Sinners and Saints

Sinners and Saints Chapter 59 - Question of Balance

After cleaning up, I go downstairs and meet up with everyone in the lobby.  None of our phones have gone off yet. 

“Father Jonas and Anne and Jamie just left,” Jojo tells me, “They’re heading to Mass at that church Clark mentioned, the Bascillica something or other.” 

“”Basillica of San Albino,” I tell her, “I caught the sign when we parked last night.”  

“Yeah,” she nods, “Anyway, they’re attending Mass and have a private tour set up afterward.  We were thinking about some shopping on the square and then meeting up with them for lunch.  What do you want to do?” 

“That sounds fine with me,” I grin, “I saw a gorgeous dress in one of the windows that would be perfect for you.”

The square is jam-packed and we are forced to park five blocks away and hoof it back.  The boys mumble something about staying in the shade and head to the other side of the square.  Jill, Jojo and I hit the shops in a good mood.  None of us talk about why we’re actually here or what I’m going to decide or any of the rest of it.  They both know me enough to know that I’ll get testy and snap at them until I come to my final decision. 

In Del Sol I pull out the dress that I saw in the window and make Jojo try it on.  It’s gorgeous and flatters her so well.  Deep blues and greens with subtle gold threading highlighting her hips and bust. 

She changes back after my thumbs-up and we wait for Jill to come out. 

“Sold!” we both exclaim when she prances her shorter, sunnier dress for us.  

“Where’s yours, baby?” Jill asks after she changes. 

“I have an incubus,” I shrug, “If he doesn’t like something in my closet he’ll change it anyway.  No sense in spending money on anything.” 

“Oh, girl,” Jill giggles, “No wonder you got rid of so much.” 

“No, I got rid of so much because I had way too much,” I laugh and take both dresses toward the counter, “I slogged half of my wardrobe all over the world for far too long and used a third of it at best.  You both know me.  I’m in shorts and tank-tops seventy-percent of the time.  I like dressing up just as much as you do, but I’m going to be a mother soon.  I’ll be in sweats and spit-up stained t-shirts for the next year at least.  No sense in buying something I’ll never wear.” 

We hit a couple of other stores, but nothing catches my eye. 

Until we stop in a jewelry store. 

There’s a lot of silver and turquoise here.  Not surprising, considering the area.  Bolos, rings, belt buckles.  Some red-jasper thrown in. 

Before I realize what I’m doing, I gravitate over to the men’s rings.  Most of them are gaudy pinkie rings.  There are some more neutral ones, but there’s only one I like.  A silver band with tiny pin-pricks of sapphires all the way around.  I like it, but the band appears to be actual silver instead of platinum and I want different stones than sapphires. 

And then I stop myself.  “Holy crap,” I think, “I’m shopping for Drake’s wedding ring.  I’m actually thinking about this.” 

I have to go outside and sit on one of the benches lining the square to calm down my thudding heart.  A mariachi band in full costume is warming up in the big gazebo on the other end of the square.  The blasts of trumpet completely match my jangling nerves right now.