A Lucky Charm

By Anna Carey

Illustration: Shutterstock

ROMANTIC SHORT STORY WRITTEN BY CARRIE HEWLETT

Was it a coincidence that life was looking up, now Emma had the necklace? Or were there greater forces at work?

Why don’t you have a wander round?” Nick suggested. “I know how you love a bargain and I’m happy to hold the fort.

“But can you please get me a hotdog? I’ve been smelling them all morning!”
He gave her a pleading look.

Emma laughed, loving the easy camaraderie between them. They’d known each other for years and seen each other through many a pickle.

Nick was right. She did love a bargain and was often to be found scouring car boot sales or charity shops.

The necklace she wore almost constantly had been in a delightful shop at Glastonbury. On a black leather cord hung a gorgeous centrepiece of a silver moon and star set against a backdrop of stunning turquoise.

When she’d bought it, the woman had told her it was a lucky charm. At the time, Emma had dismissed the thought. Who believed in that sort of thing? She preferred to put faith in what she could control rather than what she couldn’t. But she had to admit that ever since she’d started wearing the necklace, her luck had changed.

Things hadn’t been easy since her rather messy divorce. Her ex-husband and his shark lawyer had stitched her up and seen to it that she walked away from the marriage with very little. Considering it was her ex who’d been unfaithful it still made her seethe, but there wasn’t much she could do about it now.

So, she needed a home of her own and had been searching for the right property. Not long after buying the necklace, she’d heard that she’d inherited her aunt’s cottage. It had come as a shock; she’d not been aware her aunt had been ill, and felt guilty that she’d not been to see her recently.

The property was in a little village that was quintessentially British. Quaint cottages lined the pavements, and her new home nestled in a plethora of late blooming, sweet-smelling honeysuckle which clambered higgledy-piggledy either side of the front door.

Though it had potential, it was badly in need of redecoration and a new boiler. Still, hopefully she’d manage to find the money to bring the property up to date and make it more habitable, especially before the winter set in.

Not long after that, Emma heard that she’d got the job she wanted. She’d be able to work remotely as an artist in the computer gaming industry.

It was something she’d trained for and enjoyed, and something that thankfully seemed to be going from strength to strength in an otherwise uncertain world. So, now she had a home and a job.

It had to be coincidental. But recalling the woman’s words, Emma had fingered the necklace and sent up a mental thank you to the heavens.

“Do you want me to come down and help you get rid of stuff you don’t want?” Nick had offered after she moved in. She’d mentioned seeing signs for a car boot sale.

“Ooh, yes please.”

It had been an early start and a busy morning so far, and she was grateful for Nick’s help.

Wandering around the car boot sale traders, Emma felt warm sun on the back of her neck with barely a breeze to ruffle her hair. Funny how September and October could bring a late summer. Over the last few months she had tanned nicely, and freckles covered her skin like stars in the night sky.

Idly she thought back to the last time she’d seen her aunt. Roughly about a year ago, she reckoned. She’d been a lovely lady, but hadn’t been fond of redecorating or DIY so the cottage needed a lot of work doing to it.

“Hi, Emma. How’s it going?”

It was May, a neighbour from a few doors up. Emma smiled.

“Fine. Nick’s looking after the stall so I can have a wander round.”

“He seems nice, that one. I’d hang onto him if I were you.”

Emma felt heat infuse her cheeks and waved a hand dismissively.

“No, no – it’s nothing like that. We’re just friends.”

The woman gave a knowing smile.

“If you say so. But I’ve seen the way he looks at you.”

What did she mean by that? Surely Nick looked on her as just a friend too, didn’t he? Emma gave a vague response and hurried by.

Spying a stall holder selling knick-knacks including some hand-made jewellery, she stopped to browse.

“Anything of interest?” asked an elderly woman Emma didn’t recognise.

“I’m just looking, thanks.”

“No worries. There’s a bargain box here if you want a rummage.”

The woman indicated a container with a conglomeration of jewellery inside. Emma was about to repeat that she was just window shopping really, when something caught her eye.

“How much for this?” she asked, pulling out a black corded bracelet with the exact same centrepiece as her necklace – a moon and star set against a startling vibrant turquoise blue.

“All fifty pence in there.”

“I’ll take it.” Decisively, Emma dug out her purse and handed the woman
a coin. “Thank you.”

“I hope it brings you luck.”

“Is it supposed to?”

“Oh yes. Star jewellery is a popular good luck charm.”

“Oh. Thanks.” Sure, since buying the necklace her luck had seemed to change. But surely that was coincidence?

