*Well, I got one review and it was good, but I would love to hear other opinions. If more people like this story then I'm going to start writing an Alice fic too. Please let me know if you like my writing and even if you don't I appreciate constructive criticism, it helps me become a better writer. Enjoy the Chapter!*
Mom pulled the car up to the curb of a busy street and parked. We opened our doors and stepped out into the cold, overcast day. The street was lined with sidewalks full of people and assorted antique stores. We picked one at random and walked into the dimly lit shop, the little bell on the door alerting the shopkeeper of our presence. Inside there were shelves of all different shapes and sizes, some stood up against the walls while others teetered precariously in the center forming two small aisles. Each shelf held a myriad of different knick-knacks, from tarnished silverware to gleaming little jewelry boxes that played tinkling songs when opened. I felt a little like Alice falling down the rabbit hole as I examined all that the shop had to offer. I had never been shopping before and the place felt almost magical as I discovered every trinket.
When I finally tired of exploring the shop I looked around for Mom. She had made her way to a large glass case near the register and was asking the clerk to bring out some things to look at. She beckoned me forward with her hand.
"Hold out your arm," She said, slipping a simple silver bracelet onto my wrist. It was made up of tiny silver links like a miniature chain. Then she held her own wrist up next to mine. She wore an almost identical band except that it was filled with charms. There was a large heart-shaped crystal, a wolf, intricately carved out of wood, a feather pillow, a pair of baby-booties, a crystal ball and a motorcycle. I had always admired it as a child, thinking how pretty and unique it was, but only now did I realize that each dangling bauble had it's own significance, it's own memory to represent.
"I thought that you would like this," she continued, "I've always loved mine. Each charm stands for something important to me. You can put whatever you want on it and no one else will ever have one just like it."
"What do they all mean?" I asked, truly curious.
"Some of them were given to me. The heart your father gave to me. The wolf was a gift from Jake, he made it himself, and the crystal ball was from Alice, of course. The others I picked myself because they remind me of things I love. I'm sure you can guess that the booties remind me of you."
"What about the pillow?" I asked. Mom cleared her throat uncomfortably. It was just a gesture, she really didn't need to.
"It reminds me of my honeymoon, but I'm sure you don't want to know about that."
Our conversation was then cut short by the clerk asking if we were going to make a purchase. Mom reached into her purse and produced a few hundred dollar bills and the man proceeded to place my new bracelet into a box and wrap it with brown paper. When we left the store I was trying to think of things that would be good charms for my bracelet. It occurred to me that there hadn't been many momentous occasions to commemorate in my life, so that was out. All I had was the people in my life to start out with. What kind of things could represent them?
`I first thought of Jake. I would have liked a charm that would convey how much I care about him but what would I say when he sees it? Would I be able to tell him the whole truth? Or would the bracelet say it all? It was just something that would take some time to figure out.
Outside it had started to get colder, the first hints of fall settling in. Mom took hold of my hand and led me through the crowd enjoying the giddy feeling I was sharing with her.
"Have you decided what you want to go look at next?" She pointed to a little coffee shop on the corner, "We could go get a hot chocolate while you think about it."
"Sure," I agreed, letting her tow me diagonally across the street.
The coffee shop was warm and inviting. All around us people sat around tables talking animatedly to each other, or alone typing on laptops or reading books as they sipped their drinks. I had the impression that these people were intelligent or maybe just superior somehow. It was funny how they discreetly stole glances at my mother the most superior being there.
When I had my drink, mom wouldn't be having any, we found a table by the window and sat down. I stared out the window thinking.
"This shopping thing is actually kind of fun. I don't know why you all give Aunt Alice such a hard time about it," I said taking a cautious drink of my steaming cocoa, "I was thinking that since we came here to replace the locket that maybe I should get a charm that sort of represents it. And...I think I would like to get a gift for Jake."
"Anything in particular you had in mind?" She asked.
This wasn't really what I wanted to talk to her about. It was the perfect time for the conversation I really wanted to have because Dad was not around to hear it and I had plenty of time to compose myself so that he wouldn't. I took a deep breath and boldly changed the subject.
"What did it feel like? I mean, how did you know you were in love with dad?" She stared at me unblinking. I knew she was silently putting it all together, the questions about Jake and this. But it wasn't as if I expected her to remain oblivious. Who else could there be? There had only ever been Jake.
"I knew there was something else, something you weren't telling me. I could almost feel the change. It's okay though, I'm not worried. You're smart and Jake is great, I know that first hand. I just wish you weren't afraid to tell me things," She paused mulling something over in her head, "To answer your question, you just know, when you touch him, when he looks at you, you can just feel it." I could hear a tone of finality in what she said and I knew she wouldn't push me to say more.
We continued shopping in relative silence, but it was not an uncomfortable silence. We were both lost in our own thoughts. In the end I found a small shell-shaped locket to attach to my bracelet. It didn't have enough room for pictures so I had the jeweler put an inscription across the two inside panels: "My heart lies at the bottom of the ocean". I never did find a good gift for Jake.