Page 4 of Comeback
But Mack wasn’t “always” like this.She still talks, but only when it’s just me and her and no one else. Ifanyoneelse is home, or if we’re out in public? Nothing. She won’t say a word.
The child psychologist we’ve been seeing says that Mack is exhibiting a behavior called “selective mutism.” Apparently, it’s a form of social anxiety. And it started the same time Trevor was arrested for drunk driving—with Mackenzie in the car—but it’s gotten a hell of a lot worse since thelasttime he tried to pay Mackenzie a visit …
And there’s no doubt in my mind that the two events are linked. I’m supposed to be patient and keep trying to coax Mackenzie out of her shell. The psychologist has assured me that it’smost likelyjust a phase, but I’m obviously very, very worried.
“How was work?” Nicole asked.
I gently sighed as I sat on the couch behind her.
“Pretty dead,” I said. Bayfield was everything I needed in my life right now—except when it came to making money. I waited tables, just like I did back in Toronto, but the carefree lunch crowds in Bayfield simply didnotcompare to the kind of money I’d been making in Toronto. “My tips were dreadful, but it’s something, at least. How’s your workday going?”
“Busy,” she said, but with an optimistic beat—because busy meant business was good. “I got a new shipment today. Check these out.”
She handed me a black foam display case that housed plastic jars. The jars contained a colorful variety of gemstones, labeled quartz, opal, garnet, citrine, peridot, jasper, and many others.
Somewhere during her travels, Nicole had become interested in the spiritual qualities of stones and crystals. She’d turned her obsession into her very own stay-at-home business. She ordered gemstones wholesale, then resold them at a healthy markup to jewelers. Since she could work from home, she generously offered to keep an eye on Mack until I could get back on my feet.
“See anything you like?” Nicole asked.
My eye was drawn to the double-pointed quartz stones.
“I like these. What are they?”
“Those are Herkimer diamonds.”
“And what are the spiritual qualities of a Herkimer diamond?” I asked. I didn’t necessarilybelieve in the powers of stones quite like Nicole did, but her passion was infectious.
“Oh, they’re energy amplifiers,” she said, bouncing with glee. She was happy I’d asked, and even happier to be able to share. “Since they’re the hardest of the quartz crystals, they’re also the toughest and most powerful. They give you the strength to handle life’s most difficult challenges.”
I gave a small laugh. “Sounds like I could use it.”
“You want one?” she asked. “You can have whichever one you like.”
“Really?”
“Sure. In fact, I think I have a Herkimer diamond ring laying around here somewhere if you’d rather have that.” Nicole searched the drawers of her organizer, rifling through her inventory of jewelry. “Ah! Here it is.”
She passed me the ring. It was lovely in its simplicity: a slender silver band prominently featured its exceptionally clear stone. When I looked at the stone in just the right light, a rainbow inclusion appeared in the middle.
“It’s beautiful,” I said.
“It’s yours,” she said.
“Are you sure?”
“Please! I want you to have it,” she said, beaming.
“Thank you, Nicky.” My heart wrenched. I gave my cousin a hug and slid the ring onto my finger.
But Nicole squealed. “Not on your wedding ring finger! Don’t you know that’s bad luck? You’ll never find a guy wearing that thing.”
Nowthatwas this stone’s most appealing spiritual quality of all.
“Even better,” I said with a snicker. “Because I’m swearing men off altogether—at least until I stop attracting bad boys and train wrecks.”
“Um, hello? If you wear that thing on your ring finger, that’sallyou’re going to attract.”
I made a doubtful face. “Why’s that?”
