by Sammy Sutton
Holding out his hand with the box, he sat down beside Amanda. She looked at the box with suspicion. "Before you say no, open it, and let me tell you why this is perfect for you."
Amanda tentatively reached for the box, and opened the hinged lid. Inside she saw the most breathtaking brown diamond she had ever seem. Set in a simple silver circle, she watched as the diamond reflected red lights in the sunshine. Raising her eyes to Antonio, she was trying to say no, when every fiber of her inner woman was screaming say yes!
"I found this at John Bears; he had kept it safe for years, waiting for the right woman to wear it. When I asked about something special for you, he brought out this gem; he called it a perfect Cognac Diamond, and said in the light, the colors of the inner fire will beam like her hair. You see, you have to take it, it's yours, and its fire, life, richness and beauty come from within, just like yours. When I look at you, I see the facets of a diamond, inner light reflected over a myriad of surfaces."
"Antonio's words sang through her heart and soul. Amanda took the chain and clasped it around her neck. "I will wear it with pride and with great humility. To be compared to the loveliness' of this stone, is the greatest compliment I have ever been given."
Antonio leaned forward and Amanda kissed him, and together they sank back to gaze once more over the beauty of the diamond and the enjoyment they found together was mirrored in the flashing brilliance of the Cognac Diamond that lay between her breast.
Antonio heard the intercom indicate a visitor was at the gate.
Excusing his departure, he activated the gate from the control panel near the pool. An express delivery driver met him at the door for his signature. The package from José had a note inserted that explained the benefits of creating a covert company as a decoy to protect the Scrolls and the Chosen.
José claimed he could send the adversary on a wild hunt orchestrated in advance. It was a cunning idea, and a valuable ploy. His brother’s letter demanded Antonio complete the forms and send it overnight, before the end of the day.
The first line on the form was for the company name. It triggered a message that fleeted through Antonio, ADAM. He glanced at the envelope with the names stacked vertically.
Antonio
Dominguez
Amanda
Messenger
His hand slid over the top of his head. “Drop the Caps!” Company name: Adam. After a deep breath, he questioned his sanity and shook his head. The completed forms were in an envelope, ready to send back to José in Miami.
Amanda’s phone rang. She was still out by the pool. Antonio noticed it was her son, Josh.
He answered. “Hello.”
“Who is this?”
“Antonio Dominguez. Are you Josh, Amanda’s son?”
“Where’s my Mother?” His voice sounded firmly in control.
“She went outside and forgot to take her phone. I’ll take it to her.” It seemed best to make the offer fast.
“Are you seeing my mom?” The kid didn’t hold anything back.
“Yes, I am. We’re also working on an important project.” He wanted to be honest with the kid.
“How do I get there?”
“I’m sorry…Get where?”
“Where you’ve got my Mom?” Antonio felt like a kidnapper.
“She’s at my house.”
“I’m at the airport waiting for a rental car and I need to see my mom to make sure she’s okay.”
“I understand. Your mom will be pleased.”
“I need to program the GPS.”
“No problem. Josh, we can come pick you up.”
“No, I will book a hotel.”
“No need, I have more than enough room. Your mom will want you here.”
“Tell Mom I will be there in about…what…an hour.”
“Yeah, an hour should do it. I’ll take the phone to her.” Antonio gave him the directions while walking towards the pool.
“Just tell her I’m coming.”
“Josh, take my number, in case you have any problems. By the way, there’s a gate at the entrance. Press the button and I’ll open it from the house.”
“Okay.”
“Anything else?”
“No thanks. I’ll be there in an hour.”
“Okay, bye.”
It sure turned out to be an interesting day. In one hour, he would find himself face to face with Amanda’s son.
Anxious, he rushed to give her the news. Anticipating Amanda’s reaction, he knew it promised amusement. Replaced by his initial shock, a clear understanding of her son’s concern overwhelmed him. In fact, Antonio admired his boldness.
A tremendous urge to laugh babbled up from his gut as he approached Amanda. Engrossed in a book, she paused intermittently to make notes.
“You left your phone in the office. It rang, so I answered it.”
She interrupted. “Is something wrong with my kids?”
“Well, Josh is at the airport. He’ll be here in about an hour. I was firmly informed he needed to check on his mom.” The urge to laugh overcame him.
Antonio’s spectacle brought Amanda to the brink. She accused him, “You are teasing me.”
“No, I’m not. I insisted he stay here, but he planned to stay at a hotel. I should warn you, he did not commit to the idea of staying here.”
“Was he rude to you?”
“Not at all rude, but not thrilled about me either. The idea of me doesn’t exactly have him celebrating, that’s for damn sure. Amanda, he asked if I was seeing his mom. I said yeah. I didn’t know what the hell to say.”
“You did the right thing. I always want to tell them the truth. If we lied to them, it would only give them reason to hate the idea.”
“Amanda, he sounds big.”
“He is huge, football player size, 6 foot 6 inches.”
“Why didn’t you tell me your kids were giants?”
“I figured that when you were busy Googling me, you had also found my kids on Facebook.”