Returning to her stall with two hot dogs, she saw Nick sipping from a water bottle.

“All OK?”

He swallowed.

“Yeah. Had a few more sales. Those smell good. Did you buy anything else?”

Emma showed him the bracelet and Nick drew close, letting one of his fingers gently brush against the ornate setting.

“Oh, wow. It matches your necklace. How lucky is that?”

As his fingers skimmed her wrist, Emma felt her heart stumble and a warm shiver course through her. She could smell his cologne, and the fresh aroma made her want to snuggle closer to him.

She felt the warmth of a small flush on her cheeks as she pulled her wrist away. What was wrong with her?

“Are you OK?” His eyes were full of concern. “The weather is a bit warm. Here. Have some water.”

He passed over her water bottle and she took a grateful swig.

Funny, but she’d never realised before what lovely brown eyes he had. Well, she knew they were brown, but right this minute they shone with warmth and enthusiasm and maybe something more?

His lashes were long and dark, gently caressing his cheek when he glanced down to the old cash box they’d discovered when she’d been clearing
out some papers.

And his smile. That lovely smile that she knew so well. What had changed? Why was she reacting like this?

Without realising, her fingers brushed the stone of the necklace as her heart made a wish of its own.

Their conversation was curtailed by more customers, and by the end of the day Emma was pleased that she’d made a nice little profit.

She fingered the bracelet again. Weird. Her fortunes did seem to have changed ever since she’d bought first the necklace, and now…

But nothing had changed since she’d bought the bracelet. Or… She swallowed, realising that her feelings towards Nick had changed. Yet he just looked on her as a friend, didn’t he?

Over the next few weeks, Emma found herself wearing both the necklace and the bracelet more and more. And good things did seem to happen when she wore the jewellery.

The quote for a new boiler was less than she’d anticipated, and her firm asked for her input into an exciting new game they were hoping would be the next big thing.

Nick visited her a number of times. And each time she saw him, she realised her feelings for him were growing.

In fact, everything seemed to be going well for her. The contract was keeping her busy, and the work she’d already submitted had received excellent comments. The cottage was coming along nicely; between them, she and Nick were knocking it into shape. And the new boiler was due to be installed within the next few weeks.

After a particularly long day stripping wallpaper, Emma glanced at her watch and her eyes widened. It was already gone six o’clock.

“Fancy fish and chips?” she asked Nick who’d come down to help.

“Absolutely.” Nick grinned. “Want me to go and collect them?”

“No, it’s fine. I could do with a change of scenery. Won’t be long.”

Grabbing her purse and keys, she smiled as she strode out to the car. Who would have believed her fortunes could change as much as they had?

She was just rounding a bend when, with a shock, she saw a car on the wrong side of the road heading straight towards her.

Gripping the steering wheel, she heaved it to the side, but it was too late. With a sickening sense of unreality there was a squeal of brakes, and then everything went dark as she blacked out.

“Emma. Are you awake?”

With a moan she fluttered open one eye and tried to focus.

“Nick?”

“Thank goodness. Are you in pain? Do you hurt anywhere?”

“No. I don’t… ow.”

“It’s OK, it’s just where the air bag hit you. No bones broken.”

Emma realised a friendly paramedic was standing over her. An ambulance was close by, along with a small crowd of onlookers.

“A car… wrong side of the road…”

“I know,” Nick soothed her, stroking her forehead gently. “Your neighbour May saw the whole thing and she rang me to let me know.” His face darkened. “The police are with the driver now.”

Gingerly Emma sat up, with Nick supporting her. She’d never felt so glad of someone’s comforting arms around her as she was right at that moment.

“You were lucky,” Nick continued, his voice thick with emotion as he shuddered. “It could have been far worse. I don’t know what I would have done if I’d lost you. You mean the world to me. I love you.”

As their eyes met, Emma saw a look of uncertainty cross his face as though he was worried that he’d said the wrong thing. Her chest felt tight with emotion, and she rested one of her hands gently against his cheek.

“I love you too.”

His eyes burned with passion as he gazed back.

I mean I’m in love with you. I want to be with you. Not just as a friend, as…

Emma lifted her face and their lips met. And as they did, the late evening sun caught the blue of her bracelet, setting it as vividly alight as the flames of desire now fanning her heart.

Had her jewellery had anything to do with it? She guessed she’d never know for sure. But what she was sure of was of being in Nick’s arms and knowing that things were going to be OK.

And in her eyes, that meant that she was very lucky indeed.