I knew it was nice because I had stayed there.
Twenty-six years ago.
On my honeymoon.
Room 12.
My hand started to shake so hard I nearly dropped the card.
He took her there. He took her to our room.
I reached back into the pocket. There was a piece of paper folded small.
A receipt.
HOLLOWAY & SONS FINE JEWELRY — Birch Falls
Birch Falls was two towns over from Loon Lake. About twenty minutes away.
The receipt was dated Saturday. 9:15 a.m.
Right when the guys were sitting down to pancakes without him.
There were no items listed. Just a line that said Custom order — balance paid and an amount that made my breath catch. Over two thousand dollars.
Two thousand dollars at a jeweler.
I turned the receipt over.
On the back, someone had written in pen, in neat, old-fashioned handwriting:
Ready Sept. 14. Engraving as requested. Thank you, Mr. Ellison — and congratulations.
