Page 193 of Modern Romance January 2025 5-8

‘I knew it was you who made the appointment, Dante, but for a moment I thought you were Sev. It’s been such a long time.’

Such a long time.

He’d excluded himself as much as possible from life here for more than a decade.

Signor Adino locked the door behind them as Gio walked over to the rear counter and placed down the black jewellery pouch that contained so much of his life. His shaking hands opened it up—he clearly wanted to do this himself.

‘There is a stone loose on this choker,’ Gio said, and his voice was trembling as the jeweller put on his magnifying glasses. ‘I remember you making this for her...’ Gio took out a handkerchief, then turned to Dante. ‘He’s a good salesman. I had to purchase a silver hand mirror—’

‘So Signora Casadio could see it when she put it on!’ Signor Adino carried on.

Only Dante wasn’t listening. He was staring at the spread of jewels on the black velvet—some dulled, but still attempting to shine, some that had belonged to his mother. There was even the cross and chain his father had worn when they were small.

It was the pieces that were missing that punished him the most.

Lost in the accident on the hills.

He thought of the two stones sitting in his safe back in Milan. He would really prefer to leave Gio to it, and yet he stood beside him, watching as each piece was laid out and one by one the jeweller made notes in a handwritten ledger.

Who the hell still used carbon paper?

Finally, the list was complete and the copy handed to Gio, who watched as the jewels and so many of his memories were carefully taken out to the back of the shop to be lovingly tended to.

‘Are you okay?’ Gio checked with Dante, when surely it should be the other way around.

‘Of course.’

And with the past taken care of, the jeweller returned and smiled to Gio. ‘I have everything set up for you, Signor Casadio.’

‘I might be a while,’ Gio said.

Dante nodded, watching as Gio moved behind the counter, no doubt to choose the stone for Mimi’s ring.

He wandered around the small store, looking at the watches. There was a beautiful old gold one...

He glanced down at his own luxury watch and told himself he did not need another one. Anyway, he didn’t wear gold.

And then from nowhere a memory assailed him, of standing on this very spot, with Sev beside him, not with his mother looking at rings, but with his father at the counter. Collecting a ring.

Turning to Sev, he had asked a question. ‘What’s an eternity ring?’

Slamming closed that memory, he walked away from the watches and crossed the floor of the tiny jewellers in two strides. For a while he stood unseeing, staring at the lavish displays, wishing to God they weren’t locked in.

Then a burst of laughter from the office hauled him back to the present, and he looked with mild interest at some of the more modern pieces.

His attention was held by one. A necklace of sunflowers—a beautiful swirl of gemstones and precious metals—and beneath it a sticker that proclaimed it sold. His eyes moved to rubies arranged like a field of wild poppies and set in white gold. They weren’t slender chains...more like subtle jewelled garlands with leaves.

He pulled his head back when he realised the jeweller had come out of the office and was standing behind him.

‘Signor Casadio wanted a few moments alone.’

‘Grazie.’Dante nodded, grateful for the time taken and the kindness shown to his grandfather—and he knew it wasn’t just because the Casadios had once been regular clients, it was how things were done here. ‘Are these your work?’ he asked.

‘They are.’ Signor Adino nodded.

‘Exquisite.’

‘Thank you. They are a labour of love.’