leaving her info.
I open the door to the SUV, and she climbs in, slumping in her seat.
I lift her chin and force her to look me in the eye. “I know you’re disappointed, but don’t lose hope. You gave your info to all three shops, and they each agreed to contact you if the ring appeared.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry.” She manages a weak smile.
“You have no need to be sorry.” I smile at her. “You just have to rise up.”
“Rise up?” she asks as I close her door and climb in on my side.
“Yeah, rise up,” Ethan says. “It’s our saying. It can work with any challenge.”
She smiles at him. “I like it.”
I really want to take her somewhere laid back and comfortable, so we head to Shawmut Diner. It’s the little dinner Misty owns in our town. The place is packed as usual, but I eventually find a spot.
As we’re walking in, Trystan comes walking out. “Hey, Vincent. How’s it going?”
“Good, man. How are you?” We shake hands.
“I’m good. I just stopped in to check on Stella. She’s getting further along now, and I want her to be careful.”
“I’m sure you do, and if I know Stella, she’s working just as hard now as she was before she got pregnant.”
“You’re not kidding.” He looks at Ethan. “Are you playing basketball with the boys this year?”
“Sure am. Dad’s even agreed to coach.” Ethan looks at me with such pride.
“Awesome. Do you have an assistant?” Trystan asks.
Amber shivers and tucks her hair behind her ear. “I’m so sorry. I’ve been really rude. Trystan, this is my friend Amber.” I point to her. “Amber, this is a good friend of ours, Trystan.”
“How do you do?” Amber smiles and holds out her hand.
“I’m good, thanks.” Trystan shakes with her and looks back at me. “Listen, if you need an assistant, I’ll do what I can. Stella isn’t due until early April, so I should be good for the season.”
“I do, so I’ll hold you to it. Can you help with evaluations next weekend?”
He nods. “Sure. I need to be there for DJ’s tryout anyway, so I’ll see you then.”
“Sounds good.” He jogs off to his truck, and the three of us head into the diner.
“Hello there, Vincent,” Stella greets us.
“Hi, Stella.” She’s sporting an apron, trying to hide her baby bump, but at this point there’s no hiding it.
She comes around the counter. “What was my husband hounding you about?” She plants her hands on her hips.
“Nothing. We were talking about the upcoming basketball season. He’s going to assist me with coaching.”
“Mmmhmmm.”
“Honest,” I tell her, holding my hands up in a defensive manner. Stella is one sassy woman and not someone I would lie to.
She rolls her eyes. “That man treats me like fine china. He swears I’m going to fall apart working a few hours a day.”
“I think you look great,” Amber tells her.
“Thank you.” Stella holds out a hand to her. “I’m Stella.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m Amber.” They shake hands.
Stella gives me a slight wink and walks us to a table. She takes our drink order and tells us she’ll give us a bit to figure out what we want to eat.
Amber takes off her coat revealing a pretty purple sweater that brings out her chocolate brown eyes. I can’t help but smile. “You look amazing in purple.” I would have never guessed from the way she dresses that she lives in such a beat-up apartment. I figured she had herself a nice little house somewhere outside of town.
“Thank you.” She picks up the menu to hide her blushing face.
“What are you having, Ethan?” He has a huge grin on his face. He stares at me for a moment but then looks down at his menu.
“Can I have a burger and a chocolate shake?”
“Sure can.” I look at Amber who has finally put her menu down. “What about you?”
“I’m going to have a salad.” She smiles. “Gotta keep my girlish figure going.”
I shake my head. There is nothing wrong with this woman’s figure. “How long have you lived at that apartment?”
“Since my husband left me and sold our house,” she says, looking me dead in the eye.
“Are you serious?” This guy is such a dick.
“Unfortunately, I am. It was in his name, and since we didn’t have any kids, I didn’t have much of a fight. He kicked me out, sold it, and walked away with the money. I told you I don’t have good luck with men.”
/>
“What about family?” I can’t believe no one has helped her.
“My father died when I was a teenager, sudden heart attack, and my mother’s luck is about as good as mine. She up and moved out of West Virginia a few years after I graduated high school. She was with some guy who eventually left her. She’s been floating around the country ever since.” She shrugs as if it’s no big deal. “You?”
“My parents kept their distance after I married Laney. They weren’t too happy with my decision to marry her. They said she was the perfect example of a snob.” I shrug. “It honestly should have been a sign, but we’ve made amends, and they’re spending a lot more time with Ethan and I now.”
“That’s good.”
Stella comes back. She takes our order and leaves us be.
“What do you do for fun?” I ask her.
She chuckles. “I haven’t done much of anything for fun. I like basketball. It made me smile to hear you talking about it.” She sips her diet soda. “I’m a huge Celtics fan.”
“What?” Ethan looks up from the game he’s playing on his phone. “That’s freaking awesome.”
Amber’s smile grows. “I’ve been a Celtic’s fan since I was a little girl. My daddy and I used to watch the games together. I even played on the girls varsity team in high school.”
“That’s so cool. Did you play any other sports?”
She shakes her head. “Nah, I’m kind of shy so I was always afraid to go to tryouts, but basketball I loved so much that it was a no brainer.”
The rest of our meal goes incredibly well. Amber is coming out of her shell, and she made Ethan’s day when she announced her love for basketball.
When we’re finished eating, I pay the bill, and we head out. Amber and Ethan are still continuing on about basketball even as we enter the furniture store. The conversation comes to a halt when our hands accidentally brush together. The jolt that hits is amazing. She looks over at me with a grin, letting me know she felt it too, but says nothing as we continue on our way.
