Juror #3(81)

“It’s the only time I’ve ever tasted it,” I said.

He laughed, as if I were trying to be witty. He reached into the side pocket of his coat and placed a box on my desk.

A small black velvet box. I thought, Oh, shit.





Chapter 77



I DIDN’T SAY anything. Just looked at him with disbelief.

“Aren’t you going to open it?” he said.

I folded my hands in my lap. “Lee.”

He ignored me, lifting the box from its spot on the desk and pulling back the lid.

I recognized it, all right. It was the engagement ring he’d given me, back in law school. The one I’d thrown in his face when I caught him cheating on me in a bathroom stall.

I tried to keep my voice light. “You can’t turn back the clock, Lee.”

“I don’t want to go back. I want to go forward.” He set the open box back on the desk, in a beam of sunlight from the window. The stone sent out a shard of light. My eyes were drawn to it, lured by the rainbow of facets.

I reached for the velvet box. And I snapped the lid shut.

“Lee, you flatter me. But I have a man in my life right now; you know that.”

He gave me a side-eye glance through lowered lids. “Shorty Morgan? The fry cook? Oh, Ruby. Be serious.”

He reached for my hand and held it in his. I was startled to feel how cold his fingers were.

Lee said, “The only real impediment to our future was my parents’ failure to accept you. Now that they have, they’ll pave the way for us. You’ll get back the job with the law firm in Jackson; you can leave this shabby little office behind. You’ll love my loft in the city. And I know you were never much of a joiner, but Mama can fix all of that. She’ll get you into the Junior League.”

I laughed aloud; I couldn’t help it. Incredulous, Lee said, “Do you hear what I’m saying? What I’m offering you?”

With a struggle, I pulled a straight face. “Lee, thanks for your offer. But I can’t accept this ring.”

I tried to pull my hand from his grasp, but he held on to my fingers. “You don’t need to wear it on your finger. I understand that; it’s too soon. Get it reset—as a pendant, maybe. I’ll buy another ring when you’re ready.”

I met his gaze. His eyes were a startling blue, and he looked at me with such intensity that it lent sincerity to his plea. A woman could get lost in his blue eyes. If she didn’t know him like I did.

With my free hand, I nudged the velvet box closer to him. “Save the ring for the right woman, Lee. I know you’ll find her.”

He stood abruptly, shoved the box in his jacket, and turned to go. “I don’t suppose you’ll be joining us at the club for dinner.”

“No. I’d best not.”

He left my office without a backward glance. Relieved to hear the front door slam shut, I let my shoulders relax.

Returning to my desk, I emptied my briefcase, pulling out my folders and legal pads and stacking them. I’d file them later.

The briefcase sat in my lap, still almost as shiny as the day Lee had presented it to me in a big box tied with a red ribbon. I inspected it. There was a scuff mark on one side, but it wiped clean when I rubbed it with my fingers.

Inside, I had a fistful of change, four or five pens, a wad of Kleenex, and a box of Nicorette. I took a piece of gum from the box and chewed down.

And inspiration struck. I knew just what to do.

I turned the bag upside down and shook it. The coins and pens tumbled onto my desk, followed by the tissues. I took care to shut the nicotine gum in the top drawer of my desk.

Then I stood up and tossed the Coach briefcase into the Goodwill box, right on top of my secondhand jacket. With an effort, I hefted the box in my arms and headed out.

It was going to be a red-letter day at Goodwill. And a good day for me.