THE SHADOWED ONYX: A DIAMOND ESTATES NOVEL (33 page)

Joy shrugged. “I mean, I can’t be sure, but it sure looked like it and you know what? That fire started just a couple of hours after I said a simple little prayer.” Six words of fateful surrender. “Went to sleep and woke up to the fire. See what I’m saying? I’m so afraid that if I keep pressing forward something really, really horrible is going to happen. They’re testing me to find out how far I can be pushed, and the stakes get higher and higher.”

“Who’s testing you? Who are
they
?”

“I wish I knew.”

Savvy shivered. “I don’t know. I think this is too much for us to handle. You need to be honest with Ben.”

“Look. I opened up to you in confidence. You can’t say anything about this. People’s lives could be at stake. My life could be at stake. Just pretend we didn’t have this conversation.”

Savvy remained silent.

“Please. Please promise me.” Joy sounded a little desperate, even to herself.

“Just think about what I said. Some things look impossible to us until you ask someone else to come in and take over.”

No way. “Just trust me. Promise me. Please.”

Savvy slowly nodded. “I promise.”

“Ben wants to see you in his office.” Paige slapped a yellow sticky note on Joy’s bedrail as she sailed through the room toward the bathroom.

Huh? What did he want to see her for unless … Savvy? She couldn’t have. She’d promised.

Joy stood up and planted herself right in Savvy’s line of sight. Joy stared and waited. “Did you tell Ben what we talked about?”

Savvy shrugged. “My mom always said, ‘Savannah, there are some promises you just can’t keep.’”

How could she do that? Savvy had no idea the level of trouble she may have just unleashed on this place. Would she have done it if she had understood? Maybe Joy should have explained better. She’d been willing to carry it all on herself, without help, so the others wouldn’t be put at risk. But now … Ben would force her to open up. And what Ben wanted, Ben seemed to get.

Joy headed down to the office, rehearsing what she could say. This was not going to be pretty. She approached the door and heard voices inside. Peeking from around the corner, hoping no one would see, she saw the sleeve of Ben’s dress shirt. Mark stood at the window, his back to the door. Ginny and Alicia sat in the guest chairs, and Tammy slumped on the floor, leaning on the wall.

Oh great. Another intervention. She was toast. They all were.

There stood the front door before her. She could just leave. Who would stop her? Just walk right out and save them all from paying the price for her own mistakes. She lifted her foot, ready to bolt.

“Joy, is that you?” Ginny leaned out the doorway and turned her head to find Joy standing poised to flee. Not that Ginny needed to know that.

Joy breezed into the office and sat in the only empty chair. “What’s up? Paige said you wanted to see me? You planning my birthday party? It’s not until April, you know.” Not a care in the world.

Ben leaned forward and stared at her face. “We’re going to lay it all out on the table right here and now. I want a straight answer. Are you still connected to the occult? Do you still feel connected to demonic, paranormal activity?”

Moment of truth? Or lie?

Joy’s insides churned over the decision. If she told the truth, they’d help her, but then … who knew what? If she lied, they’d leave her alone and everyone would be safe, but she’d be stuck forever.

Joy shifted her shoulders back and raised her chin. Might as well look confident. “What? No. Not at all. I’m totally good. At peace with where I’m at. I mean, I have some growing to do, but I’m on my way.” Perfect.

Silas stood tall and proud beside her. His nose lifted in the air as if in victory. Joy imagined him howling to his wolf pack, letting them know his latest conquest lay bleeding in the snow, waiting to be ravaged by the pack.

“Well, Savvy told me that you’re still struggling with some things, and that you have fears.”

“Hmm. I wouldn’t exactly say fears. More like memories. They bug me sometimes. You know, it’s hard to let go of the past sometimes.”

He stared. “How has your time here helped you?”

“I’m really glad I came here because it gave me the opportunity to get away from everything associated with my problems.” Joy shot a look at Ginny and lifted one shoulder. Come on, help a girl out.

Ginny nodded. “She is doing well. She’s studying and learning. She’s an active participant in our counseling sessions and has shown a lot of growth. She takes part in prayer and, well, you know, it’s going well even though a lot has happened since she got here. But Joy has really taken it all like a trooper.”

Joy kept her mouth shut. It was one of those times when talking could only bury her deeper.

“Speaking of that. How did you feel after the fire? Being ripped out of your room in the back house and shoved in with everyone else?” Ben tapped a pen on the desk as he stared.

Ah. Her chance to totally change the subject. “Can I be completely honest?”

Ben nodded. “Yes. Please do.”

“Well, I think it’s much better in here. I was kind of depressed out there. It felt too isolated. Like I wasn’t good enough to be with everyone else. I get why you wanted us to start off out there, but I think it might have been counterproductive.”

Ben’s eyebrows shot up.

Mark raised a hand. “If I may?”

Ben turned to him and nodded. “Do you have something to add, Mark?”

“Yeah. Ginny and I feel the same way. We think it felt like a punishment or a leper colony. That maybe we should consider turning it into a rec center when it’s rebuilt.”

“Hmm.” Ben looked up at the ceiling. “That is excellent feedback from you both. Thanks so much for sharing that. We’ll have to start some dedicated praying about that decision then.”

Joy nodded. She was almost home free.

“So you’re good then?”

“I’m good.”

Ben leaned back in his chair, his hands clasped behind his head like he did when deep in thought. He’d never doubt her. Or maybe he would. Maybe, more than anything, he wanted to believe that all was well. If so, she’d just handed him the lie he sought.

Ben dropped his hands and leaned forward as far as he could across his desk. “Then Joy, you won’t mind answering a simple question. Will you?”

