The pawnshop had been the very first place she'd gone after depositing the check into her bank account. And she'd sworn to herself that no matter what, she'd never part with the jewelry again.
Only now it was gone, and so was the last link to her mother.
She left the shop, stepping onto the busy street, uncertain of where exactly she was going next. As she turned to the right, she was stopped by a familiar face. She blinked as she stared back at the man she'd met in the park several days earlier. He was standing there, not looking surprised. In fact, he looked as though he'd been waiting for her. Crazy thought, but she didn't get the impression he was startled at all by the unexpected meeting.
"Josie," he murmured.
"H-hello," she stammered out.
"I believe I have something that belonged to you."
He held out an opened box and as soon as she saw inside, her breath caught and stilled in her chest.
She raised her gaze back to him in confusion.
