An Ancient Jeweller!

Taking a sharp U-turn on to the highway from her street of residence, Jasper set her way to Montano Olives, but her thoughts were always around Jerry.

Blonde, tall, grey-eyed boyfriend, three years senior to her, Jeremiah Lane Roger, was passionately practising law under a successful Attorney. It came as a shock to Jasper when Jerry said two months ago that he was quitting his practice and giving a competitive exam to join as a permanent research fellow in ‘The Innovation and Research Unit’ at Godwin School of law. His eyes sparkled as he talked about the potential opportunity and their life together thereafter, which constrained Jasper from saying anything contradictory. After her graduation in the upcoming fall, they had planned to get married. Jerry was sure that they can still go with their plan because he was very positive about clearing the exam, but Jasper knew that was a hard high target at first shot. If it fails, it means there is no income for Jerry which leads to calling off their wedding plans. At the back of her mind, she could hear Jerry’s voice

“Let’s trust God with all our heart”

Jasper did shut her eyes and let out a huge sigh of frustration.

She deliberately diverted her thoughts to her current vacation plan. An unprecedented breakage of her locket two days back brought new quick plans. The local jewellers confirmed that it’s an antique piece and the intricacies of the design seemed exotic to them. So, she decided to take a ride to her grandparents’ place, the locket’s origin, not only for her locket’s sake but also for her own refreshment. The vivid childhood memories of olive farming on those beautiful mountains with her grandparents kept waking her up every morning since the previous day. So, she started her early morning ride and prayed to God that her vacation would be a meaningful of her life. She was also looking forward to going fishing with her grandpa and tasting her grandmother’s cinnamon rolls. Her taste buds and Olfactory nerve were getting set to taste and smell that aromatic hot piece of grandmother’s love twisted into a roll.

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The five-hour lonely road seemed well deserved as she entered the borders of the town, Montano Olives. The scenic green mountain view on both the sides crowning the green farms that spread before them lavishly facing the heavens for its blessings and outpours, made Jasper’s heart to sing an old hymn.

Her phone beeped with a popping text message from her grandmother. It read:

“Can’t wait to hold our farm chick tight in a hug. Where are you dear?”

The sweetness in the nickname made Jasper’s lips to curve in a smile which her grandpa gave two decades ago as he observed her running from the barn to the cottage with first four fast little steps followed by two peeps on the right and the left. He understood that she was imitating the farm chicks’ movements. Then on, she went by that name all through her childhood.

Jasper’s ride came to a halt at the beautiful hideaway of lane end cottage. She parked the vehicle safely close to the barn and almost ran to the cottage’s deck that had beautifully carved railing. At the left corner of the deck was set up a glass teapoy and two white cushioned wing chairs. On either side of the main door was a collection of colourful crotons that grew up to three feet height. Bright yellow bulbs were hung from the Deck’s roof one on each corner that gave golden touch on everything in the dark evening. In response to the doorbell the centre light lit up followed by the door opening ceremony with a sweet smell of cinnamon rolls. Her grandparents stood with ear-to-ear smiles at the entrance with slight tears in their eyes and hugged her tight to their heart. In that genuine cuddle, Jasper felt home.

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“So, tell us about Jerry. Your mom and dad have a great opinion about him, already” asked her grandmother, dressed in long woollen top and loose pants.

“I almost forgot. When is he giving you a ring?” asked her grandpa with great delight.

Jasper’s prolonged silence got both in concerned frown.

Jasper never wished to say a word about it, but their genuine concern forced her to give in. After patiently listening to her, they nodded in concern. After some minutes of silence, while seated near the fireplace, her grandpa said “Something in me tells that it’s not just about his career plan. Am not going to ask you anything. Just Pray. God has told us that He would counsel us, Jasper. Remember my favourite verse from Bible?”

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you” replied Jasper almost in shock. If she had ever doubted about the intelligent instincts of elders, she was well answered. Her grandfather was right. It’s not just about career or income but also Jerry’s priorities. In the recent days she sensed Jerry focusing a lot on his career rather than their relationship which posed a doubt of Jerry’s priority of Jasper over his career. That doubt caused a lot of silent pain which she dared not to share with anyone. She kissed good night to her grandparents and left the fireplace with a cold heart that still needed comfort. When she entered the private upstairs room for resting, the silence made her to burst into tears, kneel and pray.

“Lord, I can’t do this any longer alone. Jesus, I need Your help. Counsel me Lord with Your loving eye on me” said she and shed silent tears of loneliness. Her phone beeped with a text from Jerry. It said:

“I miss you so much, Jasper. Please call me once you are settled. Tomorrow I am giving the exam. Will you please pray for me?”

