“I can handle everything just fine,” I objected, nearly spitting out a spinach leaf.
“Oh really? Like you handled the news of Naira?”
She had me there.
She continued. “I love you honey, but I just wish you’d be happy for me and enjoy your vacation.”
I gritted my teeth and swallowed. Okay, I’d leave it at that. For now.
When we finished, or rather, when I finished, we drove back to the island. Noticing an enticing little store on the edge of the ocean, I asked Mom about it and she pulled into the parking lot.
“Let’s not be too long,” she said, holding the glass door for me as we entered.
The shop was filled with anything and everything to do with the sea. Christmas balls made from seashells, dolphin and turtle key rings, dried seaweed mounted in glass, cups made from conch shells – everything and anything. Mom made her way around the shelves of mother of pearl silverware and I decided to look at the jewelry.
Scanning the display cases filled with pearls, gold tablets, and coral, a lovely pendant caught my eye. It was a large, emerald cut, deep turquoise blue stone. It was just bigger than a quarter.
“That’s a beauty,” a scratchy voice cut through the silence. I looked up to see a weathered face peering up at me. “It’s been here for years.”
I looked back down at the stone. “Why hasn’t it sold?”
The ancient lady cocked her head to the side, looking me up and down.
“The right person hasn’t come along. I don’t just sell my things to anyone, you know.”
I nearly laughed. “This is a store, isn’t it? Don’t you want to make money?”
She opened the jewelry case. “I’m not into making money, love, rather putting the right things with the right people.” The rock was huge in her shriveled hand. “Sometimes I even give things away to the right person.” She dropped it into my open hand.
It nearly took my breath away.
“It’s a blue topaz. Probably the most beautiful I’ve ever seen,” she continued. “It’s yours.”
Suddenly, Mom snatched it out of my hands.
“No!” She said and then hastily added, “We’ll buy it, Geiruna.”
“Nonsense,” Geiruna waved Mom off and placed her hand on her hip. “She can have it as a gift.”
“How very kind,” Mom said, though I couldn’t hear any gratefulness in her tone, “but I’d still prefer to buy it. How much?”
Geiruna narrowed her eyes. “Five thousand.”
“Five thousand?” I shrieked. “For a topaz?”
“Well, it was free.”
“I’ll give you a thousand,” Mom said.
“Forty-five.”
“Two.”
“Four.”
“Twenty-five.”
“It’s ok,” I interrupted. “I don’t want it anymore!” But I was ignored.
“Four.”
“Geiruna, you’re not being very fair.” Mom was getting mad.
“Thirty-five,” Geiruna relented.
“Three thousand, that’s the final offer.”
Geiruna eyed me. “Done.”
I could have puked. Three thousand dollars for a topaz?
“Mom, honestly, I don’t want it!”
“I think you can throw in a chain along with that.” Mom nodded toward a strong-looking silver chain with a toggle clasp. Reluctantly, Geiruna pulled the chain down and wrapped the pendant and chain in white paper.
I took Mom aside. “Please don’t buy it – it’s way too expensive and I was just looking!”
“We have to buy it,” she said.
“No, we don’t!” I pressed and she held up her hand.
“Morgandy, we’ll talk about this in a minute, ok? Now let me buy it.”
And it was done. We walked out of the store with a small bag that held the beautiful necklace apparently worth thousands of dollars.
I followed Mom as she made her way through a small park to the beach. Kicking off her shoes and hiking her dress up to her thighs, she waded into the water. I sat down next to her shoes and watched her. I didn’t know what to do. I hadn’t wanted the necklace that badly. Now I felt guilty. I wouldn’t be able to enjoy wearing it.
Pulling my knees up to my chest, I lay my arms on my knees and rested my head on my arms. Mom was standing in the water looking out to the sea. She seemed lost in thought.
After what seemed a good fifteen minutes, I waded in next to her. I took her hand in mine.
“I’m sorry, Mom.”
“Don’t be, Morgandy,” she was still gazing out to sea. “It was well worth it.”
“I don’t think it’s worth that much money.”
She turned toward me and held my face in her hands. “I would’ve paid a million dollars for that rock.”