One Woman’s Treasure

by Jean Copeland

  Savannah’s frown actually seemed genuine. “Daphne, I’m sorry you think so low of me. I realize we ended on a rather sour note, but I’m here because I wanted to be among the first to come out in support of your new endeavor.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, really.” Savannah’s tone was totally unaffected with pretense. “We were together for half our lives.” She rolled her eyes, then slipped back into diva mode as she picked up a gaudy early twentieth-century-style rhinestone bracelet. “I love this,” she said, letting it dangle between her fingers. “Are there earrings to match?”

  Leave it to Savannah to swoop in like a fairy godmother and upstage Daphne with an uncharacteristic show of authentic kindness.

  “Hmm. I don’t believe so,” Daphne said. “A lot of times with estate sales, you get what you get.”

  “I’ll take it anyway,” Savannah said with a shrug. “I’d like some room accents as well. Do you have anything in the fifties art-deco style?”

  Daphne felt the air filtering back into the room. “I think I do. Check over in the décor section in the corner.” She pointed toward the back of the room, where Nina stood.

  “Back there, near that tall, dark, and handsome woman? Your salesgirl?”

  “Better.” Daphne gave a satisfied smile. “My girlfriend.”

  “Oh,” Savannah said with a mild blush. “Oh. Well. Everything’s certainly coming up roses for you.” She smiled and placed her hand on Daphne’s shoulder. “I’m glad.”

  “Thank you,” Daphne said, finally feeling free to be herself around Savannah. “And thank you for your support.”

  She left Savannah to her browsing, and as she started walking toward the back of the store, she watched Nina slip into the back room.

  “Can you believe this?” Daphne said once they were in privacy. “She’s actually here to wish me well.”

  “A credit to your sweet nature, no doubt.” Nina tapped her playfully on her nose.

  “I still say part of her is here to see if this business will go down in flames.”

  “Then overcharge her.”

  Daphne giggled and threw her arms around Nina’s neck. “I’m having the best day.”

  “You’re clearly in your element.” Nina gave her a tender kiss. “And since you have this totally under control, I’m gonna sneak out and pick us up some lunch. Noah can stay and handle floor sales for you.”

  “No. Don’t go. Let’s order from Uber Eats.”

  “This is a special occasion,” Nina insisted. “No room-temperature fast food allowed. I want to get us something special. It’ll be a surprise. I promise I won’t be long.”

  Daphne slipped her arm around Nina’s waist and walked her all the way through the shop to the front entrance, slowing her pace as they passed Savannah.

  That one felt good.

  * * *

  As Nina drove into the convalescent-home parking lot, she smiled, pleased with herself as she envisioned the look on Daphne’s face when she wheeled Sophie into the antique shop for the festivities. Her excuse that she was going to pick up a special celebratory lunch for them was sheer brilliance.

  She walked into the facility and approached the reception desk, all brightness and cheer. After the young woman there finished clicking her lavender gel nails on her computer keyboard, she looked up and greeted her.

  “Hello. I’m here to see Sophie Gorski. Actually, I’d like to sign her out for the afternoon, if that’s possible.”

  “I’m sorry. Who did you say?”

  “Sophie Gorski.”

  As the young woman clicked a few keys, Nina watched the color drain from her face. “Um, I’m afraid you can’t.”

  “Why not? She’s my friend.”

  “Well, um, Mrs. Gorski passed away last night.”

  Now it was Nina’s turn to feel blanched. “What?” she said in a whisper, then managed an “Are you sure?”

  The receptionist raised her pointy nail to the computer screen and read it. “Yes. The funeral home picked her up an hour ago.”

  Nina stared into the air over the receptionist’s head, trying to recover from the shock.

  “I’m sorry, ma’am.” The young woman’s soft voice lulled her back to reality.

  “Oh, um. Thank you. Thanks,” Nina said and trudged off across the polished tiles toward the door.

  “Un-fucking-believable,” she shouted to the sky as she crossed the parking lot.

