Triple Diamonds (Mystic Nights Book 2) (25 page)

“Please, call me Tawny.” Tawny paused before continuing, and gave Jewel a sympathetic look to ease her nerves, if she were nervous. “I know you and my son are growing closer.” She saw the younger woman’s shoulders sag imperceptibly. She ascertained that Jewel was upset by that small reaction. Her smile faltered a bit as well. She cared. But she was still wary. Tawny could tell by the narrowing of her almond shaped eyes, but under the circumstances that was to be expected. She couldn’t fault her for that. “Chef gives you nothing but high praise. We are happy to have you here. And from what my son tells me, I’m happy to have you as part of my family.”

Jewel let out a shaky breath and tried to keep the emotion that was thickening her vocal chords at bay. Joseph had obviously told Tawny about them. She thought about her own mother, wishing she were still alive to talk this over with. But Tawny was looking at her warmly, waiting for her to respond. Seeing her kind eyes warmed her some, but after yesterday she was still so torn. She loved Joseph, and felt he loved her. But for him to suspect that her brothers might be involved in this, well, it had hurt. That was why she had repeatedly ignored his texts. She didn’t know what to say to him after the implications he had made.

“Thank you Tawny. I appreciate that.” She faltered a bit. If she and Joseph were to last, she wanted to move beyond this, hoped to, and she would have to call him eventually and explain. But she could be honest with his mother now. That would be a start. She had always respected the matriarch of this family, and for all she had done for their people. She made the decision to confide in her truthfully. “I did want to say that I’m sorry about the break-ins happening. And I know it may look bad, but in my heart I know my brothers are not involved. I want you to know that, and Joseph too. I don’t know what they were thinking coming here last night, but I can assure you it wasn’t to steal anything.”

Keeping her voice even, Tawny asked the question that Joseph had asked her. “Did they tell you what they were doing here? Joseph said they had informed you they would be studying.”

She saw the girl’s slight nod, as she looked away briefly in embarrassment. “Yes, that’s what they were supposed to be doing. But then their friend, Justin, called and said he was here. He had been dropped off by a friend and then left. He needed a ride. They came to get him.” She knew it probably sounded lame, but that’s what they told her and she believed them. They also picked up the crates for the food bank she had mentioned earlier in the day that she needed to take for Louis. She had asked to use their truck as there was quite a bit that needed to be brought to the food pantry. They thought they could kill two birds with one stone by picking up their friend and getting the food for her even though it had been late. They had done it before when there had been great quantities. The kitchen staff knew them, although they had never done it so late before.

Tawny searched the girl’s eyes. She was telling the truth. The truth in so far as she knew it. But as a mother, she knew sometimes you had to dig deeper for answers. The girl was still holding something back. “The tapes showed them coming in around midnight, and then leaving after one. They were here for some time.”

Jewel blushed. “It’s so dumb. I’m almost embarrassed to tell you this, because I know it is going to sound bad. It’s one of the reasons I didn’t call Joseph back yesterday. But, my brothers figured since they were here, they would come and get the food we keep in the office that I bring to the food bank on Saturdays and Sundays. I hadn’t been able to do it myself because there was so much this week, and what with the move and all.”

Tawny’s eyes widened in surprise, and Jewel rushed forward. “It’s something I regularly do for Louis. I assure you. We change the menu on Monday, and Louis begins to put the perishables that we didn’t use the week before in the office. We had over ordered because of the convention and not knowing what or how much we would need. But, Louis hates it to go to waste and so he sends it to the food bank. We have the records in the office.”

Tawny was pleased. She smiled broadly at the young girl. “Well, Jewel, darling. You should have just explained that. Something like that would only help to exonerate them, not implicate them. We can simply verify by checking the kitchen cameras.” Tawny saw the relief sweep over the girl’s face.

“Really?” Jewel’s tone sounded hopeful. This could prove their innocence. “I didn’t realize. I mean, I thought it would make them look even guiltier.”

Tawny walked beside the girl and put her arm around her giving her a comforting squeeze. “Sweetheart, I also want you to forgive my son for his rash accusations. He feels horrible about that. Joseph doesn’t trust easily, and it’s not because of you and your brothers, darling. He had a bit of a rough patch in college, and that is why he is so cautious. Please don’t take it too personally. Why don’t you call him when you get a chance? I’m sure he’d love to hear from you. And I think hearing you explain it, would help more rather than coming from me. I’m sure you will be able to put this behind you.”

“I hope so. And, I’ll do that.” Jewel returned the squeeze and just barely managed to keep the tears at bay when she added, “Thank you, Mrs. Sassacus. I mean Tawny.” She self-corrected before Tawny could swallowing past the lump in her throat.

Tawny’s eyes narrowed, assessing the young lady before her. She was competent, efficient, direct, and honest as far as she could tell. She hoped Jewel’s brothers had been honest with her. She believed the girl was not involved, and hoped the boys weren’t either. She would check the tapes with Tom now to be sure. For her son’s sake, she really wanted all of the Diamantes to be innocent. It would make his relationship with Jewel easier. She gave the girl one more hug before leaving, and felt the girl return it tentatively.

“Well, thank you for being direct. And we are still investigating. But, please don’t feel like we were targeting just them. We are looking at all avenues.”

“I understand that now. Thank you for coming to talk to me. I really do think it is matter of bad timing on their part, and perhaps bad choices. And I promise, I will call Joseph. Let him know that for me, if you see him before I get the chance.”

“I will. And please, if anything does come to you, let us know so we can properly investigate. We are just trying to narrow down the suspects, and your help is really appreciated in that.”