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Jasper knocked the door marked with number 405 on a plain deserted street as per her grandpa’s instruction. The door opened to a small neatly arranged one room cottage with frail stairs to the upper room and an old man in cowboy clothes and white beard smiled gleefully.

“You must be Willey’s granddaughter”

“Yes, I am Jasper, Mr. Wells” said she grinning

“How sweet, please come in”

“So, what brings you here to an ancient jeweller, alone, Jasper?”

“My grandparents had a wedding to attend and am on a holiday crunch. So, I need to get this fixed as early as possible.” said she, handing over the broken locket and explained how her city jewellers were not of great help.

“What happened?” asked he after checking it thoroughly

“It fell off and I crushed it under my own car tyre the next morning”

“Lockets and relationships are tender ones. You must handle them with care” said he tenderly and looked into Jasper’s eyes which caught her off guard.

“I am sorry?”

“You heard me. I can fix this for you. I would need three hours though”

“That’s great. I can wait”

As he worked on the locket, Jasper observed him singing hymns and enjoying within. After some time, he began to speak about his favourite love stories in the town. Jasper was enjoying his talks with smiles, nods, and occasional “wows”. Suddenly he asked her a question “How would you know if someone has set their true love on you, Jasper?”

Jasper was stunned because that’s the question she had been asking herself lately too many times. “I… I… am not…” dragged she hunting for the right words.

“Can I tell you?” asked he with a sparkle in his eyes.

“Of course!” replied Jasper in a casual tone but she was curious.

“You know that Jesus loves you, don’t you?” asked he with a wide smile.

“Yes”

“How do you know?”

“Because He died for my sins on the cross, joyfully. In fact, He sacrificed Himself for the entire mankind. Instead of me getting punished for the sinful nature, He took my place on the cross. He bled for me even the last drop of His blood so that I can become the child of God” said she with her eyes welling up with tears.

“Perfect! So, the true love lays down His life for His bride”

“So, are you saying one must die to prove their love?” asked Jasper

“If needed, yes but now am pointing to the word ‘sacrifice’. To Jesus, more than His life we were precious. Likewise, if anyone truly loves the other, he would be willing to sacrifice anything dear to him with joy.”

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“Jerry, there is something important I need to tell you” began Jasper during her evening walk in the Olive farms.

“Listening” replied Jerry over phone

“Hmmm… actually… am planning to apply for Masters”

“Now?”

“Yes. I think it’s important for me to do that” said she and bit her lower lip

“I thought we were planning our wedding, Jass. This is too strange”

Jasper explained why it was important to her, but she could sense Jerry’s frustration in his voice as he suggested some alternatives.

“My target universities are not in Australia and my course will not be done until three years. So, either we need to wait, or” hesitated Jasper to say the next few words “you can replan your career”

“Jasper, I have heard enough. I will call you later”

The quick beep of the call’s end cut her heart into two. She did not expect such a worse argument between them. The next two days were bitter for her. She expected Jerry to call or text but received neither. The thought that her treasured love is at its last breath triggered sorrowful tears day and night. To keep her mind busy for the next two days she made fishing plans with her grandpa. When she went downstairs the next day morning Jasper closed her eyes in shock and opened slowly.

“Jerry, what are you doing here?”

“Well, talking to you” said he and moved closer to her.

“I… thought it was… over” said she and cried.

Jerry looked into her troubled eyes with so much tenderness and replied “Jasper, I got an email this morning. I cleared the exam.”

Jasper did not know if she should feel happy or not. She plainly said “Congrats”

“Thanks, but am not taking that offer”

“What?”

He kept looking into her eyes but deeper “I thought about it, I prayed. I understood that I cannot have the joy of achievement without you, and I cannot wait any longer. I can give the same exam years later too. I can go back to practicing. Let’s have it your way.”

“Jerry…”

Before she could say another word, he knelt, pulled a ring out of his pocket, and said “I love you Jasper Evalene Doyles. Will you marry me?”

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” said she in tears and smiles. He placed the ring on her finger, rose to his feet and kissed her gently sealing his engagement done. They lingered in a quiet hug for some time. Jasper knew it was the right time to whisper “Am not going for masters, Jerry. Let’s move to Australia”

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Sitting next to her one-year-old Priscilla Christine Roger, Jasper journaled the last page of her love story at Montano Olives. She wrote:

“I could see great joy in his eyes having won double important trophies of his life – dream career and faithful lover. Jerry passed the test, but I felt the guilt. To Jerry I was always more important. Doubt has its own way of sucking in pain, but God’s guidance and His ways delivers us in perfect freedom! By the way, I never found door number 405 on that street ever again. ‘You went to the wrong jeweller’ people say, but did I? I got my locket and heart fixed. So, what do you think?”

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