“Actually, no,” she said. “I’m done with all that.”
“You’re not in college?”
“Well, not anymore,” she said with a sigh. College was yetanother victim of her irrational fears.
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” He put his cup to hismouth and took a sip, gazing at her. He took in the shape of herface, the blue-grey of her eyes, the pink of her unadorned lips,her chestnut hair haphazardly fastened back, the majority of itdraping her shoulders like a shawl. She wore a turtleneck sweater.Her winter coat rested on her chair. When she didn’t elaborate,Crispin figured he would get to the point. “Anyway, I’m glad tohave run into you here. I don’t know if you rememberme…”
“Crispin, of course, I remember you from before Christmas. Youcame in with a girl, a friend of yours.”
“That would be Becky, yes.” He was surprised at her quickresponse and more than just a little pleased. “Wonderful, I washoping to discuss that very occasion with you. Sorry, I don’tremember your name.”
“I’m Gwen, I remember you both clearly.” She caught herself,embarrassed by her enthusiastic reaction. “Because… well, becauseyou bought that bracelet. I loved that bracelet. I often wonderedhow your girlfriend reacted when she received it.”
“Well, that’s just it.” Reaching into his pocket, Crispinpulled out the tiny trinket and held it up between his longfingers. “I never gave it to her. Besides, she’s not my girlfriend.Never was, actually.”
“Oh…”
“Yes, oh…” He rested it on the table between them, the littleprice tag still attached. “It has actually never left mypocket.”
“You say that like it’s a bad thing.” She smiled, mirroring hisearlier comment. In her opinion, that bracelet couldn’t have beenin a nicer place. She refused to pretend to be upset by the newsthat he never parted with it. But at his frown, she quicklybacktracked. “Sorry, I don’t know why I said that.”
“It’s fine. I’m quite over the whole thing,” he said, watchingher reach for it with her fingers, stroking it ever so lightly.Obviously, this is why he had bought the damn thing in the firstplace. She had lured him in then, the very same way she was doingnow as she gazed upon the silly little trinket. She somehow made itmore precious than it obviously was. It was a great quality in asalesclerk. “I was hoping to return it for a refund.”
“Return it but why?”
Here we go,thought Crispin. The guilt trip. Another great sales tactic.
“Well, why would I want it? It was to be a gift. I have no usefor it now.”
“But you could keep it and perhaps give it to someone else.Someone who might appreciate it.” By someone else, she meantherself. One could only dream.
Crispinfurrowed his brow. “Huh… but wouldn’t that be a tad tacky? I mean,who would want a gift intended for another?”
“Well, since you never actually gave it to her, then it wasnever hers to have. You bought it to give but never giftedit.”
“You make it sound like it has a mind of its own. It’s not evenall that. I don’t even know what it’s made of. It’s not gold oreven silver. It’s nothing really, not even very expensive. What,fifty dollars? Listen, if this is just about losing yourcommission–”
At this, Gwengot right upset. “It is not worthless by a long shot and this isnot about my commission! It may not be gold, silver or platinum butit is lovely just the same!”
“Well then, if you love it so much, why don’t you marry it?” heteased, quirking an eyebrow. “Here, take it, it’s yours.” He pushedit towards her. “It’s not about the money. I just rather be rid ofit. As it is, it’s a constant reminder of what was never meant tobe.”
“I can’t just take it.” She balked. “It wouldn’t beright.”
At this,Crispin was at a loss. His patience was being tested. She obviouslydidn’t know who she was dealing with. For a calming moment, he lethis eyes wander to her notes once again. “So what is all thatabout, if not school related?”
“Oh, this… It’s an itinerary for a trip I’m thinking abouttaking.”
“Thinking about? From what I see, it looks like you’ve beenthinking about it a whole lot. When are you going?”
“Well, I’m not. Not just yet. I’ve still got more planning todo for it.”
“Why? Where is it, the moon?”
“No not the moon! England.”
“England?” he repeated. “Then what’s the problem? People travelback and forth to England every day.”
“There’s just so much to see and do. I want to plan it so I seeeverything on my list.” She refused to admit her fears oftravelling. It was better to let him think that she wasn’t yetready to travel.
“Well, why don’t you simply wing it? See what you can and whatyou don’t, plan to return once again.” Suddenly, Crispin was struckwith an idea that would not go away. This was just what he waslooking for. The answer to his problem.
Easy for him to say. Gwen took a deepbreath. She’d be lucky enough to survive one trip as it was. Shehad to make sure she saw everything since she might never get thecourage to travel again. “I can’t wing it.” She frowned as hegestured for her to hand over the precious itinerary. But when heencouraged her with those entrancing eyes, she couldn’tresist.
She watched ashe flipped through her many notes. She could tell he was studyingthem in great detail. She did have it all very well planned out.One particular page he was now looking at had a simplifiedday-to-day plan of where to stay and what to see.
“Gwen, how about a deal?” He looked back and forth from her tothe notes in his hands.
“What kind of deal?”
“A trade. I’ll trade you this bracelet for thisitinerary.”
“You want my itinerary?”
“Yes, I do.