  She sat in her car for a moment, trying to process the gravity of the situation. How could the universe be so cruel to Daphne? On the happiest day of her life, she’d have to hear the worst possible news. She licked her lips, trying to stay calm. She sure as hell wasn’t going to be the one to tell her.

  Half in anger, half in desperation, she tore out of the parking lot and headed back to the store. When she returned, Daphne came running to the car excitedly.

  “Hi, love.” She poked her head inside the driver’s window for a kiss. “I’m so glad you’re back. We’re starving. My appetite’s come back now that I’m not petrified anymore,” she said with a giggle.

  Lunch? Son of a bitch.

  “Uh…” Nina extended the syllable as she tried to fabricate an excuse on the spot. “I forgot to get lunch. I had to make a sudden pit stop at home, if you know what I mean.” She rubbed her stomach for effect.

  “Oh, honey.” Daphne was all sympathy as she whispered, “You had to poop? You should’ve just gone here. It’s private back there.”

  “Er, uh…I can’t go in public.” Nina rolled her eyes at the humiliating hole she was digging herself into. “How about sushi? I’ll run over and grab it.”

  “Sure. That sounds good. Let me get back inside. I left Noah in charge of the cash register.” She stretched open her eyes in mock panic.

  “Okay. I’ll be back.”

  Nina got out of the car and strolled a few doors down to the Asian take-out place where she and Daphne were becoming regulars. How was she supposed to go back into the shop and act like everything was peachy now that she knew what she knew? She’d never seen Daphne so enthusiastic about anything. This was her day. Nina was not about to cast a shadow over it.

  * * *

  By seven o’clock, Daphne’s banner day was winding down. She’d counted the receipts several times, and each time, to her disbelief and delight, she’d grossed almost four thousand dollars. In one day. She understood the windfall was from all the grand-opening hype signs in the area, that it was a gorgeous spring day, and that Nina had flooded social media with advertisements leading up to the event. She also remembered she’d have to include overhead costs, but her sales were promising. If she could maintain that amount monthly, plus what she did in website sales, she wouldn’t end up having to sell her house and move into the back room of the store.

  The bell over the door announced Nina’s return after driving Noah to his friend’s house to spend the night. Daphne walked out from the back and noticed Nina’s expression and her pale complexion.

  “Is your stomach still bothering you, babe?”

  “Huh?” Nina said with a quizzical look. “Oh, right. Um, yeah, I’m fine. So how do you think things went today?” She plunked herself down on an antique stool.

  “Way better than I expected. Almost four thousand.”

  “That’s incredible.”

  “It totally is,” Daphne said as she slid between Nina’s legs to give her a kiss. “And I have you to thank for it.” She kissed her again, more sensually, but Nina wasn’t responding as expected. She was not herself. Clearly more than gastro-intestinal distress was going on.

  Her heart started palpitating as her mind wandered into the worst possible place. Nina planned to break up with her. Yep. She’d outgrown her already but was hanging in there until Daphne’s journey to independent businesswoman was complete. And now that it was, boom. She was out of here.

  She lifted Nina’s chin. “Nina, what’s wrong? Please tell me.”

  Nina sighed heavily, still s
taring into Daphne’s eyes. “I have some bad news, Daph.”

  “I knew it.” Daphne withdrew from her. “You want to break up with me.”

  “What?” Nina sprang up from the stool. “No, that’s not what—”

  Daphne’s phone vibrated and sang from her back pocket, and in her moment of desperation, she grabbed it and saw that it was Sophie’s son. When she answered it, Will’s voice sounded cold and vacant.

  “Hi, Daphne. It’s Will. I’m calling to let you know Mom passed early this morning.”

  The news compounded her agitation that Nina was dumping her. A light gasp escaped her mouth as she clutched the edge of the counter for support.

  “Daphne?” he said.

  “I’m so sorry, Will,” she said as her voice cracked in sorrow. “I’m…I don’t know what to say.”

  “I know. It was a blessing though. She was ready to see my dad again.”

  “I think she was, too.” Daphne inhaled slowly, trying to hold it together as tears streamed down her cheeks.

