“We’ve got coffee and cookies over here if you’d like something. Feel free to browse. Let me know if you have any questions.”
“Are you the owner?”
Naomi nodded, held out her hand. “Yes. I’m Naomi Belcourt.”
“I’m Kristi,” the woman said. “Tell me about this place.”
Naomi explained that she was a jewelry-maker and that the boutique carried the work of Native artists from around the country.
“Show me some of your work.”
Naomi pointed out her photographs, then showed Kristi her jewelry in the display cases, finishing with her signature pieces in the center case.
“These are exquisite. Can I see that one?”
It was one of Naomi’s latest pieces, a bracelet with a hummingbird of inlaid abalone, mother of pearl, onyx, and green turquoise flashing its shimmering wings against a flower of inlaid rose quartz. “I made this when I got back from my honeymoon.”
Okay, so it had been a week-long stay at a bed and breakfast in Estes Park, but that had been perfect, giving them time to explore each other and the mountains.
“How long have you been married?” Kristi asked.
“Just since the end of September.”
“Congratulations. Oh, look at this filigree work. Beautiful.” Kristi turned the bracelet in her hand, examining it. “Did you have a big ceremony?”
“We got married at my father’s place on Pine Ridge. My husband’s grandfather is a spiritual leader. He led the ceremony. We invited family and a few close friends from Scarlet. It was small, but for us, that was just right.”
“It sounds wonderful.” The woman held out the bracelet. “I’ll take this.”
Naomi wrapped it for her and ran her credit card. “Thanks for coming in today. Would you like my card?”
“Yes, thank you. I would.” Kristi took the card, tucked it in her handbag. “How did you become interested in jewelry-making?”
Naomi didn’t want to share the whole story, so she gave her the shorter, more cheerful version. She drew her medicine wheel out of her blouse, held it by its cord where Kristi could see it. “I was given this medicine wheel, made by my great-grandmother when I was very little. I was fascinated with it and wanted to learn how to make things like it.”
Kristi stared at the medicine wheel, a look of recognition on her face as if she’d seen one before and knew what a medicine wheel was.
“Lunch has arrived!” Winona came up behind Naomi, holding a paper bag fromTacosSabrosos.
“Oh, thank goodness! I’m starving.”
Chaska appeared carrying more scones and muffins, which he set down near the almost-empty cookie plate. “Who was that?”
Naomi turned, saw Kristi disappearing down the street. “She said her name was Kristi.”
Chaska shook his head. “It looked like she was in tears.”
“Really?” She’d seemed perfectly cheerful to Naomi.
Winona held up a white envelope. “I think she left you something.”
Naomi opened the envelope and found a letter inside. At the first words, her eyes filled with tears. She threw the letter down and ran for the door, looking up and down the street for any sign of Kristi. She was gone.
For a moment, Naomi stood on the store’s front porch, fighting to get her emotions under control, cold wind biting into her skin.
Kristi was her mother.
A bell jingled, and Chaska stepped outside.