The Sapphire Pendant (53 page)

“You love me too much to let anything happen to me,” Brooke called after her. “You don’t have it in you to do this.”

Soon sirens pierced through the air, Stephanie kept walking until she disappeared out the door.

“You don’t!”

“No,” Winifred said. “She doesn’t. I do.”

Brooke sent her mother a withering glare. A layer of ice chilled her words. “You can’t let this happen to me.”

“I’m sure you’ll get off easy. I always thought you used that deceptive little face of yours too well.” She sighed. “But you underestimated me.” She tilted her head to one side and dimpled prettily. “Who do you think gave you that face in the first place?”

* * *

Autumn hinted of its coming, cooling the air and touching the trees with a palate of colors.

Jessie sat by the window of her parents’ home and watched BJ walk up the front porch steps, looking no less large and intimidating in a brown bomber jacket and jeans. For a moment she remembered a chubby woman in tattered clothes with a solemn looking, fatherless boy behind her, something her Aunt Yvette would describe as a hoodlum-in-progress. Her father had introduced the pair as his sister Joan and nephew BJ.

“He doesn’t look very nice,” Jessie whispered.

Her father smiled and patted her on the head. “No, but he’s family so I want you to look out for him.”

Jessie sighed, she hadn’t looked out for him and since her parents’ death she’d hardly seen him. She remembered that dreadful night at the prom when she’d spent half of the night in his car crying. He’d awkwardly pat her on the back and offer her tissues not understanding why she was so upset. Then she told him about Kenneth and Regine, but she asked him not to tell anyone and he never did.

She opened the door for him and gestured to a seat. He sat down and stared at her. The way he tugged on his jacket was the only indication of his unease.

“Would you like anything to drink?” she asked.

“No thanks.”

“You don’t have to have tea, we do have beer.”

His face split into a grin so wide Jessie gaped at him stunned. It changed his entire face, revealing a very handsome man. “You just read my mind.” He leaned back. “I think I will have drink.”

Jessie gave him his drink then sat down. “Michelle, Teresa, and I have been talking and we’ve decided that there’s something that you need to know.”

He suddenly looked uneasy.

She rested a box on his lap. “Dad loved you very much and he would have wanted you to have it.” When he just stared at the box, she nudged him with her elbow. “Go on.”

He opened it. The Sapphire Pendant gleamed up at him. He looked at Jessie incredulous, his sense of unworthiness clear in his gaze.

“It took us a while to understand the true meaning of the pendant, but now that we know we want you to guard it. It needs to always carry the Clifton name.” She held up her hand. “Before you say another word. Let me tell you a story...”

BJ listened. Once she had finished he said, “Before I take this, I want you to do something for me.”

“What?”

When he told her, Jessie shook her head. “It’s no use. I already know the future.”

He glanced at the pendant then her. “You’re not the only one who can read stones, Jessie. We both know that the future isn’t set there. I want you to do what I say.”

She rubbed her hands together and bit her lip. “No, I can’t.”

“Yes, you can.” He lifted a knowing brow, a light twinkle in his eyes. “Even if I have to make you.”

* * *

Two weeks later Jessie stood in front of Kenneth’s house with her hand raised to knock. She let her hand fall to her side and briefly shut her eyes, listening to the autumn storm raging behind her. She probably shouldn’t have come, but she had promised BJ. She knocked on the door then rang the doorbell.

“Who is it?” a small voice asked.

“It’s Jessie.”

The door swung open. Syrah stood there smiling. Dion stood next to her his tale wagging. “Aunt Jessie! I knew you would come back.”

Jessie pushed back the hood of her mackintosh and patted Dion. She stood and glanced at Freda who was coming around the corner. “Well, I’m not exactly back. I just needed to say a few things to your uncle.”

“He’s upstairs listening to some loud music.”

“Beethoven,” Freda added.

Jessie nodded. “I see.”

Freda folded her arms. “I’m sorry you came all this way. I don’t think he’ll want to see you.”
 

Syrah grabbed Jessie’s hand and pulled her inside. “Oh, please Ms. Rose can’t she stay just a little while so that she can play with me?”