“No, I only did it a couple of times. It wasn’t very easy to get beyond your pen names. Shit, that took a whole day in itself.”
“You did not have José help you?” she teased.
“It didn’t occur to me.”
“I knew this was a strange day.”
“Antonio you are about to become educated. If you ever thought parents were unreasonable, wait until you see a child take on the role. There is no latitude with a grown-up kid.”
“Great, Amanda, thanks for the reassurance.”
“I have control. Josh is not evil.”
“This will be entertaining.”
“He will love you, maybe not in the first five minutes, but in due time. Except…” she stopped.
“Except, what…Amanda…speak.”
“I cannot sleep with you while my son is here.”
“The hell you won’t. I can’t sleep without you.”
“Antonio, I am not going to traumatize my kids. They are not prepared. My boys, like me, have never considered me dating somebody.”
“This kid better start absorbing real fast. Amanda, he isn’t a child.” His tone was serious.
She didn’t comment.
The night before, she was a silken Temptress. He stood in disbelief.
“Amanda, remember last night? The woman I was with… tell me she isn’t gone, please.”
He was irresistible.
“Never, you are far too enticing. You have to share. Rest assured that part is entirely yours.”
She sat on his lap. His fingers crawled under her shirt, needing to feel the warmth of her skin.
“Antonio, I’m not ready to give-up this time with you. I’m not ready to share, I love all my other obligations, but you make me feel a way nobody else ever has. It makes me feel guilty.”
“I know, I noticed your guilt. We’ll get through it together, by becoming creative.”
She thought his words sounded more like her than it did him.
“I do
n’t want to sound trite, but I am losing sight of where you started and I end.”
“I feel the same thing.”
“Josh will be here in minutes, we have to get straightened up. Now!”
Chapter 29
"Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind."
---Dr. Seuss
Hospitality, Antonio wanted to seem as hospitable as possible towards Josh. If he handed him a peace pipe right at the start, it would surely help start a respectful relationship. He would have no choice but to return the same.
Shuffling around the kitchen for drinking glasses, he put finger foods on a platter. The chocolate goo he bought for Amanda eyed him from within the refrigerator. With any luck, he had his mom’s affinity for cocoa. If true, it would be a priceless asset. He chuckled at his own nervous behavior.
He heard the intercom. It was show time. He pressed ‘CAMERA’. A big kid was at the gate, it was a huge kid…a damn man…geez. The gate opened. He was a good-looking guy.
Amanda was still straightening herself. She left him to improvise until she was ready. She wasn’t ready. Looking at the kid made him feel guilty about what he’d done with the kid’s mom. It was nobody’s fault, only his own.
A nauseated Antonio stepped out to the driveway. The car parked and Josh stepped out. Damn, he had about four inches on Antonio. He was every bit of 6 feet, 6 inches. A huge man, tall, muscular, he wasn’t one to tangle with.
Antonio approached Josh with his hand out.
“Antonio Dominquez.” He watched Amanda's son look down at his hand and hesitate before he took it in a firm grasp.
“Josh Monroe.”
“It is great to meet you Josh. Your mom will be down any minute. Please, come on inside.”
Josh was stoic, oblivious to his surroundings. He was on a mission to see his mom. Antonio sensed it strongly as he led Josh to the Great Room.
“How was your trip, Josh?”
"Look, I do not want to seem like a jerk, but this is not a 'family' reunion. Where is my mother?”
Antonio could not help but notice the emphasis Josh had placed on the word family. Well, he had a firm grasp on the importance of family himself, thought Antonio. He would cut the guy a little slack for the rudeness, and just keep his distance until he knew where he stood.
"Like I said, she will be here in a minute. You know your Mom; she likes to look her best all the time."
"That's right I do know my Mom, and that is why I am here. She does not disappear without a word for days on end, and she always asks our opinion. My brothers and I are concerned about this situation. Until we are satisfied she is where she wants to be; you have me in your face."
Josh nodded. Amanda came around the corner.
“Josh.”
“Mom...” The big guy leaned over so his mother would not have to stretch as she hugged and kissed him.
“Mom, I don’t want to upset you, but I needed to see you… make sure you were all right.”
“You’re fine, honey. I understand. I guess you met Antonio.”
“Yes, we’ve met.”
Antonio took the opportunity to jump in, “I’m going to go grab some drinks, how about a snack?”
“Sure, no doubt he starved on the trip up here. Thanks, Antonio.”
“No problem.”
It was uncomfortable, but not too bad. Antonio reminded himself to accommodate and be hospitable. He grabbed drinks first, and noticed the tension as soon as he walked into the room.
“Do you drink tea, Josh? If not, I’ll get something you like.”
“Yes, I drink tea.” With a look, Amanda reminded him of his manners.
"Thanks," Josh added.
“Great, I’ll be right back.” He grabbed the platter and thought of Maria, he needed her right now to order him about and serve better food. His mind raced as reality hit him. She really is a Mom. The revelation struck him like an atom bomb as he approached with the snack platter.
“Antonio, please sit down.” Amanda ordered.
