Chapter 1
“This is so exciting,” Grace said, as she arranged two dozen Italian cookies on a sky-blue serving dish. “How many students are registered for class tonight?”
“We have five members of the English Department from Florida Sands University: Jerry Morrison, a resident of Palm Paradise, who is making a necklace for his wife’s anniversary present; Gertrude; and Emma,” Connie Petretta said, as she set up a work station for each student and placed an array of tools on the large oak table in preparation for the evening’s jewelry-making activities. “So, I will have eight students all together.”
Palm Paradise was the condominium building overlooking the Gulf of Mexico, where both Grace and Connie lived. Connie had recently inherited the condo next door to Grace from her aunt and namesake, Concetta Belmonte, which lead her to relocate from the Boston area to Sapphire Beach, Florida, to open a jewelry shop. In addition to Connie’s handmade creations, she also dedicated a significant portion of the store to selling Fair Trade jewelry, which inspired the name Just Jewelry.
“I’m proud of you, honey,” Grace said. “That’s a wonderful turnout for your first class. It should help to bring some traffic into the store during these slow summer months.” The oppressive heat and humidity of southwest Florida tended to drive the snowbirds north and keep tourists away this time of year.
Connie agreed. “Plus, it will provide a way for me to share my love for the craft.”
Grace’s support meant the world to Connie. Not only had she been Concetta’s best friend, never leaving her side during her brief battle with cancer, but she was like family to Connie, as well. And her part-time help working in Just Jewelry was proving to be invaluable. Grace wasn’t scheduled to work tonight, but she didn’t want to leave Connie alone for such an important milestone.
Even in the midst of the oppressively hot summer months, business was better than Connie had anticipated. The grand opening in early April had been a huge success, and Connie saw a steady flow of traffic in the weeks that followed. Now that the slower months had arrived, there would be plenty of time to create jewelry and place orders with her Fair Trade suppliers in Kenya and Ecuador, so she would be fully stocked and ready to go by late September, when the snowbirds would begin to trickle back. So far, everything was going according to plan.
After preparing a place at the table for each student, Connie brewed two pitchers of iced tea, complete with fresh mint leaves from her plants on the patio behind the store, and placed the cookies that Grace had prepared on the table.
Most students would be attempting a necklace that Connie had chosen with inspiration from a fashion magazine. The only exception was eleven-year-old Emma who, with the encouragement of Elyse, Emma’s mother and one of Connie’s closest friends in Sapphire Beach, requested a simpler bracelet. Connie helped her choose a design that centered around a bead containing the letter E, for Emma.
Although Just Jewelry had only been open for three months, Connie was excited to add teaching to her ever-growing job description, which included shop owner, Fair Trade vendor, and jewelry maker.
Once everything was set up, Connie and Grace took a break on the overstuffed red sofa in the store’s seating area, where they could see out onto the street through one of the floor-to-ceiling display windows. It was late June, and, because the brutally hot subtropical weather was in full force, there weren’t many people walking around downtown Sapphire Beach.
Gertrude and Emma were the first to arrive, along with Elyse and Victoria. Victoria was a three-year-old little girl for whom Elyse and her police detective husband, Joshua Miller, recently began the adoption process, and Gertrude was Elyse’s octogenarian great-aunt who was a delightful mixture of fun antics and wisdom.
Connie jumped up and hugged Elyse, Victoria, and two of her first students. She was beyond excited to begin this class.
“I’m so glad you and Victoria are staying to watch the class,” Connie said, handing a chocolate chip cookie to the eager three-year-old. “It will be nice to have some friendly faces present.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” Elyse said. “Besides, I want to be present as my daughter becomes a first-class jewelry maker,” she said, winking at Emma.
“That’s right,” Gertrude said. “We could be witnessing history.”
Within a few minutes, the rest of the students had arrived, beginning with the crew from Florida Sands University. They were led by a small, athletically built woman with dark brown hair that reached halfway down her back.
“I’m Isabel Spenser,” she said, extending her hand to Connie. “This is Allister, Mary Ann, Paige, and Abby.”
“Pleased to meet you,” Connie said.
She recognized Abby’s name as the person who registered the group. “We talked on the phone, didn’t we?” Connie asked the young woman.
“Yes, that was me,” Abby said, her gaze dropping toward the ground. She was a far cry from the enthusiastic young woman Connie had talked with the week before.
Isabel studied Abby for a moment, then continued with the introductions. “Allister here was just granted tenure. A few of us from the English Department decided to come out to celebrate his accomplishment. I’m Chair of the department, Mary Ann is my administrative assistant, and Paige is a graduate student, as well as Allister’s teaching assistant. And, of course, you met Abby. She is our student worker and one of our most promising rising seniors.”
Connie thought she saw Abby wince at Isabel’s praise.
“Congratulations,” Connie said to Allister. “What a wonderful way to celebrate your accomplishment.”
“We thought we’d try something new to expand our horizons,” Isabel said. “And maybe take advantage of the opportunity to do some team building as a department.”
“Yes, some indoor team building under the air conditioning,” Allister added, pulling his polo shirt away from his chest and fanning himself. “It’s brutal out there. I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to this heat.”
Connie introduced the group to Emma and Gertrude and led everyone over to the table where they would be working. Grace poured them each an iced tea and offered them some cookies.
As they were settling in, the final student arrived.
“Everyone, this is Jerry,” Connie said, gesturing toward a distinguished-looking man in his mid-fifties. “You know Gertrude,” Connie said. Gertrude also lived in Palm Paradise. Then she introduced Emma and the folks from Florida Sands.
Jerry crossed his arms and studied Allister while Connie was doing the introductions.
A smirk made its way onto his mouth. “Not the same Professor Allister McCue who is teaching a summer poetry class on Wednesday evenings?” he asked.
“Yes,” Allister said, puffing out his chest. “On the French Romantic Poets.”
“My wife, Liz Morrison, is in that class,” Jerry said with a sneer.
A look of recognition spread across Allister’s face. “Oh, yes, Liz. She is quite lovely.” He raised his eyebrows as he spoke.
“I agree wholeheartedly, Dr. McCue,” he said in a possessive tone. “She left this morning for a business trip, so I’m taking advantage of the opportunity to make her a necklace for our twentieth anniversary next month.”
Allister waved his hand. “Please, no Dr. McCue tonight.” He made eye contact with Paige, then Abby. “From anyone. When we’re not on campus, it’s just Allister.”
Connie watched Jerry, who was still closely observing Allister with a slight scowl on his face, and wondered what had gone on in Allister’s class to warrant such contempt from his student’s husband. Then she shook her head. She was better off not knowing.
Now seemed like a good time to begin class.
