Read Online The Jewels of Sofia Tate by Doris Etienne - Free Book Online Page B

you, too,” Garnet’s mother replied, taking his hand. “I’m Sharon Walcott, Garnet’s mother.”
    Dan nodded in his friend’s direction. “And this is my friend, Justin Farrell.”
    Justin smiled and shook her hand as well, but gave a simple wave to Garnet. His eyes narrowed. “Do I know you from somewhere?”
    â€œMaybe from school,” Garnet replied. “I’m kinda new. We just moved here a few weeks ago.”
    A woman’s voice unexpectedly called out from across the crowd. “Sharon!” They all looked over in that direction and saw a woman waving. Garnet’s mother waved back. “That’s Susan with some people from work. Do you mind if I go say hello? I won’t be long.”
    Garnet shook her head. “No, go ahead.”
    â€œDo you want to walk around with us?” Dan asked.
    Garnet looked over at her mother who, in turn, took a harder look at the boys.
    â€œSure, go ahead,” her mother said. “If you can’t find me later, just meet me back at the house.”
    The park was filling up quickly with people as far back as the small lake in the centre. The smell of cigarette smoke intermingled with the scent of springflowers and fresh leaves. Dan and Justin met a number of friends as they walked around and they briefly stopped to talk with them. Garnet recognized few faces, but soon learned after introductions that many actually went to different schools and they knew each other from sports and church. Dan and Justin were more popular than she had realized, and she began to wonder how she had ended up with them. She thought that maybe she should go back to try to find her mother since she didn’t know anyone and was beginning to feel like a tagalong.
    â€œHey, Justin!” a girl called out.
    He looked over and smiled. “Hey, Sarah!” He ran over to talk to her but this time Dan stayed on the gravel path with Garnet.
    â€œWant to sit down?” Dan asked.
    Garnet raised her eyebrows and shrugged. “Sure.”
    They found a place on the grass under a nearby tree. Garnet wrapped her arms around her legs, a sudden chill making her glad for her jacket; Dan stretched out his legs and leaned back on his arms. For the first few moments they didn’t speak.
    â€œSo, how long have you been delivering groceries to Elizabeth?” Garnet asked.
    Dan lifted a shoulder. “About a year now, I guess, since her health started to go downhill. Pioneer has afree home-delivery service for people who can’t make it to the grocery store.”
    â€œBut you already knew her from church?”
    â€œYeah,” Dan replied. “My grandfather’s the minister there. I’ve actually known her all my life. She used to be my piano teacher. She’s a great lady but hasn’t been well for a while. I doubt she’ll be able to handle that house much longer.” He looked over at Garnet. “How do you know her? I didn’t catch that the other day.”
    â€œWell, I was sitting in front of my house last Friday when she was walking by and fell down,” said Garnet. “She asked for her pills and I gave them to her. She seemed nice and it was hot, so I asked her if she wanted to come in and gave her some water.”
    Dan frowned. “She fell? Where was she going?”
    â€œHome. She was coming from the bank. I walked her home afterwards and went back Saturday to check on her to see how she was doing. That’s when we started talking. She told me about her husband and his mother and about those jewels. I really am going to try to find them for her. I just hope they haven’t already been stolen.”
    â€œStolen?
I’d be surprised if they ever
existed.”
    Garnet swung her head to face to him. “What do you mean ’if they ever existed’? Of course they did. There’s a picture of Albert’s mother wearing them in the library. Don’t you believe