Chapter 107

At work the next day, Kiki held a set of rings that a young couple had been looking at.
"Are you sure this is the one you want?" the young man asked his future bride.
She nodded, but bit her lip and released it. "Yes, but it's too much."
"Would you like to see another set?" Kiki asked the young woman.
The woman nodded, smiling. "Yes, please."
"No, this is the one," the young man interrupted. "Could you hold them for me? Then I'll come by and make payments on them until they're paid off."
Kiki looked between them and smiled. "Yes, of course." Kiki let out a deep breath. "I'll tell you what. Ten dollars should hold it for now. That is, unless you'd like another amount?"
The young man returned her smile. "No, that will be fine. Thank you." He opened his wallet and handed her a ten dollar bill. "Thank you."
"What's your name?" Kiki asked.
"Jared. Jared Thomas." Then he looked over at his fiancée. "And this is Rochelle Hall."
Kiki smiled as she wrote down their names. "So, when's the big day?"
Rochelle looked up at Jared, her eyes filled with love. Then she turned back to Kiki. "In the spring."
"May, perhaps?" Kiki asked.
Jared and Rochelle nodded.
"Sounds lovely." Kiki took the money and slid it into the register. Then she wrote out two receipts, and stapled each receipt to a separate print out with both of their names on it. She didn't know for sure, but she suspected that Rochelle might want to stop by and slip some money onto the rings, too, without Jared knowing. Kiki then placed one under the ring set under the counter in a locked drawer, and handed Jared the other. "Just bring this in each time you come by and I'll let everyone know where it is. You can take the set when you pay it off."
His eyebrow rose almost into his hairline. "Is there a time limit? I mean, do I have to pick it up by a certain time or I'll lose it?"
Rochelle's eyes were wide as she clutched Jared's arm and silently shook her head.
A smile spread across Kiki's lips. "No. Not at all. Whether it takes you six months or six years, it'll still be here for you when you're ready. Also, if at any time you decide you'd like another set, you can always trade it and the amount you have paid will be transferred to the new set."
Jared extended his hand to Kiki. "Thank you so much! I get paid every Friday so I'll be here every week after work."
Kiki nodded as she shook his hand. "I'll be here, and the set will be waiting for you- when you're ready."
Rochelle slid her arm into her fiancée's, and turned to Kiki. "Thank you so much! You don't know how much we appreciate this." Yes, from the look in her eyes, she would be back- and so would he.
Kiki's lips curled into a smile. "Just promise me that you'll hold onto each other and be happy."
The couple looked between one another and smiled.
"Oh, we will," Jared said, sincerity coloring his voice. "Happy New Year."
Kiki's heart sank. New Year's Eve. Taren had asked her to go to the Christmas Cove Fireman's Ball, but after what had happened, what she had said, she had no intention of going.
"Happy New Year," Kiki replied, wearing her best Poker face, hoping beyond all hope that this couple made it.
They nodded. Jared held the door open for his fiancée as she walked out, nodded his gratitude to Kiki once again, and then followed her. Outside, he wrapped his arm around her, protecting her from the cold, and guided her down the sidewalk toward their car.
When she turned around, Jocelyn raised an eyebrow, folding her arms across her chest. "Since when do we take layaway?"
One corner of Kiki's lips curled into a smile. "I'll buy it myself and they can make me the payments. But please don't tell them."
Jocelyn shook her head. "Oh no you won't."
"I really don't mind--"
"But I do," Roxanne cut her off as she walked out of the back room. Then she turned to Jocelyn, looking smug. "So, Miss Manager, don't you think it's time we start a layaway program?"
Jocelyn smiled. "Yes, Miss Owner, I think it is."
"Well then, so do I." Roxanne gave Kiki a pat on the shoulder. "Good idea. Once word gets around about what you did for that couple today, I'm sure we're going to have more business than we know what to do with. And we have you to thank for it."
Kiki guessed that the days of miracles weren't over yet. "My pleasure." Smiling, Roxanne nodded, but Kiki stopped her when she turned away. She guessed that Roxanne wasn't as hard hearted and shallow as she had previously thought. "Thank you, Roxanne."
"My pleasure." Roxanne nodded once, a smile stretching across her face as she headed toward the back room. "I'll be back here doing inventory, if you need me."
"Okay-," Jocelyn and Kiki shouted in unison. They both looked at each other and laughed.
"Roxanne's the only person I know who would do inventory on New Year's Eve," Jocelyn whispered, shaking her head.
Kiki giggled. "We really shouldn't say things like that. Not after her not firing me for letting that couple put that set on layaway."
"Hey! That wasn't going to happen! It was a good idea!" Jocelyn said a bit too loud.
"Ssshhhh-." Kiki laughed. "Thanks." She went back to adjusting the ring sets, pulled a few out from under the counter, and replenished the ones they sold. While she was under the counter, she saw a necklace that reminded her of Taren and his mother: A silver locket. She took it out and sighed as she set it in the case and adjusted it, fingering the locket.