Cassie shook her head. Whatever Jack heard must be important. She hadn’t spoken to a lawyer before she signed the contract with Wilson Enterprises because she didn’t think it was necessary. She’d read most of the clauses, and they seemed okay. Noah knew what she was prepared to do and what she wasn’t.
But from the look on Jack’s face, she might have trusted his brother a little too much. “What’s in the contract that I might not like?”
“Probably nothing.”
“But you said—”
“Ladies and gentlemen.” Noah’s voice filled the room. He stood on a platform, holding a microphone. “Would you please be seated as we celebrate the work of the Wilson Award finalists.”
Cassie’s gaze shot back to Jack, but he was staring at the large screen behind his brother. She nudged his leg under the table and sent him a questioning frown.
Jack pointed to the data show and held his finger to his lips.
She looked at Patrick, but his attention was also focused on the pictures flashing across the screen.
When she could, she’d ask Noah what Jack had meant. But for now, she’d sit back, enjoy the photos, and pray she didn’t make a mess of her speech.
Near the endof her speech, Cassie looked up and smiled at the audience. More than two hundred people were staring back at her, still shocked, she imagined, from hearing her name announced as the winner of the Wilson Award.
For the first time since she’d stepped into the Rainbow Room, Cassie wasn’t worried about anyone knowing about her father. C. J. Davis was a mystery to almost everyone here and, as long as she had anything to say about it, that’s the way it would stay.
“And finally,” she said to the audience, “I would like to thank my family and friends for their support. Without them, I wouldn’t be standing here today.”
As she stepped away from the microphone, Cassie shook Noah’s hand. She smiled when the photographer took a picture of them and acknowledged the clapping audience with a nod of her head.
Her smile became more forced when she thought about her dad. She would have loved to have him here tonight, but he didn’t want to come. Too many people knew him and he didn’t want to spoil her night.
“You’re doing great,” Noah whispered from beside her. “Once the photographer has finished, you can enjoy the rest of the evening.”
Cassie moved the heavy trophy to her other arm. She didn’t know if she would have described tonight as enjoyable. Being the center of attention had never come easily to her. If she had a choice, she would have preferred to be in Sapphire Bay, working on her next project.
After Noah thanked everyone for coming and announced dessert was ready to be served, he escorted Cassie back to her chair.
Jack shook her hand. “Congratulations. Your jewelry is beautiful.”
Noah’s granddad opened his arms and hugged her. “Well done. I’m looking forward to seeing your new designs.”
She glanced across the table as Noah sat down. “I thought you would have seen the sketches of my new collection.”
“I’m not as involved in the company as I used to be. Noah and Jack keep telling me I should retire, but even thinking about it gives me nightmares. I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.”
“Dad has a few years to go before he retires, but it’s been on his mind, too. It isn’t easy making such a big change in your life.”
Patrick studied her face. “I think you understand better than most how it feels. Moving to Sapphire Bay couldn’t have been an easy decision to make.”
She carefully thought about her answer. “It wasn’t. Dad and I are incredibly close, but I needed a fresh start.”
“It happens to most of us at some point. Your dad must be proud of you.”
Cassie nodded. “He was sorry he couldn’t be here tonight.” Regardless of what Patrick might have been told, she wanted him to know her dad was a good man. “My dad is a jeweler, too. When I was little, he made me a set of tools I could use in his workshop. He didn’t mind if I made a mess or wasted some of the materials. All he cared about was allowing me to be creative and find my own feet in the world.”
“You were fortunate. A lot of children don’t get the same opportunity.” Patrick looked at each of his grandsons. “Before Noah and Jack’s parents died, we spent a lot of time on Shelter Island. Their mom and dad took them to the beach each morning. They spent hours making sandcastles. When it was too hot to be outside, their grandma and I took them to Peggy Anne’s Ice Cream Shop. Staying at the cottage gave everyone a chance to be themselves and enjoy each other’s company.”
After what happened to Noah’s parents, those memories must be even more special. “Noah told me about Shelter Island. Do you still go there?”
“I haven’t been back in years. Noah is talking about returning for Christmas, but I don’t know if it will happen.” He leaned sideways as a waiter placed his dessert in front of him. “I wasn’t the best grandfather in the world. After Noah’s parents died, I spent most of my time at work. Mary, my wife, was their rock.”
She looked into Patrick’s sad face. “Everyone handles grief differently. Sometimes, the hardest part is learning how to let go.”
