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flash of intense heat inside my solar plexus. That’s why I wanted to hold it—in case I sensed anything else.”
    Victoria pulled the wedding ring from her finger and offered it to Beverly.
    The other woman held the band tight in her palm and closed her eyes as if meditating. Her breathing slowed and she stood stock-still.
    Victoria hoped the phone wouldn’t ring or that Pirate wouldn’t squawk and disturb her.
    The silence inside the store swelled and then pressed against her ears like warm hands. The sound of her pulse beating in her throat intensified with her anticipation of Beverly’s vision. A ticking clock formed a subtle duet with her heartbeat. White noise from the traffic outside whooshed past the picture window.
    After a long moment, Beverly’s eyes flew open and her body relaxed. “This ring belonged to James’s grandmother. She gave it to him shortly before her death.”
    Victoria gasped, awestruck. It took her several seconds to reply. “That’s right.” She stared down at the ring in Beverly’s hand. Florence Van Orr’s gold band was a symbol of steadfastness, vision, and faith in the future. It was also Victoria’s most prized possession.
    Beverly’s eyes sparkled and a smile pulled at the corners of her mouth. She petted the stones with a blunt fingertip and tilted her head. “Florence told James to give this ring to the love of his life.”
    Victoria’s pulse raced. “But James was married to Lydia when his grandmother died.”
    Beverly passed her a knowing look. “Well, then, it seems he saved the ring, didn’t he?”
    Could that be true? The idea was hard to fathom. “I always wondered why he hadn’t given it to Lydia. They were devoted to one another.”
    Maybe he hadn’t had time. Lydia had died a year after Florence passed. “James told me his grandmother used to say, ‘Finding love once is a precious gift. Finding love twice is a miracle.’ Florence was his grandfather’s second wife.”
    Beverly winked. “Clearly, then, you were his miracle. Your love must have taken him by surprise.”
    James had said that, too. Victoria had been his “shimmering surprise package.”
    A lump formed in her throat with the memory and she swallowed it down. She’d always wondered how she compared to Lydia. James’s late wife had been his partner for almost as many years as Victoria had birthdays. They’d had a son together and built an empire of the family business. From what she’d learned, Lydia was the perfect wife and mother, the consummate hostess and sought-after friend.
    That unwelcome, nagging feeling of inferiority tormented her. Who was she compared to James’s polished, popular first wife? The trophy. The luxury. The nobody.
    Yet—James had given her his grandmother’s ring to celebrate his crowning achievement, just as Florence’s husband had given the ring to her.
    “Thank you,” Victoria whispered. She tried to keep her voice steady, but it cracked.
    Beverly folded a large, work-weary hand over Victoria’s manicured fingers. “Can I ask you a personal question? You don’t need to answer, ’cause I’m just being nosy. That, plus I’m interested. It’s my nature.” Beverly chuckled and Victoria smiled back. It was hard not to smile with Beverly around.
    “Why are you working here when you obviously don’t need the money? A woman in your position can have whatever she wants. Go anywhere she wants. Why wait on customers in a musty antiques shop when you can own the world?”
    Victoria met Beverly’s eyes and watched anticipation sparkle in their gray-green depths.
    There was nothing to do but tell the truth. Beverly had given Victoria something few others had offered in her lifetime. Instant acceptance.
    “I can buy the one thing here I can’t find anywhere else.”
    Beverly’s brow creased with her curious frown. She leaned closer. “What’s that? Tell me, I’m dying to know.”
    “I’m buying time,” Victoria replied.

Chapter Four
    When the customer