The Necklace

She was hunched against the rain and wind, no umbrella in sight, and not even wearing a coat. I had watched her leave the office, stare up at the sky, and sigh in resignation. She gripped her necklace in her fist and held it close to her, as if she feared that the storm would snatch it from her hand and carry it off on a sudden gust of wind. I straightened up from where I had been leaning against some corporate wall and followed her down the empty sidewalk.

"Ma'am? There's enough room under my umbrella for two. I would not be opposed to sharing." I smiled at her, knowing most women wouldn't take up such an offer from a strange man at this hour.

She kept her eyes down and seemed to pull further into herself.

"Oh, um, no thanks, I'm just going right up the street, I'm fine." She quickened her pace just slightly, but I kept up.

"Really, it would be my pleasure. I simply cannot allow you to continue in this downpour without any protection."

She glanced up at me and I held her gaze, but she didn't say a word. We came to an intersection and stopped.

"Here," I pushed the handle of the umbrella towards her, "Take it. I will not bother you any longer." I loosened my grip so it was clear the umbrella would fall, and she released her hold on her necklace to catch it.

I nearly gasped. It was the most beautiful piece of jewelry I had ever seen, and if my expert eyes were not deceiving me - and they never did - it was also the most valuable. She likely did not know this, and only gripped it so tight because she treasured its beauty. I, however, could very much appreciate its true worth. She tried to turn the umbrella back towards me.

"But I..."

I turned the corner before she could complete her protest. I doubt I would have heard the rest of it anyway. My mind was otherwise occupied.

#

I saw her again as I was returning from lunch the next day, but this time she was the one who approached me.

"Oh hey, I wasn't sure I would see you again. I have your umbrella, but I left it in my office. Could you wait here?"

"I will not move an inch."

"Thanks, um, I'll be right back." She turned and hurried back into the building where she worked, and I watched as she went. I wondered if she wore that necklace every day.

She was back in less than three minutes, holding the umbrella out to me and smiling.

"You know, I thought you were some kind of creep or something last night. I guess you still could be."

I laughed. "I assure you I was merely trying to be a gentleman. I would have done the same for any person I saw walking uncovered in the rain."

"You're a strange guy, you know that?"

"Am I?"

"Nobody does things like that. Nobody I know anyway."

"Perhaps you do not know the right people. Common courtesy should not be something rare."

She gave me a look which I can only describe as faint incredulity before quickly recovering and holding out her hand.

"I'm Alice, by the way. Seeing as I borrowed your umbrella for a whole night, I think you deserve to know my name."

"Cornelius Xavier Brown. Nice to meet you Alice." I took her hand in mine, and dipped my head to place my lips on the back of it. She withdrew it rather quickly.

"I am sorry, I did not mean to offend -”

"No no it's just...wow, you really are odd. Where are you from?" A small crease appeared in her forehead between her eyebrows as she looked at me, like she was trying to see through my eyes to examine my mind.

"Oh, here and there."

"That's not vague at all." She crossed her arms over her chest and smirked at me. "I don't usually do this, but I'm free tonight. We should get dinner. You can tell me about how you've traveled the world."

I was taken aback, and took a moment to collect my thoughts before I responded. I had not expected this opportunity to arise so quickly, but I would have been a fool not to take it.

"Very well. Then you can tell me all about that beautiful necklace. I know valuable antiques when I see them, and that is an exquisite piece."

She blushed and placed her hand around it as she had the night before.

"Well I should get back to work, so I'll see you tonight. Meet here?"

"Certainly. See you then, Alice." I knew she watched me as I walked away.

#

We met in the same place I had been standing when I had first noticed her the night before. Alice smiled at me and I fell into step with her. We maintained a comfortable silence and I glanced over at her now and again as we walked, but I was not really looking at her. It truly was an exquisite piece of jewelry.

The cafe where we stopped was cozy and warm, and we arrived just in time to see the rain start to fall again outside. We took a booth near the door so we could watch it patter on the windows and the street.

"I know this place isn't much but the food is great and it was the closest. I'm starving." She gave me a shy smile from across the table. I blinked and looked down for a moment.

"It is perfect." If it were at all possible for me to place all of my charms into a single facial expression, this was the moment when I did just that. I watched for her reaction, and was not disappointed.

"I'm, ah, glad you like it. So, please, tell me about yourself Cornelius. Where are you really from?" She looked at me with genuine interest. It was almost touching.

"I would love if you would allow me to examine your necklace while I organize my thoughts into a story that will actually interest you."

"Oh fine," she sighed, "I've never let anyone touch it before, you know. I'm insanely paranoid that it'll break or something. But here. And don't be evasive. My curiosity might just kill me." She actually pouted at me as she handed over the necklace. Actually and truly pouted.

"Well, my dear," I said as I pocketed the necklace, "I am afraid you will have to fight for your life tonight." The look of surprise on her face as I rose from the table was something that I have never been able to adequately describe. I shot my winning smile at her again, and knew she was wondering whether I was playing some trick on her that we would laugh about later.

And then I ran.