A/N: Ah yes, another update:D Just what you guys were waiting for, right? So, this is officially my last update of 2006. Scary thought, know? I'm giddy with excitement for the next couple of chapters. I finally got to the stuff that's, more or lessly, all planned out. I hope you all have a safe and happy new year!

Chapter 13

I walked into the house as my cell rang. I shoved the door closed behind me and tossed my keys on the table and answered it, glancing over to see my keys slid off the table and land on the floor with a loud clanging noise. I winced and hoped it didn't scratch.

"Hello?"

"Jason, are you alright? You sound…upset." Jessica quickly asked and I sighed.

"I'm fine, Sweetie." I told her, shoving any lingering thoughts of my library search to the back of my mind. I could think on that later.

"I was calling to ask you if you could find my necklace," She told me, "I got all my stuff ready for tonight, but I forgot my necklace in my dresser."

Jessica and I were supposed to go out with a few friends of hers from work tonight. We were going someplace relatively fancy and the name of the place is momentarily escaping me.

"Of course, I'll find it." I told her, anything to take my mind off of today. I added silently.

"Thank you so much," She told me and her tone grew serious. "Are you sure you're ok? You don't sound like yourself."

"Everything's fine." I told her, trying to sound casual but failing miserably.

"OK," She said, sounding unconvinced. "Well, I guess I'll see you tonight then." She said, sounding harried.

"Of course," I responded and I heard her talking to someone around her, her voice muffled like she was holding her hand over the receiver.

"Honey, I got to go. I'll see you tonight." She told me and I said my goodbye and we hung up.

I sighed and set my cell down on the counter and snatched my keys off the floor and set them down. I sighed and went into the bedroom to find Jessica's necklace. She said it was in her dresser, which contained about 15 drawers, and I doubt I would get lucky enough to find it on the first try. Or find by the time I needed to be at the restaurant.

I opened the top drawer at the left and systematically made my way through, searching carefully for the piece of jewelry. I was halfway through when I felt a velvet box come into contact with my fingers. Finally, I thought as I withdrew it from the drawer.

I frowned when the box was in full view. It definitely wasn't a necklace box and it was dusty as all hell; like it hadn't been touched in a few years. I examined the box for a long time, trying to debate if I should look at it. Jessica rarely wore rings; she says they get in the way of the latex she needs to wear over her hands at the hospital. I went to place it back, but something told me to look at it. Something about this box had me uneasy. I sighed and pulled my hand back.

What the hell, I thought and opened the box and looked at the content inside. When my eyes lay on the object, my mind went blank. Inside definitely wasn't her necklace. And it definitely wasn't a ladies ring. My breathing quickened and my heart pounded. Blood roared in my ears and something told me this wasn't right.

What the hell? Rang through my head as I picked up the white-gold ring that lay in the box and held it up.

My heart had all but stopped beating and my breath was caught in my throat. My chest felt tight and I couldn't breathe. My body felt like led as I stared at the ring in my hands.

I closed my eyes for a moment, trying to gather my wits. The ring was a wedding band. That much was clear. The image from my search earlier popped into my head and I shook my head to clear it.

This couldn't be…

I turned the ring sideways so I could read the underside.

Love always, Jude.

Was inscribed in the band. The wedding band.

Shit, I thought, staring at the ring in disbelief. I turned it over again in my hand and I remembered the picture online of the dual custom rings I had seen earlier. And here I was, holding the real thing. This isn't happening. I thought, closing my eyes and trying to make more sense out of the situation.

I took a deep breath and put the ring back in the box and snapped it shut. I got up from my kneeling position on the floor and shoved the box into my pocket and walked back into the kitchen where my cell waited on the counter.

I snatched it up and scrolled through my recent calls and hit send when I found the number I was looking for. As the phone rang, I tapped my foot impatiently, praying that she would answer.

"Hello?"

"We need to talk."