The store’s overzealous seller mistook my bracelet for a stolen one and hit the panic button. The next thing I knew was that I was being accused of theft — my new bracelet was removed and left on the glass counter for the police to investigate when they came in. The seller, Mika, as her nametag displayed, went through my handbag, pocketing my lipstick in the process.
“So, you thought you could get away with it?” Mika said, popping her chewing gum. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I said. “This is a gift from my husband.
I only got it last night.”
“You’re saying that your husband is the thief, then?”
“Phone David,” I told Lauren, who immediately pulled her phone out of her bag. While we waited for the police and David to arrive, the store’s security officers kept a strict hold on me, not even allowing me to stand up from the chair they had forced me into. Eventually, David appeared, looking haphazard in his tailored suit.
But there he was, ready to defend my honor. “What’s going on here? Angela, are you okay?”
“David, they think I stole this bracelet!”
Lauren and I told David everything.
And when the police arrived, they put me in their squad car’s back. The seats were sticky, and the car smelt of stale cigarettes and old meat. Lauren and David followed close behind.
At the station, the detective told us that my anniversary present bore an uncanny resemblance to one stolen from a local museum two weeks prior. All pawn shops and stores had been briefed about the incident and told to report anything that looked like the priceless bracelet. “Detective,” David said calmly.
“This is a misunderstanding. The stolen bracelet is a different design. This one is specific to my wife.
You’ll find our wedding date engraved on the back of the clasp. Look closely. I have the receipt.
The store will verify it all if needed.”
I watched David in awe. He was so unbelievably calm in this situation, and I could sense that anger was bubbling beneath his skin. David may take a lot of flack from his clients and witnesses, but Lord forbid anyone to try to disrespect me.
It was something that I had always loved about David. After a few hours of sitting in the police station, waiting for the detective to return from the jewelry store with David and confirming everything he had said, we could go home. When we got in, I knew Lauren had been home because fresh flowers were on the table, and a hot pot of fresh pasta was on the stove.
“I can’t believe that happened,” I said. “Thank you for being there.”
“Always, Ang. We’ll get through anything together.”
I showered, washing off the smell of the station, while David plated dinner.
I felt fine, but I couldn’t believe what had happened — mainly because I was completely innocent. I stood there, letting the hot water run down my back, imagining David having to defend innocent people every day. “Shall I return the bracelet?” he asked, grinning when I sat down for dinner.
“Maybe switch it up for a pair of earrings?”
“Not a chance,” I said. If anything, the bracelet meant more now than it did before. If this happened to you, how would you have reacted?
