HERE, BETWEEN THE SHELVES

The following is an assignment to write a story using the sentence: "Here, between the shelves."

I saw a glimmer on the bottom shelf of the bookcase. It was strange to see something shiny while everything else was covered in dust. I scooted a book of Tarzan to the right and was surprised to find a band showcasing seven round diamonds lying there. It sparkled from every angle and written inside were the words, Jane~We’re a Perfect Fit~Love, Tom and then almost unseen was the date, 1968. How did this ring find its way here, between the shelves, in this dusty basement? Who was Jane . . . and who was Tom . . . and how old were they in 1968? I had inherited the house and all its contents from Great Aunt Edith, but this ring was from Tom to a Jane. Who were they?

I knew of Great Aunt Edith from my Aunt Tabby, Mom’s sister, but now they were all gone and it seemed I was the last living relative to inherit. I didn’t particularly want to leave my home in California to go to a small town in South Alabama but my curiosity had gotten the best of me so here I was. Why I had started in the basement I’ll never know but I put the ring in my pocket and continued perusing my new-found possessions. The basement also contained a wine cellar, an old trunk, a chifferobe with what looked like clothes from the 1920s and 30s and two pairs of high-button shoes. Wow, I could dress to the nines for any costume party now.

I found many more delightful surprises upstairs. There was an antique table and chairs on an oriental rug in the formal dining room. China, silver, and crystal were in the matching hutch with a tea cart and a silver tea service beside it. 

While going through some old magazines for recycle, I found a newspaper clipping in an album hidden in the stack. It was the wedding announcement of Tom Blake to Jane Leslie, December 19, 1968. They had gotten married in Reno but would be making their home in Mississippi while Tom attended Ole Miss. Now the ‘who’ and the ‘where’ were solved but what about the why? Why would her wedding ring be left on a dusty shelf in the basement of this old house in Alabama?

It was getting late and I chose one of the upstairs bedrooms to collapse and sleep. It had been a long day and I only had a week off from work to settle this estate and return to California.

The next morning I took my time going through the kitchen. I searched the shelves, pantry, drawers, and cabinets, but there was nothing unusual there to identify Tom and Jane. I got down to the business of deciding what I would keep and what I would sell, however, I knew I would keep the diamond ring. Besides the china, silver, etc. there were some beautiful paintings, jewelry, and a BMW in the garage. Those were definitely keepers.

The rest, the dishes, pots and pans, toilet paper and Cheerios, could go by the wayside with the estate sale liquidator. As for me, I would be investigating the mystery of Tom and Jane. I began with the stack of magazines where I found the album. The top were addressed to Aunt Edith but as I moved lower and lower through the stack, I found the rest addressed to Mr. and Mrs. Tom Blake. The top address was in Alabama 1983 but those prior were New Jersey 1980, Washington 1975, Bermuda 1972, and the earliest address was in Oxford, Mississippi at Ole Miss 1968. Interspersed among them were Ladies Home Journal, Time, and Woman’s Day; then Parents Magazine and children’s Highlights began to appear. Okay, Tom and Jane had children. Hopefully one was a boy who still lived here.

            I got online and looked up ‘Blake’ at this address but as I clicked on several ‘Blakes’ here in town, related people began to appear. I would not be deterred. Finally the name Jane came up under James and Victoria Blake. I called their number and asked to speak to Jane.

            “This is Jane speaking. May I help you?”

            “Yes, are you the Jane Blake that used to live at 885 Fourth Avenue?”

            “Why, yes, but I haven’t lived there in a long time. Not since my husband died.”

            “Did you happen to lose something very valuable and sentimental in the basement of that old house?”

            “Yes, yes,” she said very excitedly. “I lost my wedding ring. We couldn’t afford another so Tom just bought me a plain gold band.”

            “Well, I found it, here, between the shelves of an old bookcase. Can I bring it to you?”

            “Yes, yes, please do come over!” 

            Fifteen minutes later I was knocking on her door. She opened it with tears in her eyes and hugged my neck. I slipped it on her finger and it still fit. It did my heart good to see the happiness on her face. There was happiness on my face, too. I was a blessing and I received a blessing . . . and, after all, I still had the BMW in the garage at home.