Darcy and her father return back to their old stomping grounds of New York City. With her, Darcy brings habits of being reclusive. She is perfectly content spending most of her time within the walls of her father's café and sees nothing wrong with t...
"Here she is, all in it's vintage glory. Are you sure we're going to find something to play this on?" I asked, taking the object delicately from the box.
"Yup. Actually, we can watch it today after school if you wanna bring it with us. Oh, you forgot this." He reached into the box and pulled out a small plastic bag. Inside was a gold chain necklace with what looked like a three branch charm, a pearl at each end. It came with a pair of dangling pearl earrings. Gently, I shook the delicate jewelry out onto the palm of my hand and held up the necklace, admiring its simple beauty.
"She sent so many things. I can't believe she would let me have this, too. It's so pretty, isn't it?" I looked at Chris to find him looking at me, not the necklace.
"Wanna put it on?" he asked.
I lowered the necklace, feeling the familiar pang of guilt rising in me again. "Am I allowed? To just... wear Evellyn's things like this?"
Chris took the necklace. I didn't object as he climbed onto the couch behind me and gently lowered the necklace down onto my neck. Goosebumps rose on my skin at the brush of his fingers fastening the necklace's clasp.
"I know things have been really hard for you lately since Sylvia died. And now, on top of it, you've been feeling at war with yourself over Evellyn and Gray," Chris murmured, gently pulling my braid out from under the necklace's chain. "Just remember everything you've done and are planning to do comes from a place of good and love. Suzie gave you these things knowing that. She wants you to have them, so don't feel bad wearing them."
I craned my neck to look up at him. Once glance at him, along with his comforting words, was enough to quell my guilt. "Thank you."
He smiled. "Always. We better get going, though. First, school. Then, tape time."
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I was aware of Evellyn's necklace all day. With the cut of my shirt, the tree branch charm lay cool against my chest. It swayed and bounced whenever I'd be rushing to class or going up and down the steps. Sometimes, I found myself absentmindedly playing with it in class, sliding it up and down the chain, squeezing it, or even just glancing down to look at it. It was a beautiful necklace. Simple yet charming. The earrings, I left back home with the rest of the things and a note to Papa explaining the contents. I was careful to take the letter Suzie – or should I say, Aunt Suzie – had written to me. I couldn't blow the plan before the plan was even in full play.
Chris was already waiting for me at my locker after last period. "You ready for dance practice?" he asked as I approached him.
I looked around. "Where are the others? Won't they like to come watch it, too?"
"They'll catch up later. C'mon –" I gave a little jolt as he took my hand and began to pull me towards the stairs leading to the second level "– everything's all set up."
I tried not to focus too much on the way Chris held on to me even as we reached the upstairs landing. He guided me through the corridors until we reached a classroom I'd never been to. Inside were different posters of human anatomy. There was a variety of visuals and lists of arteries, vessels, and bones. An older man sat at the desk in the far corner of the room, putting a stack of papers into a leather book bag. He looked up at our entry.