“No, course not.”
Don’t look for Silas
.

“Who is Jesus Christ?” Ben narrowed his gaze and trained his eyes on Joy’s face.

“He’s the Son of God.” That was easy. Even Satan knew that and said it in the Bible. Joy ran no risk of trouble with a factual answer like that. She’d be out of there in five minutes, max.

“Okay, good. One more question, and then we’re through.”

Joy took a deep breath.

“Who is Jesus Christ to you?”

W
ell, that was it. Joy was dead. Silas would never stand for a real answer to this question, and Ben couldn’t handle either the truth or a lie. And Jesus, Himself? Yeah, Joy couldn’t lie about where she stood with Him directly. She was toast. Period.

“Ben. I’m so sorry to interrupt.” Ginny held up her cell phone and scrolled up. “I’ve had my ringer off, and now I’m getting a 911 text. You should see this.” She stretched her arm across the desk and bit her lip.

Ooh
. Saved by the bell. So to speak. 911? She wouldn’t even need to come up with an answer at all.

Ben frowned and accepted the phone. He held it at arm’s distance and squinted at it. His frown deepened. He rubbed his temples then looked at Ginny and shook his head.

Ginny nodded.

Sorry for the poor sucker who was getting bad news, but she was free and clear for today at least.

Ginny exhaled and closed her eyes. Her lips moved ever so slightly.

Something was definitely up. It was Joy’s chance. “You guys need me to leave?”

“No.” Ginny looked at Ben. He nodded his encouragement and stood up. He moved to the front of his desk and perched on the corner.

Ginny took Joy’s hand. “Sweetie, this is about you.”

“About me? That text is about me?” Joy’s eyes roved from Ginny to Ben.

Mark stood up. “Should the rest of us leave?”

Ben nodded. “Probably best.” He held the phone for Mark to see.

Mark read it, nodded, then ushered Alicia and Tammy from the room.

Joy’s heart thundered. The sound of rushing water filled her ears. Somebody had better spill it in a hurry, or she was grabbing that phone herself.

Ginny took a deep breath and knelt in front of Joy. She grabbed Joy’s other hand and squeezed them. “Sweetie, your grandpa had a heart attack and … well, it doesn’t look real good for him.”

Air whooshed from Joy’s lungs. She put her face in her hands. What if he died? Joy would never forgive herself.

Wait a second. He was an old man. The voice on Joy’s other shoulder spoke reason. She didn’t need to claim the guilt for this. Did she?

Guilty or innocent, Joy couldn’t lose her grandpa. No way.

Ginny waited until Joy looked up. “I’m going to call your mom back so you can talk to her.” She held her phone to her ear and waited. And waited.

No answer? How could Mom not answer at a time like that? Joy’s brain screamed.
Just make it stop. The pain. The fear. The loss. Not Grandpa! Not him
. She needed him there to go home to. He was her rock. He loved her like … well, it was the unconditional love she’d always heard about. She’s seen it personified in her grandpa.

Please don’t take him. Please
.

Ginny lifted from the floor and sat on the edge of the seat beside Joy. She gripped one of Joy’s hands. “It’s okay. Just give her a second. Maybe they’re talking to the doctors or something.”

Joy nodded.
Please. Please let him be okay
. It was the closest to praying she could manage. But it was a prayer. Did God hear her?

Ginny’s phone went off. Finally. Was probably only two minutes, but those two minutes stretched on for a lifetime.

“Hi. I have Joy here for you.” She looked away as she listened. “Yeah, I’ll let you …” Ginny reached the phone out to Joy. “Here you go, sweetie. It’s your mom.”

“Mom? Are you there?” Joy scooted forward and gripped the phone with one hand and the arm of the chair with the other.

“Hi, baby. Listen to me. Everything’s going to be all right.” Mom gulped. “I want you to believe that.”

Her voice. It … it was so … warm. Joy collapsed into the chair. “Tell me. How is he?”

Mom drew in a deep breath. “Sweetheart, Grandpa passed a few minutes ago.”

Joy dissolved. Her body crumpled, and the tears poured from her eyes. She tried to speak into the phone, but couldn’t croak out the words. She handed it to Ginny. This couldn’t be happening.

“Mrs. Christianson?” Ginny spoke into the cell. “She’ll be okay. Why don’t you let me calm her down, and we’ll call you back in a few minutes? Okay?”

Calm her down? How exactly did Ginny plan to do that?

Ginny put her arms around Joy and pulled her in. “It’s okay, love. It’s okay. Your gramps was a believer, right?”

Joy nodded. Was he ever. She took a shuddering breath and wiped her eyes. “I need to talk to my mom. Can we call her back now?”

“Of course. I need to get info to Ben about getting you home for the funeral, too. Maybe you could ask your mom about that so we can start making arrangements.”

Joy gasped. “You mean I can do that? I can go home for the funeral?”

“Well yes, hon. You’re not imprisoned here. And this is a life-altering event for your family. Sometimes it’s more important to respond to circumstances with flexibility than it is to live by the letter of the law.”

Joy nodded. Still not believing it was true. Or not wanting it to be. She hadn’t decided which.

“In this case, of course we’re going to let you travel home if you want to. On the other hand, it’s completely your choice not to if you think it’s too much for you. But we’ll leave that decision up to you and your parents.”

It was scary to think of going home even for a couple of days. She wasn’t strong yet. What if going home exposed her … reopened the wounds that hadn’t even healed yet. What if she brought trouble home to her parents?

Then again, what if she could prove to herself that she was strong enough to handle whatever happened?

“Can I talk to my mom?”
Now
.