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Lenore and Berenice pulled into the parking lot of a large, yet unassuming building located near the edge of town. On top of looking old, the building had a slight dilapidated charm to it. One could expect as much when a sign with gothic letters reading “Antique Mall” adorned the top of it.
“Don’t you normally do this with Eula?” Lenore asked as she turned her car into a handicap parking space that was directly to the right of the entrance to the shop. She smiled as she noticed the sun bleached pride flag hanging in the window.
“Pluto finally worked up the courage to ask Eula out on a date. This was the only day that worked for him. So you get to come antiquing with me instead.” Berenice said as she leaned over, wrapping her arm around Lenore’s shoulders.
“I’ve never even been antiquing before. How am I to know what to buy?” Lenore got out of the car, cane in hand.
Berenice gave a small chuckle, shutting the door behind her. “Hon, you never know what you're gonna get right out the gate. You look around, and if something speaks to you, you buy it.” Lenore gave her a dubious look as they made the very short walk to the entrance of the building. “Trust me, it’ll make sense soon.”
Berenice pushed open the door of the antique mall, a small brass bell chiming as they walked through. Lenore’s senses were immediately hit by the smell of dust and aged paper.
“Hey, Berenice!” A large, bearded, middle aged man called from behind the front counter, his elbows resting on a glass case that had an assortment of old knives, daggers and even a few swords in it. “Where’s your girlfriend today?”
Berenice walked up to the counter, leaving Lenore feeling out of place standing in the middle of the entryway. Bee was a regular here, it was only reasonable that she had developed a rapport with the owner. Even so, Lenore couldn’t help but feel her mere presence was an intrusion.
“She’s doing well. On a date actually.” Berenice said, leaning her back against the counter.
“And you’re okay with that?” The man said.
“Of course! She’s been gushing about Pluto for weeks! Almost asked him out herself.” Berenice turned around, propping her elbows up on the case. “It makes her happy, and now I get to see them smooch. Win-win.”
The owner chuckled. “I’ll take your word for it.” He reached down below the counter and pulled out a small box. “Now, before you and your friend continue your shop, I saved something I thought might interest you.”
“Hand it over!” Bernice said, nearly snatching the box from the man’s hand. Inside it was a pocket knife, with a shiny yellow handle and a blade with a curve at the end. She looked at it for a moment before saying, “How much?”
“I was going to sell it for seventy five, but for you I can do sixty.”
“Sold.” Bee got out her card, taping it on the payment terminal. “Pleasure doing business with you.” Berenice began to walk away from the counter without the knife. “Keep the knife safe for me, would you?”
“Always.” The owner said, wrapping the knife up and placing it back behind the counter.
“Come on, Lenore. Let’s go.” Berenice said, grabbing Lenore’s arm and tugging her around the corner.
Lenore could only guess the reason that Berenice bought the knife was because it “spoke to her,” whatever that meant.
Plates clattered slightly on a nearby table as Lenore used it, along with her cane, to steady herself after Berenice let go of her arm. She moved her hand from the table to her hip, letting out a small hiss. Had her hip been acting up more that day, she might have said something, but it was so early in their little outing, and Berenice was just excited. There was no need.
She looked up from her hip to the table. On it was a plate with a distinctive metallic black glaze on the bottom that wrapped over the rounded edge about half an inch into the plate, with a slightly earth tone red covering most of the top, and a swirl pattern in the center. Unusually though, it had what appeared to be a raven painted on to it. “Holly shit,” she muttered.
“What, you find something?” Berenice said, looking up from the ceramic shot glasses she was looking at.
“Come look at this.”
Berenices eyes went wide. “Three hundred dollars for a plate!?”
Lenore let out a small laugh. Being from Louisiana, it was unlikely Berenice knew what this was. “It’s Rowantrees, Berenice.” Lenore ran her fingers across the plate. “Likely a one of a kind piece too.”
“So, is it speaking to you?”
Lenore thought for a moment. It was in her colors, had her favorite bird on it, and she really did like it but… ”I don’t know.”
“Well, wait a week. If you’re still thinking about it, then get it.”
“Will it even be here in a week?”
“Not everyone can afford to spend three hundred dollars on a plate, Hon.” Berenice began walking to the next stall. “It’ll be here.”
They wandered from stall to stall for a bit, spending varying amounts of time in each one. Some had a slight theme to them, such as linens or vintage tools, others not so much. There was a bit of an organized chaos to everything that Lenore found quite charming.
As she was walking down the center aisle, something in a glass case caught her eye. A cane, made from black lacquer wood, with a metal raven skull for a handle. It appeared to be silver, given how the tarnish on it looked. She’d have to get more silver polish on the way home.
The lock clinked against the glass as she attempted to lift the lid. “Drats” she thought. “Hey, Berenice!”
