As Anina unlocked the entrance door of Cabrelli Jewelers promptly at eight a.m., her grandfather was bent over the bruting wheel in the back room. The high-pitched hum of the wheel was the sound of her childhood. She and her brother came to the shop every day after school and waited for Nicolina to pick them up. Anina called out to Olimpio, locked the door behind her, and hung her purse on a hook behind the desk before flipping on the lights in the empty showcases.
Anina unlocked the safe and pulled the jewelry inventory out, lining up the storage trays on the glass counter. She counted the diamond rings and cross-checked them against the manager’s inventory list. She arranged gold hoop earrings on their stands and positioned them in the case. She placed the pin light directly on the platinum hoops studded with sapphires.
She moved the brooches around like chess pieces, until each one was displayed to its ultimate advantage. Most shoppers had no idea what they were looking for. It was up to the salesperson to present the possibilities, Olimpio had taught her. The customer was buying a piece of jewelry and a story. Anina observed that women bought pieces that reminded them of happy times. When men bought jewelry for someone they cared about, they wanted it to be the best.
“All set, Nonno. The cases are done.”
Olimpio took off his work goggles, went into the showroom, and checked Anina’s work. “You’ve got an eye.”
Anina began to cry. “I haven’t been paid a compliment in a long time. I’m sorry.”
“Paolo doesn’t pay you compliments?”
“We’re fighting a lot. Things were better after we went to Don Vincenzo, and now they’re bad again. He says I don’t pay enough attention to him. I think it’s because I’m worried about Nonna. I’d like to come and stay with you. I could help you and help her get better.”
“The day may come when we need you, but not now. I’ll take care of my Matelda, and you need to take care of your Paolo.”
Anina raised the shades and unlocked the front door. A customer waited on the sidewalk. Anina opened the door and smiled. “Welcome to Cabrelli’s.” The bells jingled as Anina went behind the counter to serve her.
* * *
Anina pulled a sheet of tinfoil off the roll. She peered into the oven. The chicken thigh, wing, and breast were browned and cooking on a bed of rice, seasoned with fresh garlic and mushrooms. She opened the oven and tucked the tinfoil over the top of the chicken and rice. She lowered the heat on the oven. She set the fresh greens off to the side and set the small table outside the kitchenette for one. Anina returned to the kitchen and dressed the salad. Anina heard the key in the lock; her stomach fluttered from nerves.
“You cooked?” Paolo stood in the doorway. He took in Anina, who looked lovely.
She nodded. “I made you dinner.”
Paolo looked at the table set for one. “Are you going out?”
“No.”
“You’re dressed to go out.”
“I’m leaving you.” Anina walked to the bedroom and opened the door. He could see her suitcases on the bed. “I put my engagement ring in the box on the dresser. I was going to write you a note, but I thought that was cowardly, so I waited.”
“You’re serious.” Paolo sat down as though he had been shoved into the chair.
“I think it’s important to say what you mean in person,” she said softly.
“Okay.”
“We have control over nothing except the way we want to live. And I don’t choose to live like this anymore.”
“We’re going through a rough patch, Nina. It’s all getting real.” Paolo looked down at his hands.
“Isn’t it?” Anina thought to say, It’s been real for me all along, but she resisted the urge to start another fight. She was tired of arguing with him. Instead she went into the bedroom and picked up her suitcases. She dragged them to the front door. She slipped into her boots.
“It’s raining,” he said.
“I know.”
Anina pulled on her raincoat. Paolo went to her. “Don’t do this. Please. Stay with me.”
“This is about me.” She smiled. “I know this is what other people say when they’re breaking up, but in this instance, it happens to be entirely true.”
“You can’t forgive me.”
“I have forgiven you. Once I did, I found out the job wasn’t done.”
Paolo was confused. Anina was calm.
“I had to forgive myself. And when I did, I found the guts to try and make something out of myself outside of the person I am with you. I was wrong to try and make you my purpose in life. That wasn’t fair.”