My name is Chester McBride. I taught literature in Community College for 26 years.

In the course of my career, I came to believe that in order to excel at my job, I had to be a good psychologist, and I came to look at the student mind as a small receptacle into which large quantities of knowledge must be crammed, despite the limited space.

Which is where psychology came into play. I studied my scholars. Were they stubborn? Eager? Terrified? Should I coax? Seduce? Intimidate? Badger?

And so, by the time I retired from teaching, I had a firm grasp on how people tick and, beneath their business suits, uniforms, T-shirts, or blue jeans, who they are.

Despite my responsibilities in the English Department, however, my off-work hours had nothing to do with 19th century novels or human psychology. This is because what I really loved to do in my free time was explore the earth’s surface, collecting fossils, minerals, and rocks.

Which is why, after my beloved daughter (to make me happy) patiently endured yet another tedious (for her) session of “show and tell” with my gemstones, she suggested that I go back to work; she even pointed me toward the perfect career for a widower interested in precious stones who no longer wanted to teach.

And so, seven years ago, I was hired by the department store at which I still work, where I am now manager of its jewelry counter. I enjoy my job, and my customers trust me. If there is a flaw in a gem, I point it out. If an item is going on sale, I suggest that my client wait a week, and buy it at a reduced price. My regular customers buy gifts for birthdays, engagements, anniversaries, weddings, sweet-sixteens, confirmations, and graduations. For themselves (not as gifts to others), they buy earrings, pins, necklaces, studs, cufflinks, watches, and pearls.

Men often bring their fiancées to my counter to select wedding rings. Women, however, never come in to purchase such expensive items. Or, that had been the case until the advent of Mrs. Tannis. Mrs. Liliana Tannis, to be exact.

She is an attractive lady in her early 40s with a sound knowledge of gems. Her eyes have the luminous translucence of blue tourmaline; her golden amber hair is worn in a sleek and stylish cut that emphasizes small, shell-like ears. She is of medium height, slender, dresses beautifully, and has the slim, muscular legs of a dancer. She also has beautifully shaped hands.

Mrs. Liliana Tannis first came to my jewelry counter three years ago. On March 13th to be exact. This was also the first time she informed me that her husband, and I quote, “adored” her. She was, I remember, wearing too much foundation makeup under a somewhat discolored left eye.

Quick to relate a confidence and eager to talk, she stated that her husband, Randolph Tannis, was a management consultant, that they had been married for 20 years, and that when Randolph awoke on that Sunday morning, he had said to her, “Why not go out today and buy yourself a bauble?”

In exactly those words, she emphasized: “Buy yourself a bauble.”

Which, she assured me, she’d thought was an excellent idea. That day, I sold her an exquisite band of brilliant white diamonds in a platinum setting; it looked as slender and delicate on her hand as a spray of morning dew.

She did not return to my jewelry counter until six months later. Specifically, on Thursday, September 15th. As before, she was stylishly dressed and perfectly groomed. This time, however, there were no discolorations under either eye, she wore considerably less makeup, and she appeared to be more relaxed. Again, our interaction began with a preamble about how devoted her husband was, how generous, and how eager to please.

Randolph liked the ring she had purchased earlier, she said, but thought it a “teensy bit too conservative” and suggested she come back and get a larger stone in a more decorative setting.

After meticulously inspecting the items in my display case, Liliana Tannis selected a sunflower cluster of 17 small, perfect diamonds set in platinum around a brilliant diamond center stone.

During the first two years that I knew her, she came back about every six months to buy more jewelry. However, by the third year (I have all of the dates written down if you are interested), she began to accelerate her visits to three-month intervals.

Her final purchase had occurred on Saturday, May 18th at 4:00 o’clock in the afternoon. It was in this third year of our acquaintance that I noticed some changes in Mrs. Tannis’s … shall I say demeanor? Vocabulary? Or, perhaps, both. For instead of referring to her husband in the present tense, she would slip, or so it seemed, and say, “Randolph would have loved this!” or – when picking out a particularly expensive gem – “Randolph was such a generous man.”

Nothing obvious, and had I not taught English for over 30 years, perhaps I never would have noticed. However, her manner, too, was different. Although never self-effacing or tentative, she became livelier, spoke faster, smiled oftener, and took less time to make up her mind. If I could condense the changes I perceived into just one word, it would be “cheerful.” She appeared to be a distinctly happier woman. That, combined with her inexplicable references to the devoted Randolph in the past tense, made me wonder.

In retrospect, I wish I had kept all ruminations to myself, because I liked and admired Mrs. Tannis and I had no wish to cause her harm. Nevertheless (fool that I was), I drew my suspicions to the attention of the authorities.

Sadly, after some poking around, which included a search warrant and a cadaver dog, the remains of Liliana’s husband were discovered under several feel of soil at the foot of a honey locust tree in her backyard.

Subsequent to her arrest, I learned many things about the late Randolph Tannis that increased my regret a thousand-fold. This included incidents of physical and mental abuse corroborated by witness statements, hospital records, police reports, and restraining orders.

Despite all of which, I reveal with amazement that not only has Liliana forgiven me for my misguided eagerness to display my deductive powers (to such a sorry effect), but also that her attorney anticipates a plea-deal that will result in a manslaughter sentence of no more than two years … reduced to time served.

At present, this remarkable woman’s entire collection of “baubles” – from the first band of white diamonds I sold her over three years ago to the huge emerald she acquired on May 17th – is in my possession. She believes that they will be safe with me until her release date, at which time she intends to resume the activities of her previous life.

Despite the many difficulties which my rash interference has caused Liliana Tannis, she remains optimistic and happy.

I know this because 32 years of teaching has turned me into an excellent judge of character. I know this because I am a good psychologist. And I know this because I like Liliana Tannis.

Indeed.

I like her very much.

Copyright © Shelly Reuben, 2025. Shelly Reuben’s books have been nominated for Edgar, Prometheus, and Falcon awards. For more about her writing, visit www.shellyreuben.com.