“What’d you find?” Berenice said, poking her head out from a stall that seemed to be dedicated to vintage clothes. A white feather boa was draped over her neck.
“A fancy cane,” she said, running her fingers along the glass above it.
“Want me to find someone to unlock it?”
“Sure” Lenore said, not looking up from the cane. A tag on it read “Authentic Victorian era cane c. 1900.”
As she wanted Berenice to come back, she now understood why Berenice wanted someone to go with her. The various shelves and room dividers, piled high with assorted antiquities. There was no one to show things to, no one to show you things, no one to talk to about the “medical device used to treat ‘hysterical' women during the Victorian era c. 1890” you found and immediately put down once you realized what it was. It was all rather… daunting.
She wasn't alone for long though, as within a few minutes, Berenice came back with a woman, who’s name tag read Lucy. She was already fiddling with a set of keys. Wordlessly, she unblocked the cases, and allowed Lenore to take out the cane.
Setting her cane down against the table, she picked up the new one. With it in her hands, Lenore was now able to admire just how well the cane was crafted. It was light, but felt durable. It had to be if it held up as long as the tag said it did. Well crafted, and though it was tarnished, she could still make out the small details of the handle. Bringing the handle up to eye level and inspecting it closer, it appeared to even have sinus cavities, almost as if they actually made a mold out of a real bird skull. But it was too big for that to have been the case. It was almost as if an ornithologist and a silversmith worked together to make it.
Lenore set the cane down beside her, its metal heel clinking against the polished concrete floor. It fit her height perfectly, which was surprising considering how short people were back then. Tentatively, she put a little weight on it, and despite being metal, the handle felt nice in her hand, like it was made for form as well as function. “I have to get this cane now.” she said and Berenice laughed.
“Have you even looked at the price?” she said, leaning on one of the various shelves the antique shop used to display their wares.
Lenore glanced down at the price tag. “Only two hundred dollars?” She picked up the cane she was previously using, before putting her new one under her arm. “Seems reasonable.”
Lucy smiled. “If you need anything else just let me or the owner know!” she said before walking back towards the front of the store.
Lenore looked over to Berenice, who shrugged. “Most people who come to antique stores just browse. They always get excited when people buy something.”
Lenore and Berenice continued their journey through the antique mall, with Berenice always wanting to spend more time in stalls dedicated to vintage clothing. By the time they reached the mid way point in the store, she had already found a flapper dress, and white, kid leather evening gloves.
And yet, since acquiring the cane, Lenore had yet to find anything that spoke to her. According to Berenice though, that was normal. And it was rare that Berenice even found something she’d want to wear here, let alone a whole outfit. They had done well today.
The next stall they entered had shelves piled high with toys and games. Every so often they were punctuated with long white boxes, slightly yellowed with age. One of which Berenice picked up.
“Magic cards for Eula?” Lenore said as she noticed the distinctive art style.
“Yup. She likes to hoard them.” Berenice smirked as she snapped the box shut. “Unlike your wife who will spend hundreds of dollars on the few cards she needs to make the most annoying decks in existence.”
Heat rose to Lenore’s cheeks. “Annabel and I aren't even engaged yet.”
“YET!” Berenice shrieked. “You’re going to propose?”
“Yes,” Lenore looked away, and noticed a small, chess themed figure sitting on the table next to her. It stood out amongst the very nice, and likely very expensive chess boards.
“When did you decide? Tell me everything!”
Lenore picked up the figure. “There’s not much to tell. I've been in love with her for a while, and one day we just started talking about marriage. Now just feels right.” It was a night, with a worried expression on its face, in the middle of a three by three square of chess tiles. It didn’t take years of playing chess with Annabel to know that the knight couldn't go anywhere. Lenore chuckled. Annabel would like it.
“That little chess thing making you think of your wife?”
Lenore gave her a look but decided against correcting her. “It’s exactly the kind of chess joke she’d like.” She picked it up and turned it over, revealing a price tag. “Only five bucks?” She said in almost disbelief, as the eyes of the knight looked as if they had been painted on, and the wooden platform. “It looks hand crafted!”
“That thing has been here for ages.” Berenice shrugged and stuck the box under her arm. “I wouldn’t be surprised if the price has gone down.”
Lenore looked back down at the figure for a moment. “I’m getting this for Annabel.”
“That’s the spirit!” Berenice said, as she grabbed Lenore’s arm. “Now come on! We’ve got the rest of the store to sort through.”
They didn’t find anything else on the rest of their walk through the antique mall, with Lenore periodically trying out her new cane. And while it did feel comfortable for short periods of time, she had the feeling it would get uncomfortable if she used it for prolonged periods of time. So best use it on days where she didn’t have to walk a lot, when her hip wasn’t bothering her that much, or special occasions, like date nights.
