Chapter 3
CHAPTER THREE
AVA
Annoyance and worry clung to me as I entered my condo. Why couldn’t I shake him off?
It had been over a year since we broke up. My body shouldn’t have this reaction to him. When he stood close to me, I wanted to fall into his protective arms that used to make me feel safe. Though my body remembered the comfort, I remembered the pain that chopped up my heart.
How had I not known about him and Sierra? I always thought I had good intuition, so what happened? I should’ve sensed something.
Love blinds people.
How could he have been engaged to a crazed woman like Sierra Montage?
Last year, she was accused of burning down a woman’s house for dating her ex-boyfriend.
She also slashed her ex’s tires while he was at work.
Somehow she got away with the crimes. Her family probably paid off people or threatened them.
Money talked. Maybe that was what Austin wanted.
But then why had he ended the engagement a month after it was announced?
Maybe I needed a few more years to truly expunge him from my body and mind. He was like an illness that lingered and flared up with certain triggers. Today’s trigger was seeing his concern for me. It didn’t seem fake, but it made me angry.
Why care about me when you’ve hurt me so badly?
I hopped into the shower, hoping the warm water would wash the thoughts of him away. I let the steamy water soothe me when the thief popped into my vision. Would the police recover the bracelet in time? I doubted it.
I had to buy another bracelet for my mother, but finances were tight.
A pipe burst in my kitchen last month, and my car needed new tires and brakes.
These necessities took an enormous chunk of money from my savings.
The dream of my little bakery dwindled before my eyes.
Maybe this was a sign from the universe telling me to give it up.
Sadness gripped my heart. My dad was a baker, and he worked for a well-known bakery in Shrewsbury.
His dream was to open a bakery one day, so he could share his creativity with the community, but he never got that chance.
I fell in love with baking because of my dad.
Opening a shop was my dream—to explore my creativity and honor him. But now that might not happen.
Sadness swelled in my chest like dough. I had to do something about the situation. I had little left in my savings, but I wanted to get my mom the bracelet.
As an admin assistant for the Department of Public Works for the City of Worcester, I didn’t make a lot of money.
But I enjoyed serving the community. The pension the city offered was security for my retirement.
I needed to find a part-time job to supplement the bracelet and other emergencies that could pop up.
Some comfy pajamas put me in a better mood. I could look for a part-time job during my lunch break at work. After making chamomile tea, I sat down to watch the news, mostly for the weather.
“Authorities are searching for a man responsible for stealing multiple items from the Solomon Pond Mall today,” said the reporter with red lipstick that matched her shirt.
She listed items including my bracelet. Apparently, the same thief stole a pair of diamond earrings and a watch hours after my incident.
How brazen!
“The police believe the suspect has help. If you recognize this man or know anything about this case, please call the number below. The holidays are upon us. Be careful when you do your holiday shopping.”
I prayed they’d catch the thief soon so people could be at ease. The holidays were filled with magic. That magical feeling was like spring when I felt hopeful. I grabbed my phone and sent a text to my group chat.
Ava: Be careful when you shop.
Rhea: I saw the news.
Kendra: What’s wrong with people?
Layla: Lots of things.
Ava: He stole my bracelet.
Rhea: What? The gift for your mom?
Ava: Yeah.
Kendra: I hope he catches a nasty disease.
Jemma: People are jerks!
Ava: If you know of a part-time job, let me know.
Rhea: Why?
Ava: Gonna replace the bracelet. It’s expensive.
All my friends agreed to let me know. Then we finalized the date for our holiday gathering.
I didn’t tell them I’d encountered Austin. They’d swarm me with questions, and I didn’t want to think about him right now. My body was just calming down from the resurgence of feelings he elicited.
Snuggling into my bed, I shifted my lavender-scented candle aside to make room for my phone to charge. The soothing aroma reminded me of the musky cologne from the mall. It was similar to what Austin wore. But I’d never sneezed when I was around him.
I’d smelled this scent when I was in the jewelry store and when I bought candles. Could they be the same person? Many people wore that cologne, including Austin.
Revelation dawned on me. The man who had snatched my purse didn’t wear this cologne.
I didn’t remember sneezing. If he didn’t take the emerald bracelet, then who did?
I replayed that chaotic day through my head.
A skilled thief could’ve taken the jewelry box when I was still inside the mall.
Numerous people had bumped into me. It could’ve been anyone.
I could rule Austin out of the theft equation.
From what I gathered, Tanner Properties had expanded, which meant he was doing well.
He didn’t need to steal my emerald bracelet.
He could buy Sierra all the jewelry she wanted.
Though their engagement had ended, she still posted about them on her social media posts as though they were still together.
My phone pinged with a text. Thinking it was one of my friends, I reached for it, and my heart galloped.
Why was Austin texting me?