  “I just wanted to say thank you for being a good friend to her over the last few years. She treasured your company.”

  “She was the best friend I could’ve asked for, Will. I hope she knew that.”

  “I’m sure she did. I’ll text you when her arrangements are made.”

  “Okay.” After she ended the call, she pinched her fingers up to her eyes as her grief broke through. She walked into Nina’s arms and sobbed into her shoulder.

  “I’m so sorry, baby,” Nina whispered as she rubbed her back.

  After feeling sufficiently purged, Daphne pulled back. “Okay. I’m ready for your bad news now.”

  “You dummy,” Nina said, wiping Daphne’s tears with her thumbs. “That was the bad news.”

  “You’re not breaking up with me?”

  “God, no,” she said excitedly. “You’re not getting rid of me that easily now that you’re a successful antique dealer.”

  Daphne threw her arms around Nina’s neck. “I don’t want to get rid of you. I’m so crazy about you.”

  “I am, too, honey. I’ve never wanted anyone more than I want you. I can’t even imagine us breaking up, much less being the one to do it.”

  “What a relief. I’m so glad to hear you—Wait a minute. How did you know about Sophie if I just found out now?”

  “I wasn’t going to get lunch today or to poop. I went to the convalescent home to get Sophie so I could bring her here and surprise you. Needless to say, that plan was a colossal flop.”

  Daphne chuckled in spite of herself. “And you embarrassed yourself saying you almost crapped your pants just to save my feelings?”

  Nina nodded. “Yup.”

  Daphne gushed. “That’s the sweetest thing ever, Nina. You’re my hero in so many ways.” She gave her a lingering peck on the lips.

  “If that’s not love,” Nina said. “I’m sorry about your friend, Daphne. If I can do anything at all…”

  Daphne smiled. “Just keep being you.”

  Chapter Twenty-two

  Daphne sat on her front porch sipping a glass of Sophie’s favorite cabernet sauvignon as she watched the new people move into her house. Sometimes she wondered why she made some of the choices she did, this exercise in morbidity being one of them. But it was a last bit of closure as she processed saying good-bye to her friend, a ceremonial sendoff for Sophie, who was, as they say, in a better place.

  She watched the two young boys chase each other around the front yard in their shorts, shirtless in the hot summer sun, screeching and laughing as they wrestled each other to the grass. Their arrival should effectively end her nights sleeping with the windows open. She took a large gulp of wine as she reminisced about the many times she’d crept home across their lawns stuffed with Sophie’s delicious Polish cooking and wine.

  She closed her eyes and recalled with a smile how it had felt when Sophie gave her the most poignant hug of her life the day Savannah moved out of the house and drove away with Francesca in the passenger seat, their shame, or lack of it, concealed behind matching Jackie O-style sunglasses.

  From day one, Sophie had been convinced that Daphne’s love life wasn’t the sinking, Titanic-size disaster Daphne felt it had become. Sophie would listen to her vent, but only for a little while, refusing to let her plummet like a stone into a well of self-pity. A Polish immigrant who came from nothing, Sophie didn’t play like that.

  Daphne smiled and stopped hating this quaint little hetero family of four and their yappy little hybrid dog in honor of Sophie. She’d have been delighted to know that a young family was settling into the home she’d created with her husband and son a lifetime ago.

  Yeah, Sophie would be delighted. But Daphne wasn’t. Fuck that. Those kids were loud.

  As she stood up to go inside, Nina’s car pulled into her driveway.

  “This is a nice surprise,” she said as Nina walked up to the porch. “I thought you had reports to finish.”

  “You sounded so sad.” Nina produced a single rose packaged in cellophane from behind her back and handed it to her with a kiss.

  “Thank you,” Daphne said. “It’s beautiful, and you’re the sweetest.”

  They sat down together on the top step.

  “Are you going to refill that glass or what?” Nina asked.

  Daphne laughed and filled the glass for her. “I don’t know why I’m sitting out here. I should’ve closed my windows, blasted my AC, and binge-watched something until the moving truck left.”

