Page 53 of Repentance and Absolution
“Oscar,” I said, sitting down on the edge of our bed and taking the fingers that toyed with the white string in my hand. “All I want is a kiss if you like what I got you.”
The grin came back, a little less saucy and more thankful. “Well, I can give you more’n a kiss…”
“Oscar, just open it, will you?” My heart beat a tattoo in my chest.
Oscar pulled his hand away from my gentle hold and pulled the string. The paper fell away from a navy cardboard box about the size of Oscar’s palm. The words ‘Waltham Watch Co.’ were pressed in gold on the top.
Oscar’s big brown eyes flashed upward for a second, then he carefully lifted the lid and gazed at what was inside as I held my breath. He stood still as a stone, staring at the contents of the container. The finest tremor of this fingers caused the box to shake.
“Fuck, Jimmy,” he whispered, blinking quickly.
“That’s yours. A pocketwatch of your very own.” I ran a nervous hand through my hair. “Every man should have one.”
He nodded, but he didn’t look up.
“It’s fourteen carat gold. I figured you oughta have something gold, to make up for all them years you spent without in Dawson City—so near to all them riches but never havin’ any of your own.”
Oscar opened his mouth to say something but nothing came out. He glanced up and held my gaze. I was almost felled by the raw emotion in his eyes. I had to look away so’s I could keep my composure.
“It’s our first Christmas together, after all,” I said, trying to explain why I’d got him something so extravagant when we were living off canned beans and bread for the most part and trying to save money.
He finally got his voice to work. “It’s beautiful. Thank you.”
His eyes gleamed with appreciation and emotion. My face flushed with pleasure at his words and the look he was giving me, like he truly couldn’t believe what he held in his hands.
I pointed at the small device.
“It’s a hunter style, with a double case. I had the back of it engraved. Go on. Take it out and have a look.”
I was eager for him to examine it and see the fine work of the pricey token. I’d picked the prettiest one I could find that didn’t have flowers and such all o’er it. This one had intricate designs of filigree on the front instead and had seemed to call out to me as something Oscar might like.
He lifted it with great care from its nest of snow-white silk and drifted his fingertips o’er the cover and along the edge.
“That’s called a pie-crust edge. Fancy, ain’t it?” I chuckled. “Figured with your sweet tooth, that made sense.”
The fitting around the watch face was designed with ridges that imitated the bumps of a pie crust. T’was elegant and pleasing to the touch—another reason I’d chosen this particular model.
“Jimmy, it’s so fine. It’s too fine for the likes of me,” Oscar said in a hushed tone.
I clicked my tongue, hating to hear him talk that way.
“Nonsense. It’s yours. Turn it o’er.”
Oscar did as I’d told him, as he liked to do when we were together and feeling close, like we were now.
On the back of the gold case,Oscar Theodore Yateswas engraved in stylish lettering, and underneath it,Port Essington, BC, 1906, so he could remember the date he’d received it. I’d persuaded him to tell me his middle name some time ago, expressly for this purpose. I’d wanted to give him something of his own that he could be proud of, and a pocketwatch was useful besides. We only had mine between us at the moment, and I figured he could use one. Why not make it a special gift?
He traced the outlines of the lettering with his thumb, and I admired the work and didn’t notice for a moment that tears were streaking down his cheeks.
“Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry,” I hastened, wringing my hands and wondering what I should do.
But he shook his head and gave me the most honest, heartfelt look as he smiled wide, his cheeks glistening.
“’Tis the most precious thing I’ve ever been given,” he said, beaming, “except when God gave me you, Jimmy.”
Moisture began to prick at my own eyes, and I blinked to keep it at bay.
“Do you like it? Truly?”