Regardless of its drawbacks though, she was still going to get it. It was too cool not to.
As they were completing the loop, making their way back to the front of the store from the opposite direction, a glint of something metal caught Lenore’s eye. In a glass case was a ring of white gold; atop it was one large pearl, surrounded by seven smaller pearls, arranged to form the shape of a flower. It was perfect for Annabel. And if the afternoon sun hadn’t been shining in through the front windows, Lenore likely wouldn't have seen it.
At that moment, Lenore couldn’t help but picture it on Annabel's left ring finger. She momentarily chastised herself for that. She knew the taboo regarding pre owned rings, how if the previous relationship was bad it could bring that into the relationship. She’d have to ask someone about the ring's history, if they had it that is. The ring was perfect for Annabel though, and Lenore would loath to hear it had come from a relationship that ended badly.
Lenore looked over to Berenice, who was eying a pair of pearl earrings one case over. “Hey, I’m going to find someone to unlock this.”
“Take your time,” Berenice said, not looking up from the case. “I’m still trying to decide if I want these.”
Lenore turned her back to the ring, not taking her eyes off Berenice. “Don’t you have enough pearls at home?” she said, raising an eyebrow.
“I do but—”
“You want more pearls?”
“I want more pearls,” Berenice repeated. “Now go. Shoo.”
New cane under her arm, and chess figure in hand, Lenore smiled wordlessly as she walked away.
The front desk was not far from where she had been, but instead of the middle aged man at the front desk, it was Lucy. “Excuse me?” Lenore called from a few feet in front of the counter.
“Yes,” Lucy said, looking up from the book she was reading.
“Do you know where the owner is? I have a question for him.”
“He’s out with his husband, but should be back in a few. I can try and answer any questions you have.”
“There’s this ring in a glass case, white gold with pearls arranged in the shape of a flower. By any chance, do you know the story behind it?”
“Yes!” she said, snapping her book. “It’s actually one of the few items here we know the story of.” She walked out from behind the counter. “The owners found it at an estate sale, and were lucky enough to get the story behind it. Would you like to try it on?”
“No, I’d like to know the story so I don’t propose with a ring with a bad history.”
“Oh! Well I’m certain your boyfriend would love having you purpose to him.”
Lenore took a deep breath in. “It’s for my girlfriend,” she said, relieved that those words could be said so casually here.
“I am so sorry, but my gaydar is terrible.” The woman got a bit red in the face, likely from slight embarrassment. “I’m sure your girlfriend will love it.”
“She definitely will.”
“I can tell you the story behind it on our way over to the case.” The woman said, as she began to lead Lenore back.
According to her, they found the ring at an estate sale. The people who were selling it were the only living relatives of the woman it belonged to, her great nieces and nephews who barely knew her. She lived during the tail end of the Victorian era and the bulk of the twentieth century, and wore the ring as if it were a wedding ring despite never being married. She lived with her best friend, another woman. Some of the people running the estate sale also believe it was this woman's best friend was the one who gave the ring to her.
As the employee unlocked the case, Lenore marveled at Lucy’s clear lack of a gaydar. Yes, she said it was terrible, but Lenore had no idea it could be that bad. Lenore didn’t want to put labels on people that were no longer here, but the women in the story obviously loved each other.
“So would you still like to look at the ring?” Lucy said once they got back to the case.
“I mean, with a story like how could I not.” Lenore said, before Lucy went to open the
Berenice looked up from the earrings she had been looking at. “Hey Lucy, after you’re finished with that, could you unlock this one? These earrings are speaking to me.“
Lenore pulled the ring box of the case and looked over at Berenice “What was that about too many pearls?”
“Hush, you!”
Lenore let out a small laugh before pulling the ring out of its box and examining it more closely. It was in remarkable condition for being well over 100 years old at this point. Though, there were some signs of wear on the white gold that made up the ring, and few scratches on the pearls, that was to be expected from a ring as well loved as this one.
She slipped the ring onto a few of her fingers. She’s seen Annabel’s hands next to her own enough times to know she’d have to get the ring resized. It was unsurprising, people's hands were smaller back then. And while she was at it, she could have it polished, maybe have the more scuffed up pearls replaced. Then again, replace too much and it’d become something of a “Ship of Theseus.” It’d also lose a lot of its history. She’d have to talk to a jeweler and figure all that out. For now, buying the ring was all she’d need to do.
“So, Berenice, you ready to get out of here?” Lenore said, as she set the ring back in its box before snapping it shut.
“Sure, one moment.” Berenice said as she was putting her new earrings in, the price tag still hanging off one.