“I will. I promise,” she gave Tawny her word.

The woman began to turn, but stopped before she left, and turned back to Jewel once more. “It is my understanding that you have been the one raising your brothers for some time.”

“Three years now. We are very close. They have never lied to me when I’ve asked them directly. Yes, they have been in some trouble, but when it comes down to it, they are always honest, even if they make stupid choices from time to time.”

Tawny understood that. Her own children had made plenty of mistakes, she had made them when she was younger, but her children and she, when questioned had always owned up to it and faced their consequences. She saw Jewel in yet another light. Her mother’s instinct told her Jewel was definitely not involved, and most likely her bothers were not either. She would tell that to Joseph knowing it would ease his heart to know she got the same vibe from the girl as he did. “Well, I think you are doing a fine job. From what Joseph tells me, they are great young men. And like I said, it’s not that Joseph doesn’t trust them. Or you. It’s that he doesn’t trust himself. But that’s his story to tell. Understand?” At Jewel’s nod, Tawny shared one more bit of wisdom, “Be patient with him. He’s working things out in his mind. I’m a great judge of character and I can see that you are an honorable woman. I really do hope we will see much more of you.” And with those words, and Jewel’s slight nod, she left.

Tawny left the kitchen knowing in her heart of hearts that her son had found himself a good woman. Yes, Jewel would make a great addition to their family. And so too, would Lesley and Wesley. She hoped to meet them soon as well. Boys may stray, but never far from their roots. And Jewel was most certainly grounded, and that meant those boys were too. She would head upstairs, check the tapes to be 100 percent sure, but she now knew they had been headed down the wrong path in suspecting any of them. But, they still needed to figure out who it was. The only suspect of note left was Justin Sock. And a twenty year old with eighty thousand dollars was very much suspect in her mind. He was their best lead now. That was where they needed to focus.

Reaching the elevators, Tawny stepped into the one used for staff only, and thought about her family. They were growing. By leaps and bounds. First Aliya, and the new baby that was coming in a matter of months, and now these triple diamonds. Maybe her girls would meet someone special too, soon, she mused. So far this New Year, despite the turmoil they had endured with the embezzlement scheme, and these thefts, was turning out to pretty good for her family.

‡

J
oseph was relieved
when Jewel called him. She had a busy day of unpacking and suggested lunch before her next shift. And when they met it had helped to clear the air.

He was slightly embarrassed that it had been his mother who had gotten involved to help him see things more clearly. When he told her about Jewel and his feelings for her, and she had asked why, he’d told her all about her.

He was surprised that it was his mom, who had said, “I think it is just a bunch of horrible coincidences. She just doesn’t sound like a girl that would be involved in these kinds of things. Her brothers either, from what you’ve told me.”

He had remained quiet mulling it over. It’s what his instincts had been telling him all along, but those doubts kept creeping in. Then her next words had shocked him. “Maybe because of what happened in college with Tara, you’re not willing to put your trust into this girl. And that’s not fair to her,” she pointed out.

“Mom, but all the pieces. . .”

“No buts, Joseph. It’s yourself you don’t trust. I haven’t spent much time with the girl, but if what you’ve told me about her is true, I don’t think she could be involved. I’m going to talk to her.”

And she had. Then, she’d called him saying to give Jewel some space, and informed him about what the boys had been doing at the casino that night. The tapes from the kitchen had backed up their story. His suspicions had been for naught.

He had sweated it all night waiting for her call. He hadn’t slept well either when it didn’t come, but thankfully she had called when he had just gotten into the office suggesting a quick lunch at the bistro in the casino.

They didn’t have time for much more than a quick bite and a chat.

“Your mom told me that something happened in college, and that is why you have trust issues. I just want you to know, I’m not that girl. I don’t know what you went through. She didn’t go into the particulars, and you don’t need to tell me, but Joseph, what you see is what you get with me. I’m a woman of integrity. That is how my parents raised me, and my brothers,” she added pointedly.

“I’m sorry. I get that now. I feel like a fool. Tara put me through the wringer. Drugs, cheating. I was young then, but I guess it helped to foster in me this suspicious nature. That coupled with what happened to Jonathan a few months back, and I guess I just let the possibility of this, what we have, seem doomed to failure.”

He saw the fleeting look of pain that crossed her face. She set down her glass of water, and whispered softly. “I really hope those worries disappear. It’s setting us up for failure. Joseph, I care for you a lot, but I can’t deal with walking on eggshells, and you thinking every word or action on my part, or my brothers, is going to be ripped apart, analyzed, and then put back together in some nefarious scenario in your head.”

She was right. That was what he had been doing. Bad habits were hard to break. “I’m sorry. I know that’s what I have been doing. But, I care for you too, and despite my actions and words, I don’t want this to end. I want this, what is between us to last.”

She sighed heavily twisting and scrunching up the napkin on the table. “I do too.”

He reached for her hand across the table, and clasped it. “I’ll try to do better. To trust.”

Turning her own hand over, she gave it a little squeeze. “I do need to get to work, but maybe tonight we can talk some more,” she suggested tentatively.

“I’d like that.”

“When I’m done my shift, I’ll text you,” and then from under lowered lashes. “I can meet you in your suite upstairs.”

“I’d really like that,” he put in, a hopeful smile spreading across his face. The thought of being alone with her, reconnecting with her, had his blood pumping, and his heart beating faster. He couldn’t wait to spend time with her out of the public eye. Sex was easy, but tonight it was going to be more than just sex. He was going to show her just how much he cared.

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