Dori began to panic when she realized what she had left in her jacket pocket. "I need to get it back," she thought. "But how can I find the person who bought it?" She wished she could turn back time.
But sadly, there was no way back. It was a matter of time until the new owner discovered her dark secret.
Busy Woman
Doru Rhoades was the owner of a maternity boutique in Los Angeles – Conception Showroom. She was a very busy woman who was always on the go. On top of that, she was also a mom and worked full-time volunteering at schools.
But unfortunately for Dori, her busy lifestyle resulted in a big mistake. And this mistake would turn her life upside down.
Collecting Junk
It had been a long time since Dori and her husband had moved into their new home. And, as the years went by, their house had accumulated a lot of junk like old furniture and clothes.
They didn't have any more space to store their old belongings. So, the couple decided to turn to their community's spring garage sale to try to get rid of some of their unwanted items. Little did they know how much they would regret this decision.
Giving It All
“I volunteer in my kids’ classrooms multiple times a week, I work full time, I think anyone who is a mother knows,” Dori said in an interview. “You give so much of yourself that sometimes your brain stops working.”
Dori decided to sell some of her old clothing, too. But she had no idea how this decision would change her life.
No Time To Rest
Dori worked 40 hours a week at an office and spent all her free time caring for her children. As a result, she had no time for herself. So, when she found a box with her old clothing, she tossed them onto the huge pile of yard sale items without giving it a second thought.
Among those items was an old worn-out jacket. Little did Dori know, she should have thought twice before selling it.
The Day Of
The next morning, Dori woke up in a good mood. Finally, she would get rid of all the old items in their house and free some space for the new ones.
She also brought her children to the yard sale so they could help her out. But there was one item she really shouldn't have gotten rid of.
The Yard Sale
As soon as Dori opened her yard sale, dozens of people rushed in, eager to buy some new stuff. The denim jacket was the first item that caught people's attention. "How much?" a young woman asked Dori, holding the jacket.
"$20," Dori responded. The woman took out her purse and handed her a $20 bill. "Here you go," she said, smiling. But then, as soon as the woman left, the realization hit Dori as if she was punched in the stomach.
The Night Before
“I fell asleep with the kids and then woke up around 2 a.m. in the morning and was gathering things for this garage sale,” Dori told Good Morning America.
“I sold the jacket probably about 9 a.m. in the morning. It never even occurred to me what I was doing.”
Success
Dori's yard sale was a success. Almost all of their items had been sold, and the family was happy with how the event turned out. Now, they had a lot of extra space in their house.
But Dori and her husband had no idea how much trouble the yard sale would bring them.
At The Pool
Dori and her children went to a swimming pool in the afternoon and then planned to go to McDonald's. It was a great day, and Dori wanted to celebrate the successful yard sale with her kids.
As Dori was swimming in the pool, a young woman approached her and asked to speak to her. She didn't look happy.
The Earrings
The woman had a distressed look on her face and didn't take her eyes off Dori the entire time."What's wrong?" Dori asked the woman.
"I've lost my earrings, I think they're in the pool," the woman replied, crying. Dori helped the woman search for her earrings in the pool, but they didn't find anything. The woman thanked her for her help and left. That's when Dori remembered something.
The Realization
She remembered that inside a pocket of the jacket she had sold earlier that day, she had left behind something very valuable.
Dori had hidden her $18,000 diamond earrings, a ring her dad had given her mother and $1,500 in cash savings in the old denim jacket to keep them safe.
Devastated
She felt a lump in her throat. How could she be so stupid? She gave it all away for $20! Dori was shattered. The jewelry had held great sentimental value for her and her family.
In 1975, Dori's parents moved from Vietnam to the United States and didn't have much money.
Valuable Ring
"My dad had given my mom a ring, and after he passed, my mom gave the ring to me," Dori explained.
"It was something I'd wanted to pass along to my daughter. And I saved up for the other stone to make the earrings."
Supportive Husband
Dori didn't know how her husband would react when he learned what she had done. Though she was heartbroken, her husband, Greg, was very understanding when she told him about the denim jacket.
He made her a cup of hot tea, and they cuddled on the sofa. “You know what, there’s nothing we can do. What’s done is done. Forgive yourself and move on.’” But would Dori get her jacket back?
Following Her Husband's Advice
And Dori followed his advice. “Through this, all I’ve always said that I have my family and my house and we’re together and that’s what matters, but what really eats me up is where that one particular stone had come from.”
Although the chances of getting her jacket back were slim to none, Dori didn't give up.
Feeling Thankful
Dori was thankful for her husband. “He reminds me that the most important thing is we have our kids and each other, and we’re healthy.”
She knows that her family is all that matters, and she is lucky to have a supportive partner. But would she be in luck?
Searching For The Items
Dori desperately tried to locate her lost items. The chances were slim to none, but she didn't give up.
She began to put up signs and messages about her jewelry and the cash, hoping the woman who had bought her jacket would reach out.
Hopeful
The woman hasn't contacted Dori yet, but she remains hopeful. Maybe the woman hasn't checked the pockets yet? Maybe she didn't notice them?
All she can do now is wait and hope for the best.