Lucy led them back to the front desk where the owner was waiting for them. Berenice paid for her things first, and Lenore gaped at the price, before leaning over Berenice’s shoulder. “Now what was that about not everyone being able to casually spend three hundred dollars?” she said, smirking. The total Berenice’s purchases came to was well over that.
“I ain’t everyone, babe,” Berenice said plainly before grabbing the bag with her things in it off the counter. “Your turn.”
Lenore set the cane, the chess figure and the ring down on the counter. As the prices were tallied up, Lenore couldn’t help but think back to that plate. She was familiar with that glaze pattern, but the raven painted in the center of the plate, that was something she had never seen before.
“Is something wrong?” the owner said. “If the price is too high, I can have you pay for the ring in installments. I’d have to contact my seller regarding the cane, but—”
“No. No,” Lenore said while putting her hand up. “Money is no object.” She looked in the direction of the stall that had all the China. “I’ll be right back.”
“Where you going?” Berenice called after her.
Lenore spoke without turning to face them “I’m getting the plate.”
The front door clicked closed behind Lenore as she stepped into the house she and Annabel had bought together. Bag of antiques in one hand, and the ring in an interior jacket pocket, she checked the living room, and formal dining room to see if Annabel was there. Typically, she could be found in one of those two places playing chess against people online, but today she wasn’t in either of those places.
Next on Lenore's list of places to check was the TV room and game room, but Annabel wasn’t in there either.
Finally, Lenore opened the door to their shared bedroom, and she heard the distinctive click of a laptop being slammed shut. She smiled as she stepped fully into the room. “You know you can look at that stuff around me.”
“It’s not what you think, I promise,” Annabel said, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear, and setting her laptop down on her bedside table.
Lenore set her cane and large bag of antiques down beside the bed before crawling on to the queen sized bed, with her hopefully soon to be fiancée. “Well considering you didn’t tackle me once I stepped in the door, I’ll have to take your word for it,” She said, wrapping her arms around Annabel’s midsection and using the side of her breast as a pillow.
Annabel rolled her eyes but in a way that didn’t show even a hint of annoyance, though a slight blush dusted her cheek. “So, how did your little outing with Berenice go?”
“Turns out walking through a building and looking at random old things is quite fun. You’d like it.”
“You’ll have to take me some time.” Annabel brought her hand up and started running it through Lenore’s hair. “Now, why don’t you show me what you got.”
Lenore gave a mock groan of annoyance, before getting out of bed and retrieving items from it. “Well, I got this new cane,” she said, modeling it by holding it the way she would her usual cane, before handing over it for Annabel to examine.
“This metal handle can’t be that comfortable, can it, Pet?” She handed the cane back to Lenore.
Lenore took the cane and bent down, reaching back into the bag. “Not typically, but it’s quite ergonomic. Using it for short periods should be fine.” She handed Annabel the now unwrapped plate.
Annabel raised an eyebrow. “You’re not going to let us eat off of this one, are you?” She handed the plate back to Lenore.
“It’s likely one of a kind, so no,” Lenore said as she put the plate back in the bag, the paper it was formerly wrapped in crinkling as she did so. “I also got something for you.” She handed Annabel the last item she would show her today. And though it wasn't particularly fragile, she had still requested it be wrapped.
Slowly, Annabel unwrapped her gift, making a futile attempt not to rip any of the paper as she did so. She looked at the chess figure for a moment before she burst out laughing. “Wherever did you find this?”
Lenore smiled as she climbed back onto the bed. “A stall dedicated to games.” She scooched a bit closer to Annabel. “It has quite a few antique chess boards as well, but I know how particular you are about those.”
“Come hear.” Annabel said, before wrapping her arms around Lenore’s neck, and pulling her in for a long, but chaste kiss. “It’s perfect. Thank you.”
Lenore gave a content hum. “You’re welcome.”
“I do have one question though.”
“What is it?”
“Is this all you bought?” For a moment Lenore looked like a deer in the headlights, but didn’t answer. “Because I got a notification from our bank regarding unusual purchase activity. I checked the transaction history, and all this couldn’t have been that much.” Annabel smirked. “Unless you got more than one plate, that is.”
Lenore breathed a small sigh of relief. “I did get one more thing, but it’s a surprise,” she said with a smirk.
Annabel scoffed. “Pet, you know how I detest surprises.”
Lenore leaned back in for another kiss, which Annabel reciprocated. “It shouldn’t be that much of a surprise, all things considered.”
“Regardless, I shall make a game of figuring out what it is,” Annabel said with a smile that told Lenore she was only half joking.”
“I had no doubt you would.” Yes, Annabel knowing Lenore was hiding something from her wasn’t ideal, her turning it into a game of sorts was by far the best reaction Lenore could have hoped for. And even if Annabel did find the ring, it would hardly matter, as they were basically already married.