“But that’s not why she came.” She let her hands fall to her side, softening her tone. “Not that we’re not glad to see you. We don’t want to waste her time.”

“Being here is never a waste of time,” Jessie said slipping out of her coat. “I can spare five minutes.”

Freda nodded then left the room.

Syrah watched her go then whispered to Jessie, “I can go get Dad for you if you want.”

“Dad?”

She grinned. “Yea, he’s going to be my dad now. Isn’t that great?”

Jessie hugged her. “I’m so happy for you both.”

Syrah looked up at her some of her joy fading. “I’m sorry about all the trouble I caused.”

“You haven’t caused any trouble. Michelle told me that if you hadn’t convinced Daniel to go to the police about the diamonds they wouldn’t have had enough evidence against Brooke.”

Syrah swallowed, looking a little guilty. “Oh. Daniel likes to say that, but it’s not true. I wanted to keep the diamonds.”

Jessie laughed then gave her a little squeeze before releasing her. “You wouldn’t have been Syrah if you’d thought otherwise.”

They sat in the living room and Syrah showed Jessie her electronic game. Jessie told her about her job at the jewelers and Syrah shared about starting at a new school. Suddenly, Syrah jumped to her feet. “Let me go get Dad for you.”

Jessie stood as well. “Actually, I think I should leave.” She reached into her pocket. “But I want you to give him something for me.” She stopped when she heard keys inserted in the doorknob. “Who else has a key to the house?”

Syrah shrugged. “I don’t know.”

They went into the foyer and watched the door swing open. Eddie walked inside.

Chapter 32

Shock left them paralyzed. Jessie watched Eddie stroll into the room as though she were observing an experiment volunteer behind a one way mirror. He was an attractive young man with teasing dark eyes, firm features and a confident set in his shoulders. His tailored clothes and arrogant gait gave no hint to the demon he was fighting or the anger he could not control. For a moment, Jessie believed the lie he projected, but it was the slight trembling of his hands as he put his extra key in his pocket, that alluded to the truth. Dion growled, breaking the silence.

“You’d better keep that dog away from me,” Eddie said.

Syrah grabbed the dog by its collar. “Come on, Dion.” At first Dion refused to move then he allowed her to lead him into another room and close the door. When Syrah returned, Eddie raised a brow. “It’s time to come home, Ace.”
 

She didn’t move, a look of terror clear in her gaze. Jessie stepped in front of her. “She is home.”

Eddie shrugged, nonchalant. “I see you’ve gotten attached to her. You can visit some time. Ace, go get your things.”

She still didn’t move.

His tone hardened. “Did you hear me?”

Syrah’s breathing increased, she clenched her fists and she looked up at Jessie not knowing what to do. Jessie sent her a gentle smile. “It’s okay.”

“Ace.”

“She’s not going with you.”

“Yes, she is.” He shoved Jessie aside and grabbed Syrah’s arm. “I said go pack your things. Now do it.” He tossed her in the direction of the stairs. She stumbled and caught herself on the railing.

“She’s not going anywhere with you.”

Eddie spun around his eyes a piercing black. “Where’s Kenneth?”

“Doesn’t matter.”

He smiled. “I’m asking because you really don’t want to upset me,” he said with chilling politeness.

“Why should I be afraid of a coward that hits children?”
 

“What has she been telling you? She likes to tell lies.”

“I always wondered what my brother saw in the Clifton sisters. You’re the one who thinks she’s a man, right?”

“I’m not going to fight you.”

“Good then you’ll stay out of my way.” He turned to Syrah. “I’m not going to ask you again. Go pack.”

“No,” Syrah said in a small voice.

Eddie chuckled. “You always were stubborn.” He looked at Jessie. “You should have seen her as a baby.”

“Why don’t you go home?”

He nodded. “I will once Ace packs.” He looped his thumbs through his belt loops. “I’m through discussing this.”

“Me too,” Jessie said softly. “We both know Kenneth will make a better father than you ever could.”

