Chapter 9
A little while later, Trixie entered the jewelry store. She saw William Blaney talking with a customer. As she waited for him to finish, she looked at the diamond rings.
I could wear something like these, she thought. I’m more into a plain ring. But why am I thinking about rings? It will be a long time before I ever get engaged, if it happens at all. I would love it if things worked out between Jim and me. But only time will tell. I shouldn’t even be thinking about marriage. If I do, I’ll just be jinxing myself.
“May I help you?” a male voice asked interrupting her thoughts.
She looked up and saw William Blaney standing on the other side of the display case. “I was just looking at these rings.”
“They are the finest quality.” He smiled at her. “Are you trying to give your boyfriend a hint as to which ring you would like?”
Trixie smiled. “Something like that,” or jinxing myself that I’ll never see a ring like this on my finger, she thought. “Could I see those rings with the silver bands?”
“Of course.” He unlocked the case and pulled the tray out setting it on top of the case. “Each stone is exquisitely hand crafted.”
Trixie fingered the stones as she lifted various rings to take a closer look at them. She knew she had to take it slow. She picked up a silver band with a small square diamond and slid it on her finger, admiring it. “This is really beautiful. Do you design the rings yourself?”
“Why yes, we do.”
“That’s marvelous. Have you been doing this for a long time?”
“More than twenty years.”
Trixie looked at William. “Wow, That’s a long time. No wonder your rings are so beautiful. Have you always worked in Sleepyside? I thought I heard you worked for a jeweler in New York City.”
“I did at one time,” William said looking at the tray of rings. He pulled out another tray that had gold bands. He picked one out that had a round diamond on it. “I think this ring would look very nice on you.”
Trixie slid the ring on her finger. It did look nice. “It must have taken a long time to build up your business.”
“It probably would have been easier if I hadn’t been shot.”
Trixie snapped her head to look at him as if he told her something she didn’t already know. “You were shot?”
“It was a long time ago. A man came in to rob the store I was working at. He pulled a gun and wanted all the diamonds. I gave them to him, but he shot me anyway.”
“Oh, no,” Trixie said hoping she sounded surprised.
“I’m sorry,” William said quickly. “I didn’t mean to bore you with all this.”
“No, it’s interesting. Did the shooter ever get caught?”
William nodded. “I was lucky enough to trip the silent alarm and as he exited the store, the police were waiting for him. At least that’s what I’ve been told.”
“Whatever happened to the shooter?”
“He stood trial and was sentenced to twenty years in jail.”
Trixie slid the ring off her finger and set it back on the tray. “Boy, I’d be glad he was behind bars away from me. I’d be worried that he’d come back to get me.”
“I don’t think he‘d bother me again. They put him away for a good while. Besides, that was in the city and I left there once I was well enough and moved back here to open my own business.”
“Do you remember the shooter’s name?”
“That’s a name I won’t forget until the day I die,” William said. “Aristotle Stanois.”
Trixie decided she had heard enough. “Well, I’ve seen a couple rings that I wouldn’t mind receiving. Thank you for showing them to me.”
“It was my pleasure. Come again or tell your boyfriend to come see me and I’ll point him in the right direction.”
“I’ll be sure to send him your way,” Trixie said. “Thanks again.”
“Good-bye.”
Trixie left the store and headed to her jeep. She wasn’t sure if Aristotle was planning to get revenge or had another purpose for being in Sleepyside. She was sure though that his reason wasn’t good.