BROKEN VOWS

Chapter Twenty Two. Truth Hurts.

Rainbow's POV.

Hunter's eyes were glued to the medallion, his gaze burning with an intensity that suggested he was on the cusp of unraveling a long-hidden mystery. "This is too much of a coincidence, don't you think?" he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

I leaned in, my curiosity piqued, as I tried to get a closer look at the medallion. "Why? What does it mean?" I asked, my eyes scanning the intricate engravings on the metal.

Hunter's expression turned nostalgic, a faraway look in his eyes. "Aunt Kayla used to write her initials on everything and anything that she owned when she was alive," he explained, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "My kid sister took after her, and she would often write hers on coffee mugs she deemed too pretty for others to use." He chuckled, shaking his head. "Gosh! She didn't even like coffee!"

We both laughed, the tension in the room momentarily dissipating. But as our laughter faded, the gravity of the situation settled back in, and I couldn't shake the feeling that we were on the verge of uncovering a secret that would change everything.

"I didn't know you had another name, Bow; what does the 'K' stand for?" He asked.

My expression turned puzzled. "That's because I don't, it's not... I mean, it wasn't mine originally," I stammered, the words tumbling out in a confusing jumble.

He gave me a perplexed look. "You bought it? Who was the original owner?" he pressed, his curiosity piqued.

I cleared my throat, buying time to gather my thoughts. Taking a deep breath, I began to explain. "I, um, an old woman I used to work for gave it to me. She said it was her daughter's, and she wanted me to have it." I forced a sheepish smile, feeling a flutter in my chest.

Hunter's eyes narrowed. "Really? When?" he asked softly, his voice dripping with curiosity.

I hesitated, the memories of that day flooding back. "About six years ago... it was a parting gift to me the day I quit my job." The words spilled out, and suddenly, the date slammed into my consciousness like a freight train.

"11-11-2011!" I exclaimed, my voice ringing out loud and clear.

Hunter's eyes widened, alarm etched on his face. "What did you say?" he asked, his voice low and urgent.

I was bursting with excitement, my words tumbling out in a frantic rush. I flung open the journal, tapping on the page with an impatient finger. "It was the day I quit my job at the antique shop six years ago!" I exclaimed, my eyes shining with triumph.

Hunter's eyebrow shot up, his expression a mixture of surprise and curiosity. "An antique shop?" he repeated, his voice laced with intrigue.

I nodded vigorously, a huge smile plastered on my face. "I didn't know you worked in an antique shop," Hunter said, his eyes narrowing as he studied me.

I barely contained my excitement, the memories flooding back in vivid detail. "Oh, but I did! Old Mrs. Watkins wouldn't let me leave the shop without it!" I exclaimed, my voice bubbling over with joy. "It was the last time I saw her alive, and the first time I met her estranged daughter... Lara? Lorraine? Ugh, it started with an 'L', I'm sure of it!" My eyes sparkled with relief as the memories finally fell into place, the puzzle pieces clicking together with a satisfying snap.

The realization dawned on Hunter's face like a sunrise, illuminating his features with a warm glow. "Was her name Lauren?" he asked, his voice tinged with a hint of trepidation.

I clapped my hands in excitement, raving with glee. "Yes! Oh yes! That's her name! She looked so much like Mr. Watkins, you know?" I exclaimed, my eyes sparkling with memories.