  “That’s probably what I would’ve done,” Nina said after another sip. “But you’re definitely more in tune with your emotions than I am—especially the dark, scary ones.”

  “I just hate the idea that other people are in Sophie’s house. I know she hadn’t been there in months, but as long as she was alive, I could pretend she was coming home. It was stupid, but it was something to hold on to. Now there’s nothing.”

  Nina rested her shoulder against Daphne’s for a quiet moment. “You never know. Maybe you and the missus over there will strike up a friendship.”

  “Eh, she made a point to wave before, so she seems nice enough. But she’ll never be Sophie.”

  “I think I’m starting to fully understand the scope of your love for antiques.”

  “What do you mean?” Daphne had never given it too much thought.

  “You love to cherish things in your life. And you hate with a vengeance to let go of what you love.”

  Nina’s observation was profound. Intense. And absolutely spot-on. She stared at her as if a dark secret had been exposed. “How are you not a psychiatrist?”

  “I’m on target, aren’t I?”

  Daphne nodded as she gathered her thoughts. “Remember when we were first getting to know each other, and I told you I’m an only child?”

  “Of course. Your brother passed when he was a teenager.”

  “I was only eight when he died, but I remember the whole year he was sick like it was yesterday.” She paused as the ghostly memories of his loss fluttered through her. “So many things changed. So many things I took for granted.”

  Nina draped her arm around Daphne’s shoulder as she talked.

  “Afterward my mother couldn’t throw out any of his stuff. She stored most of it in boxes in the basement, but one spring the sump pump broke, and our cellar flooded. Most of his things were ruined. We tried to dry the contents, but his NFL collectible cards that he adored, this red-corduroy stuffed bunny my grandma gave him as a baby, and most of his drawings were all destroyed. In a way it was like losing him all over again.” She forced a smile. “So, yeah, I think you nailed it, Dr. Colombo.”

  Nina gave her shoulder a squeeze. “Maybe this antique shop is some symbolic way of making sure you never lose anything precious again.”

  “Crazy reason to open a business, huh?”

  Nina shrugged. “It makes complete sense. There are as many reasons for starting one as there are businesses. But yours is about as tragic
and poetic and beautiful as they come.”

  Daphne rested her head on Nina’s shoulder, so at peace in her presence.

  “Do you know what makes one business owner more successful than another?” Nina asked.

  Daphne shook her head.

  “Passion. And if your inspiration is any indication, your venture will be a huge success.”

  After they exchanged a tender kiss, Daphne dropped her head onto Nina’s shoulder again and watched the airy cumulus clouds pass overhead, hoping Sophie and her own brother knew how much they were missed.

  * * *

  Nina followed Daphne into the house and then the kitchen after offering to help whip up something light and healthy for dinner. Standing out back looking after the chicken on Daphne’s small grill, she contemplated when the appropriate moment would be to share her good news with her, the original reason she’d dropped by that afternoon. She hadn’t anticipated their conversation would swerve quite so far onto the unpaved paths of grief and loss, but it was okay. The universe clearly had another purpose for Nina that day.

  When she went inside, Daphne had set the table with a large bowl of dressed salad greens with quinoa, feta cheese, and cherry tomatoes. Plus a chilled bottle of white to complement dinner.

  “Do you mind if we eat in here?” Daphne asked. “I don’t want the neighbors to assume things about me.”

  Nina was surprised. “That you’re a lesbian?”

  “No. That I’m sociable.”

  Nina placed a hand over her chest as she laughed. “You gave me a minor heart attack.”

  Daphne poured their wine and sliced a loaf of French bread. “This isn’t much of a Saturday-night dinner.” She looked up from her plate. “Maybe we should’ve gone out.”

  “This is perfect. It’s all about the company tonight.” Nina leaned over and kissed her. “Let’s drink to Sophie.”

  Daphne smiled and raised her glass. “To Sophie.” The crash of some sort of large item rumbled in from the neighbor’s driveway. “And to new beginnings.”