“It’s ironic. Your mother and I recently discussed the idea of you, and your brothers, coming for a visit during her stay in New Mexico.”
Amanda added, “That is true.”
Josh nodded.
“Antonio and I are seeing one another, and working on a huge project. Honestly honey, I don’t know which came first.”
Antonio could not believe that Amanda just dove in to the deep end with those two sensitive subjects in the same statement.
Josh was silent. Thinking to lighten the moment Amanda interjected.
“Antonio restored and renovated this house, Josh.”
Josh just looked around the Great Room, and nodded.
Antonio wanted to leave the room. Then, they were saved by the bell.
“I hope you two can excuse me, I need to go. Someone is here.” Even that sounded stupid. At the intercom, he released the gate.
“Amanda, its Ruger. I need to go outside and talk with him.”
“Go ahead, we will be fine, Antonio. Thank you.”
“Sure.” Thanks for what? He thought as he nodded to Josh. The way the guy looked at him… Antonio hated the awkwardness.
He was a great son, watching out for his mom. That made it worse.
He met Ruger outside.
“Mom, what’s going on here?”
Amanda tried not to be offended, “Josh, I was honest with you.”
“It doesn’t look as if he needs money.” Josh accused.
“That is an awful thing for you to say. No, he doesn’t need money; do you think I need to pay a man for attention?”
Josh ignored his mother's response. “What does he want?”
“What everyone wants, the right person.” She remained calm.
“Did he recently get a divorce?”
“No, he has never married.”
“That’s weird, Mom. Why not? What's wrong with the guy? Does he have a hidden past? A criminal record we cannot find? He stays out of the country, more than he stays in it. What's he going to do now, strap you on his back and take you around the world?”
His rude attack on Antonio made Amanda angry. She stood up and looked down at this giant of a man, her idiotic son, and gave him hell. “Listen here. I will discuss this with you as long as you are respectful. Do you understand?”
“Yes.”
"Number one, I am your mother, but I am also a woman who is now living her life. I raised you and your brothers to be strong, independent men, and I will not sit idly by and be dictated to by you or your brothers. Number two, do you think me weird? Yes, he’s traveled the world, Josh. Marriages do not work well under those conditions. It was a choice he made.” She borrowed Antonio’s very own line. Josh tried to interrupt, but Amanda was on a roll, and she was not finished.
"Number three; no he does not have anything wrong with him. The man is brilliant, thoughtful, gentle and caring far beyond any level I have ever encountered before in the male species.
As to your statement about a criminal record, that leads me to believe you have had him checked out. That makes me angry. None of you have the right to dig into the past of anyone I care for. I am woman who understands far more than you will ever realize the importance of trust. How dare you question my ability to have a relationship with a man, just because you do not know him?"
Josh was feeling rather bad about his attitude and realized he had just made a huge mistake in his relationship with his Mom. While it had been done out of worry and love, he was beginning to think he was in big trouble.
"Mom, it was not just me. Chase felt this trip was in your best interest, and Sam even thought it was strange he had not heard from you like usual." The look on his Mom's face at the mention of Sam's name, made Josh wince.
"You discussed this with Sam?"
"Not all of it. Mom we were worried and since you talk to Sam more than us, we thought he might have a clue about why you were acting so str
ange."
Amanda sat down. "Josh, I love all of you with a deepness you will never understand until a child of your own is placed in your presence. You have to let this go. I made the mistake of not staying in contact, but it was because for once I felt free and safe with a man. You will like him a lot, that I promise, but you have to give him a fair chance. You have to give us a chance.”
“Are you going to give up everything for him?”
“No, Antonio knows that. I do not have all the answers, nor do I believe I have to give anything up. Yet, I do know that he is now a part of my life.”
Josh was willing to meet his mother halfway, and knew he had behaved horribly. He apologized for his rudeness, his behavior, his snooping and his judgment calls. With a swift hug and soft words from his Mom, he once more he felt that he was on safe and solid ground.
Antonio grabbed the truck keys in the kitchen. He and Ruger had finished discussing security preparations and were now going to drive the property, scoping the perimeters. After concluding their business, he shared his dilemma with Ruger.
Ruger suggested they invite the kid to ride the property with them. A ‘guy-thing’ may help break the ice. Without intending to overhear the mother/son conversation, he had heard Amanda say he was part of her life. It felt awesome.
“Hey, Josh. Ruger and I are going to drive some of the property… Come with us.”
Amanda thought it was a great idea, “Josh… Go on, you’ll like it.”
“Okay,” he got up and started out with Antonio.
“Go ahead, Josh. I put the keys down in the other room. I’ll grab ‘em and be right out.” He had purposefully put them down. Giving Amanda a quick hug, he kissed her before grabbing the keys and leaving.
He smiled all the way to the truck.
“Josh Monroe meet Brian Goldberg, AKA Ruger - Marksman Extraordinaire, compliments of the Navy SEALS. We went to the University of Florida together.”
Antonio suspected the two would hit it off.
Chapter 30
“Destiny is not a matter of chance, but of choice. Not something to wish for, but to attain.”
