She almost stopped at the fountain to toss in a coin for good luck. But then she smiled at her own silliness and sprinted over the crosswalk onto the corner of West Main where Blackie’s shop was first in line on the north side. Like all the businesses along Main, Blackie’s had a quaint, two-level storefront, sporting sandblasted brick, arched windows, and a lunette above the wooden door. She stood outside for a moment, lecturing herself. You know he doesn’t still have that ring. Why are you letting yourself hope for something you know isn’t possible?

Straightening her shoulders, Julie grasped the doorknob and pushed inside to the raucous jingle of an overhead bell. Most pawnshops were musty and dark, but Blackie’s place was just the opposite. Shimmering glass display cabinets formed an inverted U shape with walking lanes behind the top end and along both sides where the proprietor could move freely to assist customers. He had installed excellent lighting. His merchandise was showcased against spotless black or dark green velvet. Like many pawnshops, this one featured heaps of jewelry and timepieces, but behind the front barrier of glass, more locked cases displayed handguns, rifles in wall racks, and miscellaneous items on tidy, polished shelves. He kept things so clean that it resembled a retail shop.

Standing with his back to the cash register, he turned at the sound of the bell and abandoned whatever he’d been doing. When he saw her, his eyes, incredibly blue and lined with sooty lashes, began to twinkle, and he smiled as if he’d been hoping all day to see her walk in. He had a way of making everyone feel special, she reminded herself. He would act just as pleased if his least-favorite person in town had just appeared.

“Julie,” he said, drawing out the syllables in her name as if it were a word in a song. “To what do I owe this honor?”

Suddenly wishing that she’d fussed a bit more over her appearance, she pushed at her windblown hair and smoothed the front of her burgundy knit top, which wasn’t one of her nicest and had been mostly hidden all day behind an apron that sported “Morning Grind” across the bib in large block letters. “I managed to escape early today, so I’m treating myself to a little window-shopping.” That wasn’t precisely true, but she needed to be a bit sneaky about seeing if her grandma’s ring was still part of his inventory. Blackie had a kind heart, and he would feel awful if he’d already sold something she wished she could redeem. “Do you mind if I browse?”

“Heck, no. Look all you like.”

Every time Julie saw this man, she marveled at how handsome he was for a man his age. Stocky of build, he was of medium height, yet he seemed to be much taller until she stood right beside him. He’d kept his muscular body trim with regular exercise and what she presumed were good eating habits. During his walks, he made it a habit to stop in at eateries, one of which was hers, and he always had coffee and some sort of treat, but his weight didn’t seem to fluctuate as a result.