Chapter 149

14,9 WHEN WE WERE YOUNG ELIZABETH’S POV “As I walked into the cozy jewelry shop on Main Street, I browsed the various displays of sparkling gemstones and shining metals. I had been searching for the perfect gift for my husband Manuel’s birthday, which was just around the corner, and I had finally found it – a stunning diamond watch with intricate details and sleek lines.

Approaching the counter, I couldn’t help but notice the friendly smile of the shopkeeper, who greeted me warmly. ‘How can I help you today?‘ he asked, eyeing the watch in my hand.

‘I’m looking for a special gift for my husband,‘ I replied, feeling a little nervous about the high price tag of the watch. ‘This one caught my eye,‘ I said, holding up the watch for the shopkeeper to see.

The shopkeeper’s eyes widened as he took in the beauty of the watch. ‘Ah, yes. This is quite an impressive timepiece,‘ he said. ‘It’s definitely worth every penny.‘

I nodded eagerly, hoping that the shopkeeper would give me the best deal possible. ‘So, how much does it cost?‘ I asked, trying to hide my excitement.

The shopkeeper smiled kindly at me. ‘Well, this particular model is quite rare and valuable, so it comes with a bit of a hefty price tag. It’s $5000.‘

My eyes widened in surprise, but I tried not to show any disappointment. I knew that $5000 was a lot to spend on a watch, but I also knew that Manuel deserved something truly special for his birthday. ‘Is there anything you can do to make it more affordable?‘ I asked, crossing my fingers behind my back.

The shopkeeper chuckled sympathetically. ‘I understand that $5000 might be out of some people’s budget, but unfortunately, we can’t lower the price too much without compromising the quality of the watch. However, I could offer you a discount.‘

‘I understand,‘ I said, trying to hide my disappointment. ‘Is there anything else you can recommend that might be more affordable?‘

The shopkeeper nodded sympathetically. ‘Well, actually, we do have some other options that might fit your budget. Let me show you something.‘ He gestured for me to follow him and led me to a display case in the back of the store.

Inside the case were several beautiful watches with simpler designs but still high- quality materials.

‘These are all great options,‘ he said, holding up one of the watches. ‘They’re not as expensive as the diamond watch you saw earlier, but they still have a lot of style and class.

I examined each of the watches carefully, trying to find the perfect one for Manuel. I was about to make my decision when I heard a voice behind me.

‘Excuse me,‘ a man said, approaching us from the back of the store. ‘Are you looking for something special for your husband’s birthday?

I turned to see a tall, handsome man with piercing blue eyes and a kind smile. I felt a flutter in my chest as he introduced himself.

‘I am the owner of this shop,‘ he said. ‘And I think I might have just what you’re looking for.”

‘Really?‘ I asked, my eyes lighting up with hope. ‘What do you have in mind?”

The shop owner smiled mischievously. ‘Well, I might have a little surprise for you, he said, leading me to a small room at the back of the store. ‘Follow me.‘

I followed him curiously, wondering what kind of surprise he had in store for me. As we entered the small room, I saw a beautiful watch display case with a sign that read ‘For Her Only‘.

‘Ah, perfect,‘ the shop owner said, gesturing for me to take a seat on a plush couch. ‘I have just the thing for your husband’s birthday.‘ He rummaged through a nearby cabinet and produced a stunning silver watch with delicate filigree and sparkling gemstones.

I gasped in delight as the shop owner placed it on a tray and handed it to me.‘ This is beautiful!‘ I exclaimed. ‘My husband will love it.‘

The shop owner grinned. ‘I knew you would like it,‘ he said. ‘And the best part is, it’s only $200. Much more affordable than the diamond watch you were looking at earlier.‘

My eyes widened in shock. ‘Only $200? This is incredible!‘ I reached out to hug the shop owner, who laughed good–naturedly.

‘I’m glad you like it,‘ he said. ‘Now, go enjoy this lovely watch and make sure to give your husband a big kiss from me.‘

I beamed at the shop owner, feeling grateful for his kindness and generosity. Thank you so much!‘ I said, hugging him tightly. “This means a lot to me.‘

The shop owner patted me on the back and smiled warmly. ‘It’s my pleasure,‘ he said. ‘I know how hard it can be to find the perfect gift for someone special. You go enjoy your time with Manuel, and don’t forget to give him that big kiss from me.‘

I nodded and thanked him again before hurrying out of the store, watch in hand. I couldn’t wait to show it to Manuel and see the look of delight on his face when he opened it. And as I walked down Main Street, I felt this sense of peace wash over me. It had been a long time since I had felt so happy and content, and this little surprise from the shop owner had made all the difference.

And I would forever be grateful to him for that moment.”

All these I spoke, ending the story with my hands moving dramatically in the air. Now I was telling Lukel and Janice the story when I ha recently gotten married to Manuel, and it was his birthday. I wanted to get him a present, and all of those things happened. I was trying to teach them how to do good to others. And this wasn’t actually the first story I had told them.

“Now, I hope you both get the lesson,” I said, and noticed Janice was the only one sitting in front of me.

I widened my eyes incontinently. “Where’s Lukel?”

She shrugged. “Did you forget that he went out at the middle of your story?”

“He did? When?” I asked her, looking confused.

“I think it was when you were telling us about the little children in the mall.”

“Seriously? How come I didn’t notice?”

“I don’t know,” Janice answered with a shrug. “Probably because you were busy with your stories.”

I stood up from the couch. “And it’s almost been twenty minutes since I finished that story. So why isn’t he back yet?”

“Maybe he went to a store nearby,” Janice said slowly.

“We need to find him right now,” I spoke, and left the house. My eyes caught Lukel’s wristwatch on the ground, not too far from me. I went to pick it up.

“He barely takes this off his hand. Something’s not right here,” I whispered to myself. “I’ll have to start looking for this little boy now. I hope nothing bad happens to him.”

Maybe Janice was right. It could be that he went to a store nearby. But he couldn’t do that. We just arrived in New Haven, he definitely had no idea of any direction in this area. Why did he leave this house in the first place? I really need to go and look for him.

N PASERY DA