“I promised I’d love you forever, that no one would ever take your place. And, Sunshine, I tried not to love her. I tried to stay away and break it off, but I couldn’t. When I realized that I loved her, I tried not to let her have my soul. To keep a part for you; to keep a part of me with you. Always, Sunshine, that’s what I promised you on our wedding day and the day I buried you here on this mountain.
“But I have to give someone else those promises now. I love her, Sunshine. She’s become a part of my life, and when I look into her eyes, I see the same promises I gave you. Promises I need to give her now. I’m not leaving you behind me; you’ll always be with me, a part of mine and Diamond’s life.”
Knox felt a warm touch on his shoulder; the warmth flowed through his body as he turned to see who was behind him.
“I’m sorry, I didn’t want to startle you.” Rachel Porter stared down at him, her hand still on his shoulder. Her gaze went to the tombstone before coming back to his. “My parents are buried over there. I like to bring Mom flowers every Sunday after Church, catch her up on what’s going on in our lives. She wouldn’t be very happy with my brothers carrying on the family business. She never cared about how much money it provided, she always said ‘God may not give you what you want, but he will provide for your needs’.” Rachel removed her hand, stepping back. Without another word she walked to the end of the cemetery to stand in front of two graves, laying the flowers down on one.
Knox sat there with the sunshine on him, feeling the guilt he had felt for the last months melt away like the frost on the grass, removing the final barrier from giving Diamond his love.
Chapter Twenty-three
Diamond came out of church with Evie, Beth and Winter and each of them took their turns complimenting Pastor Dean on his service as they left.
“You’re becoming a regular at my services and I haven’t heard any Adele lately. I take it you’re doing well?”
Diamond blushed with the other women listening. “Yes.”
Pastor Dean laughed at her reaction, however Diamond managed to evade further questions when another parishioner came up behind her.
They walked to Beth’s SUV in the church parking lot, each of them climbing inside except Diamond.
“I’m going to go to my office to do some paperwork I need to get done before court tomorrow. I’ll call Knox when I need a ride home.”
“You sure?” Beth asked.
“Yes, I’d rather get it done in an hour instead of having to do it tonight.”
“Want us to give you a lift?”
“I think I can manage the walk,” Diamond said, smiling.
“See you later then,” Beth said, closing the door as the other two women waved.
Diamond walked across the parking lot, crossing the empty street to go inside the quiet office building. As she went to unlock the building, she found it already unlocked. She wasn’t terribly surprised because there was usually someone always was in the building that had four offices; two on the bottom and two on the top. Her office faced the street and the insurance office that shared the top floor with her had the part that faced the back. Someone had probably had an accident, which was why someone was ordinarily in the insurance office.
Diamond went up the steps to her office only to find the insurance office’s lights were off. Frowning, she went to her office door starting to unlock it, when the door suddenly opened and she stood facing her secretary.
“Holly, what are you doing—” A sudden push against her back cut her off and had her falling forward into her office. Holly tried to catch her, but a hand pushed her back out of the way. Diamond heard her office door slammed shut as she landed on her hands and knees.
“Stop it, Mitch!” Holly screamed as Diamond was lifted off her feet and dragged from the front to her private office.
“Shut up, Holly.” The man Holly called Mitch flung her forward. Diamond fell against her desk which looked like it had been ransacked.
“I don’t understand,” Diamond said, looking at Holly who was staring at her with frightened eyes.
“I’m so sorry, Diamond. I didn’t mean for this to get so out of control.”
“Get what you need, Holly, so we can get out of here.”
Holly ignored Mitch. “I’ve tried talking to you several times, but either you were too busy or I got scared and chickened out. I didn’t know what to do,” Holly began.
“Holly?” A small child’s voice from the couch drew Diamond’s attention.
“It’s okay, Logan. Just sit there, we’re going to leave in a few minutes,” Holly said.
Diamond looked at the little boy and recognition dawned. “Oh, God, is that…?”