Chapter 34

Jake almost ran to his room. He jerked open the top drawer and found the box he had put in there years before.

He moved to the bed and sat down heavily on it, staring at the box in his hand. Somehow Jake knew that Dawn had found the box. That's why she was so upset.

Jake debated with himself whether he should open it. Would he be opening Pandora's box?

He had been thinking a lot about Sam lately. Yes, he could now say her name and not want to curl up into a ball in misery. He was surprised and wasn't sure when that had happened. Or why.

Jake took a deep breath and opened the box. The stabbing pain shocked him. He almost dropped the box, the pain was so great. He'd made a mistake by opening it.

The brilliance of the stones almost blinded him, just as Sam's beauty had almost blinded him at one time. He had loved her and it hadn't been enough. Why hadn't it been enough?

Jake sighed deeply.

"What's wrong honey?" Mom asked from the doorway.

Jake tore his eyes from the ring and the turtle jewelry to look up at his mother. She saw the anguish in his face again and she became alarmed. Then she saw what he held.

"I thought you were getting rid of those years ago," Mom yelped. "Jake, what are you doing?"

"I think Dawn found them this morning," Jake told her.

"Oh honey," Mom sat on the bed next to him.

"I didn't get rid of them because I thought to have the stones made into something for my nieces," Jake murmured.

"Then why don't you?" Mom asked.

"I don't know," Jake admitted.

"Jake, you've been doing so much better," Mom put her arm around his waist. "I'd hate for you to start hurting all over again because of what she did to you."

Jake nodded.

"You're marrying Dawn soon," Mom reminded him, as if he needed reminding. "You love her, don't you?"

"Yes," Jake nodded.

"Then put the past away for good," Mom suggested. "Dawn's your future now."

Jake nodded again.

"I'm worried about you, honey," Mom went on.

"I'm okay Mom," Jake assured her. "I'm just a little spooked right now."

"About marrying Dawn?" she wondered.

"No," Jake shook his head. "I'm sure about that."

"Everyone gets pre-wedding jitters," Mom smiled at him.

Jake looked at her and tried to smile back.

"I'm okay, Mom," Jake said again.

"You scared me when you were so depressed," Mom admitted.

"I scared myself," Jake tried to joke. It fell flat.

"Decide what to do with that and do it," Mom pointed at the box. "Don't leave it around to brood over. Maybe have the ring resized and give it to Dawn."

"I can't give her another woman's ring," Jake shuddered.

"Make it into a pendant," Mom suggested.

"Maybe," Jake nodded. He shut the lid on the box with a snap.

"She broke your heart," Mom mused.

"Yeah, she did," Jake sighed.

"You found love again with Dawn," Mom said.

"Yeah, I did," Jake smiled a small smile.

"Follow your heart, honey" Mom told him. "One woman broke your heart, another healed it."

"Thanks Mom. I'm okay. Really I am."

"I love you Jake," Mom hugged her youngest son, her most sensitive son.

Jake squirmed a bit and Mom released him. Jake got up and put the box back in his drawer and left the room to go back to his breakfast.

Mom sat on the bed, staring at the drawer. She didn't want Jake getting hurt like that again. She had been so afraid for him then.

With her own sigh, she stood up and followed her son out of his room.