“You sound more positive than the last time we talked. How’s the new collection coming along?”
Cassie looked at the door to her studio. “It’s great. I’ve finished the Victoria necklace. I’m working on some of my own pieces while I wait for the gemstones for the Elizabeth necklace. They should arrive in the next few days.”
“Are you sure you’ll be safe? I don’t like you having so many valuable gemstones in your studio.”
From the moment her dad saw the draft sketches of the royal collection, he’d been concerned. He was worried someone would break in and steal the gemstones and, possibly, hurt her. “The new security system has been installed and I keep everything in my safe. As soon as each piece is finished, a security company from Bozeman collects it and takes it to Manhattan. Besides, no one apart from you, Noah’s family, and my friends know C.J. Davis lives here.”
“I’d still prefer you to work from your jewelry store.”
Jacqueline, her liaison person with Wilson Enterprises, had said the same thing. “It’s only for a few more days. The person who’s looking after my store starts a teaching job next week. When she leaves, I’ll be working from town.”
“Will you be able to meet your deadline with Wilson Enterprises?”
“I hope so.”
Her dad must have heard the uncertainty in her voice. “If you need me to look after your store, I can take some time off work.”
Cassie leaned against the counter. “You’re as busy as I am.”
“I don’t want you to miss this opportunity. If I need to move to Sapphire Bay for a couple of months, I’ll do it.”
“Thanks, Dad, but I think I’ll be okay. I’m well ahead of schedule.” Cassie glanced at her watch. “Can I give you a call in the morning? Noah and his granddad have invited me to dinner. They’re staying in Acorn Cottage.”
There were a few seconds of silence before her dad spoke. “Noah and his grandfather are there? When did that happen?”
“Patrick arrived last Sunday. Noah came today.”
“How do you feel about seeing Noah again?”
Cassie looked through her kitchen window. “I thought I would be upset but, when I saw him, I realized how much I’ve misjudged him.”
“But?”
Her dad had a habit of knowing when she wasn’t telling the whole truth. “I’m still upset he paid Emanuel’s legal expenses. It’s not right that Emanuel walked away with no debt, but you lost everything.”
“Once the case went to trial, no one could have stopped it. If Wilson Enterprises knew Emanuel was lying, do you think they would have kept going?”
Cassie rubbed her forehead. “No.”
“The trial had an impact on everyone. If there’s anything your mom’s death taught me, it was that life is too short to hold a grudge against someone. Sometimes you have to let it go and move on with your life. If you don’t, it eats you up and leaves you less than what you were.”
“Have you been able to let it go?”
“It took a while but, yes, I’ve let go of the anger and resentment. So, when am I going to meet Noah?”
“I don’t know. We’re still working out what’s happening between us.”
“Do you love him?”
Cassie held the phone tight. “Yes.”
“And how does Noah feel about you?”
“I think he loves me.”
Tony sighed. “It sounds as though I need to meet him sooner rather than later.”
“He’s a good man, Dad.”