He grabbed the front of her shirt and shoved her against the wall with such force she saw stars. Fear—vivid and dark—coursed through her. “Let me go,” she said.

Eddie flashed a bitter smile. “Do you honestly think she’s better off here? Do you think Kenneth hasn’t got a temper too? He just hides it better.” He shoved her head back with his forefinger. “You’re not taking Syrah from me. And never compare me to Kenneth again.” He swallowed. “I could never live up to Kenneth’s perfect image. No one could.”

“You’re pathetic,” Jessie said, disgusted. “You took the path already chosen because you were too afraid to fail at something else. I gave you my scholarship, you had a chance and you blew it. You ruined your life because you were too afraid of failure to do anything. Well congratulations, because you didn’t fail. You succeeded in becoming as useless as your father and worthless as a man.”

Eddie tightened his grip until Jessie could barely breathe. She clawed at his hand, dots forming in her eyes.

Syrah rushed up to him. She tugged on his jacket. “Let her go, Dad. I’ll come with you. Please, please.”

“Tell her how much you love me,” he said in a calm even tone.

“I love you so much Dad, I really do,” she said her face wet with tears.

“Tell her how much you want to be with me.”

“I want to always be with you. Forever. Please let her go.”

Eddie smiled. “Did you hear that?”

Jessie nodded. Then she spat in his face. His smile fell. Syrah saw the look on his face—she’d seen it before—and raced upstairs.

She ran down the hall and burst into Kenneth’s room. He jumped to his feet when he saw her and turned off the music. “What’s wrong?”

“He’s downstairs and he’s going to kill her.”

Kenneth knelt in front of her and grabbed her arms. “What are you talking about? Are you watching a scary movie?”

“No. It’s Aunt Jessie. Dad’s got her because of me. You’ve gotta help her.”

A chill went through him. “Eddie’s here?”

She didn’t get a chance to reply. The sound of shattering glass filled the air. He fled down the hall like a rabid dog.

“They’re in the living room,” Syrah said.

Freda met him at the bottom of the stairs.
 

“Where is he?” he demanded.

“I’m sorry Mr. Preston.”

“Where is he?”

Her voice shook when she spoke. “I called the police.”

“Where. Is. He?”

She took a step back. “He’s in the kitchen...with her.”

He gave a terse nod and walked past her. “Take Ace with you into your room and lock the door.”

She nodded then took Syrah’s hand and left. Kenneth stormed into the kitchen with gathering fury, but nothing prepared him for the scene he saw. He’d seen the same scene once years ago. He’d walked into the kitchen late one night and found his mother on the floor with her blouse ripped open, while his father saddled her waist and slapped her until she was as limp as a rag doll. He’d wanted to grab a knife and kill him. He grabbed that knife now.

When Jessie saw him, she widened her eyes. “Kenneth, don’t!”

Eddie spun around then leaped to his feet. He stumbled back when he saw the rage in his brother’s eyes. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

“Nothing,” Kenneth replied softly, taking a menacing step closer.

“Shit, Kenny. Put the knife down.”

He shoved Eddie against the wall then lifted him off the ground.
 

“Don’t Kenneth,” Jessie said, trying to reach him through his anger.

He couldn’t hear her. He was a little boy with the strength of a man, finally holding his father captive so that he could instill the pain and fear that had tormented him for years. He tightened his grip. “You knew I could forgive anything but that.”

“I can’t breath,” Eddie squeaked.

“Don’t worry,” he growled. “It won’t matter in a minute.”
 

“No,” Jessie said, seizing his arm, feeling the power. “This isn’t the answer. Stop it.”

“He shouldn’t have hit you,” he said in a distant tone that made her shiver.

“But I’m okay. Look at me. I’m okay.”

He slowly turned to her. No, she wasn’t okay. Half of her face was swollen and blood seep from a cut on her mouth and above her eye. But it was the look in her eyes that stopped him. Right now she wasn’t afraid of Eddie. She was afraid of him. He’d become the monster. A fierce pain pierced through him that he’d finally revealed the side he’d never wanted anyone to see.