Page 122 of Sterling Fight

We kiss again, too quick and short, before he smacks my ass, and I head to Judd’s room to shower. One day my belongings were suddenly hung in his closet and moved to empty drawers in his dresser.

After my shower, I pick from the limited dresses I have with me and fold them into my suitcase which should have taken me home, to Knoxville, weeks ago.

How time has flown. The days on the calendar have flipped and three weeks have past, and yet my future is flashing before me. A blur of images I can’t see.

Could I marry Judd? What about children? Should I sell my company? Should I keep it? Can I live in Sterling Falls again? My anxiety is in overdrive, and I rub my thumb over the palm of my left hand, seeking the edge of a gold band, straightening the petite ring on my finger.

The move has become a habit.

And my hand stills when there is nothing to right.

Glancing at my hand, I stretch my fingers, noticing how naked they look. My brain is slow to process what’s missing when the reality hits like I’ve whacked my head.

The amethyst ring with its whisper of diamonds and gold band is missing.

Franticly, I glance down at the floor, dancing in a slow circle in hopes the ring simply slipped from my finger. I drop to my knees and look beneath the bed. I sit back and curl my hand, fisting it and then extending my fingers as if I can make the ring magically reappear.

Rushing back into the bathroom, my heart sinks when I consider the ring might have slid off in the shower or near the sink and been washed down a drain. The idea seems impossible. I would have heard the clink. I would have noticed the slide of the band against my knuckle. The gold circle has never been loose on my finger. I’ve never feared losing it. The fit was perfect, almost too perfect, like it had been made for me.

Hastily, I dress and run toward the great room where Judd is standing, holding his phone. A striped towel circles his hips as he has been waiting for the shower.

“Tell me you took it,” I whisper, my voice harsh and rough with panic. “Tell me you slipped it off my finger without me knowing.”

My heart breaks with the accusation. Logically, I know he wouldn’t have done that.

“What?” Judd’s eyes roam my face. “What are you talking about?”

I clutch my closed hand to my chest, covering my left with my right before finally revealing my naked fingers.

“Your mother’s ring. It’s gone.” My voice breaks on a sob as I hold out my shaky hand which blurs from the tears in my eyes.

Judd remains stone still in front of me a second before I’m in his arms. My wet cheek sticks to his naked chest. His heart thuds as well but mine beats harder.

“I’m so sorry.” I pull back. “We’ll look for it. Two sets of eyes, one search.” I don’t even mean it as a joke. Two sets of eyes are always better than one.

Judd remains mute a second, slowly releasing me like thread pulled from a spool. I feel like I’m coming unraveled. “Tell me when you last saw it.”

I recount glancing at it while on the phone and then righting it with my thumb. “I’d been in the library.”

Judd heads there and I follow, searching the plush rug and even the cushion of the chaise though I hadn’t sat down.

“What about on the dock?” Judd askes

“I don’t know.” I hadn’t been focused on the ring, only on Judd’s face but at one point, I thought I saw him glance at my fingers, like he often does. As if confirming the ring was still on me.

Judd nods, then takes off for the backyard, skipping off the deck with one hop without touching a single stair. Then he’s running for the wooden planks that jut over the water and stops short at the end.

I’m quick to catch up as we both turn in circles, hoping the gold band or purple gem will gleam up at us.

Dread hits me hard with a question I can’t voice. What if I lost the ring on the dock and it somehow rolled into the lake?

“I’m so sorry, Judd. We’ll find it.” I want to reach for him, and I do but he pulls back. His naked chest sucking in as if he’s afraid of my touch.

“It’s not important.” The words are choked and he swallows hard, staring down at his feet.

“How can you say that? It was . . . is . . . very important to you.” His mother’s ring. The last item he has of her. A vivid reminder of who she was. Bright and beautiful. The purple gemstone matches her Violet name.

Nausea rushes up my throat.